What is an inclusive city? Logic might tell you that it is a place where all are welcome, opinions can be shared openly, and where everyone is treated fairly. This is from 2013, but is informative nonetheless and still relevant:

An inclusive city is one that values all people and their needs equally. It is one in which all residents—including the most marginalized of poor workers—have a representative voice in governance, planning, and budgeting processes, and have access to sustainable livelihoods, legal housing and affordable basic services such as water/sanitation and an electricity supply.

Cities like this, however, are not achievable until informal workers can take their rightful place at the decision-making table, voice their demands and be heard. The needs and demands of urban informal workers are not extravagant. Home-based workers require, above all else, low-cost, safe housing and zoning regulations that value their work by allowing commercial activities in residential areas. Affordable and reliable basic services—especially water, sanitation and electricity—are essential. (Interestingly, slum dwellers often pay more for these services per unit than middle-class consumers and formal factories.)

This quote is from The Rockefeller Foundation’s informal city dialogue in a piece entitled, “Commentary: What We Mean By “Inclusive Cities”.”

Here are a few key words that emerged as I scanned the news for information on inclusive cities: place-based growth, LGBT-friendly, gentrification, disabilities, sharing economy, ethics, manufacturing, creative cities, network, and oddly–Amazon HQ.

Related articles:

How To Make Inclusive Cities A Reality – At Scale  (Forbes)

Putting the Brakes on Runaway Gentrification in Atlanta  (City Lab)

Sharing economy sounds caring, but let’s put it to the ethical city test  (Phys.org)

Chennai now part of ‘creative cities network’  (The Hindu)

Bay Area Urban Manufacturing Initiative Expands From 4 to 26 Cities to Accelerate the Resurgence of Manufacturing  (Business Wire)

Check out The Jancy Report–a weekly briefing on business, culture, design, and technology. It focuses on emerging ideas and trends.

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