A “third place” was described by American sociologist Ray Oldenburg as a space for informal, free social interaction, essential to democracy. This term serves as a reminder that human connections need nurturing. Third spaces nurture this by providing environments where people can congregate and interact with one another. Coffeehouses were …
The Economic Benefits of Parks in New York City report studied the economic value of New York City's entire park system. Approximately 99% of New Yorkers live within a 10-minute walk to a green space, and residents visit these spaces over 527 million times per year. These parks create billions …
Good mental health can improve various aspects of people’s lives such as coping skills, relationships, educational achievement, employment, housing and economic potential, and can help reduce physical health problems. The physical and social environments of urban life can both positively and negatively contribute to an individuals mental health and wellbeing. …
Since January 2014 the World Bank Group has analyzed two questions regarding competitive cities: 1) What makes a city competitive; and 2) How can more cities become competitive. This analysis shows that the competitiveness of cities can improve issues relating to poverty and daily living. Competitive cities create several million …
An interesting video that showcases what a future might look like when AI is the sole educator. At Alpha School in Texas, USA, AI is used to teach students math, science, reading, writing, etc., with personalized lessons. In addition, the AI tutor, a suite of AI powered apps, tracks students’ …
This blogTO article highlights a community initiative aimed at tackling food insecurity: the Nourish a Neighbour program. Launched in February 2024 by NeighbourLink North York, in collaboration with Gift Local Toronto, this program empowers community members to buy an additional meal at participating restaurants for someone in need. Currently, there …
In 2019, Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, and his team initiated a study to assess the effects of guaranteed basic income by providing 1000 low-income participants with $1000 a month for 3 years. They found positive impacts as those who received basic income were able to increase their spending …
Darlene Necan, a First Nations woman, attempted to build a cabin in the area where she grew up. Necan was charged with fines up to $10,000 through the Public Lands Act by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry. Other community members do not understand why the Ministry is concerned …
California passed the Water Bond which secures $7.5 billion to fund water projects and programs relating to water conservation and recycling, groundwater cleanup and water storage. These funds are allocated to different programs that require certain projects to go through a public competitive grant process. Jerry Brown, an advocate for …
The author of this article from Bloomberg advocates for the replacement of 12-foot lanes and the standardization of 10-foot lanes, and contradicts the popular belief that wider lanes are safer. Referring to urban high-speed and free-flowing roads, such as downtown streets, arterials, collectors, and highways, the author explains that wider …