The City of Vancouver has found space to add 45,000
residents, including 2,700 new children. Children are back by design
and even building a new school to accommodate increase in students.
Ecodensity encourages more people to live downtown and walk/bicycle
frequently. Vancouver also boasts the only city in North America
to reduce traffic congestion. Vancouver's success has earned a
third place ranking in Best Cities in the World, featured article
in City Mayors Environment.
The civic leaders in Chattanooga founded First
Things First in 1997, a community-wide initiative to revitalize
the city beginning with the family. The program equips families
with practical skills to have healthy marriages and raise children.
Free weekly classes are offered at the Marriage and Family Resource
Center to singles, engaged couples, married couples, unmarried
expectant mothers, and fathers.
Jaime Lerner, three-time former mayor of Curitiba
and architect, has an innovative approach to urban planning. He
uses the term "urban acupuncture" to revitalize "pressure
points"
within the city. The response produces "positive ripple effects" throughout
the community. Each person, from the smallest citizen on up, has
a role in caring for the city. Lerner's family portrait analogy
sums up his leadership philosophy. "You don't rip your family
portrait. Your city is like your family portrait."
Vancouver, Canada -
EcoDensity
