Harnessing Creative Solutions: Voices of New Global Leaders

We are proud to provide a recording of the video conference, “Reimaging Cities in Post-Pandemic: ‘Agequake’ Challenges and Opportunities” that took place Thursday, 29th October 2020.  The conference featured the voices of the winners of the “Integrated Communities: A Society for All Ages” Competition who have completed their fellowship sponsored by the Society for Agequake Student Designers. The fellowships provide future leadership and meaningful opportunities for winners to give back to their local society, particularly older persons by applying their knowledge and expertise to be of service to those at the regional and local levels, in the public and private sector and to NGOs.

Overview: Urban October is an opportunity for everyone to be part of the conversation about the challenges and opportunities created by the “Agequake” fast rate increase of population ageing in our cities and towns. Viewing as a framework of support for the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals – 3: health and well-being for all ages, 11: inclusive cities and 17: public/private partnerships the session’s non-traditional gathering of new global leaders and experts to leverage their insights and wisdom to address three key elements for enhancing “Better Living ..Adding Life to Years” by connecting the dots of the inter-linked SDG’s, New Urban Agenda, technology and smart cities as more “human oriented cities” … a practical holistic mindset!. In 2019, there were 703 million persons aged 65 years or over in the global population. This number is projected to double to 1.5 billion in 2050. Globally, the share of the population aged 65 years or over increased from 6 per cent in 1990 to 9 per cent in 2019…Thus, a Sleeping Giant …the “AGEQUAKE.”

Reimaging Cities in Post-Pandemic: “Agequake”: Challenges and Opportunities

Voices will address: Historic Past, The New Reality, The Near and Not so Near Future

Program includes:

Welcome:

Ms. Christine Gong, Fellowship Chair, Chinese Culture & Art International Organization

Dr. Graham Alabaster, United Nations Habitat, Geneva

Moderator: Dr. Cecilia Martinez Leal, Chairperson of WRI (World Resource Institute) Mexico

Panelists: Fellows from Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Italy, France, Russia, Switzerland, and Tanzania

Comments:

Dr. Alexandre Sidorenko, Senior Advisor, European Centre for Social Welfare Policy and Research, Former Head, United Nations Programme on Ageing

Dr. Josephine OJiambo, Former Deputy General, Commonwealth Secretariat and UN Ambassador for Kenya to the UN,

Mr. John Gong and Mrs. Mimi Gong, Co-Chairs, Society for Agequake Students Designers, Athena Technologies, Inc.

Closing Remarks: Professor Dianne Davis, Founding President, International Council for Caring Communities, ICCC

This virtual session was organized in support of World Cities Day and the United Nations 75 Anniversary in cooperation with United Nations and related organizations.

“ This is the age of ageing, But it’s only the dawn of that age.”

H.E. Julia Alvarez, Former Ambassador for the Dominican Republic to the UN.