Building resilient cities: Addressing crisis and ongoing stress

The problems facing cities today can be daunting, and the global economic recession that began in 2008 has highlighted many of these challenges that extend beyond the scope of any single catastrophic event. Resilience is about more than our preparedness for shocks like natural disasters or sudden human conflict. It is also about proactively engaging the ongoing stresses that fracture communities, neighborhoods, commerce, and the exchange of information and ideas – and these stresses span the policy areas of governance, education, infrastructure, affordable housing, unemployment, community cohesion, and beyond.

The United States and Canada share more than a border or the coastlines of the North American continent. We enjoy tremendous trade opportunities, the exchange of ideas, shared cultures and languages, the vast natural resources of the Great Lakes, and a commitment to partnering on issues of regional and global importance like the health and resilience of our cities. So, we ask ourselves: how can we enhance the resilience of our cities?

But we know that just identifying solutions isn’t enough. In this multi-stakeholder case competition, students will not only convey complex information and ideas but integrate them into viable plans of action. Creating better public policy starts here.

 

About Ford + SPGG:

The Ford+SPPG Conference is an annual student-led policy conference among students at the School of Public Policy and Governance (SPPG) and the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy (the Ford School), one of America’s premier public policy institutions. Held in the Winter/Spring (Ford/SPPG) semester, the event brings together students from both schools in a team-based learning environment where they are challenged to analyze, evaluate, and present key findings related to a current policy issue facing both sides of the border. It’s a great opportunity to further your understanding of multi-stakeholder and cross-border policy collaboration and implementation – and have fun in the process! At the conclusion of the weekend, a panel of faculty judges will select the best proposal.  

For more information, please visit https://fordsppgconference.wordpress.com/2015-building-resilient-cities/

• Barry Rabe
• conference
• Nick Pfost
• Ford+SPPG
• University of Toronto
• School of Public Policy and Governance
• Building Resilient Cities
• Chris Dorle
• Brock Redpath
• Sessie Burns