Urban Voices Podcast
By Urban Voices
Urban Voices PodcastMay 26, 2021
Just Urban Transitions #4 - Making the Transitions Affordable for all
In this episode of the UIA - Just Urban Transitions - Making the Transitions Affordable for all, we explore the challenges that some cities face in delivering green transitions that is accessible by all social groups. We also hear from cities of Barcelona, Prato and Getafe about their innovative solutions in making the green transitions affordable to all. The expert, Marcelline Bonneau, also gives her insights and provides a roadmap to a greener and a more socially just EU for all.
Innovating in cities - Housing refugees: Homes from vacant apartments in Athens
Curing the Limbo, an initiative by the Athens Municipality, connects the issues of integration, housing, exchange economy and active citizenship in a complex programme that helps refugees get involved in neighbourhood initiatives, learn new skills and access the labour market and permanent housing.
In this third and last episode of the Curing the Limbo podcast series, UIA expert Levente Polyák explores the housing component of Curing the Limbo, in order to understand the mechanisms that allowed the use of hundreds of vacant apartments as refugee housing in Athens.
In this episode, assembling interviews and discussions made between 2018 and 2022, Levente revisits the housing pilot's elements and results with the programme's housing experts and various officers of the housing facilitation unit, while also meeting beneficiaries and property owners to discuss their needs and role in the process. The last minutes of the episode aim at assessing the legacy and impact of Curing the Limbo's housing component, in light of emerging housing priorities and policies.
By collecting testimonies during different visits and from a variety of people involved in the programme, Levente offers a highly personal account of the challenges and opportunities refugees encounter in their endeavour to find a new home in Athens.
Curing the Limbo Zoom-in #3 was produced by Levente Polyák (Eutropian, Cooperative City) in May 2023
Innovating in Cities - The Novel Collective Narrative of Almeria to foster Cultural Participation developed by the project CAMINA
In this first episode developed for the project “CAMINA”, Ileana Toscano, UIA expert, introduces the Novel Collective Narrative of Almería’s Cultural Landscape developed by CAMINA as the milestone foundation of the whole project. For this podcast, Ileana interviews Pablo Macías Bou, expert in innovation and urban design, founder and CEO of Khora Urban thinkers, partner of CAMINA. Ileana and Pablo walk through the Innovative Collaborative Narrative presenting the relevant activities developed by the project.
CAMINA is a holistic initiative aimed at reconnecting the city of Almeria, in Andalusia, Spain, with three neighbourhoods, that represent the splendour past of the ancient city and that nowadays have lost the central position in the city life. CAMINA is fostering a new approach to promote Cultural Participation and Inclusion in Almeria by focusing on three neighbourhoods: Almedina, La Chanca-Pescaderia and the Centre. The project’s innovation results from the rediscovering of the culture and the cultural heritage of Almeria, as a tool to positively impact the social integration of the people living in the fringes.
The project acronym “CAMINA” means “WALK!”, which is the paradigm of the project innovation. CAMINA is willing to promote the connection between the three neighbourhoods and Almeria citizens through cultural urban walks. By walking through cultural heritage sites, “cultural nodes” and cultural events taking place in public spaces CAMINA encourages the citizens of Almeria to be part of their cultural heritage and the ancient neighbourhoods.
“The art of walking” allowed to write the Novel collaborative Narrative of Almeria, created by local testimonials and experts to bridge the diverse and multicultural communities living in the city.
Find more about CAMINA – Community Awakening for Multicultural Integrative Narrative of Almería implemented by the Municipality of Almeria, Spain.
Just Urban Transitions #3- Skilling and reskilling for a green economy
This series of 3 episodes drop on the recent report published on the UIA website and the 10 case studies that explore the jobs and skills of our green future. This first session focuses on skilling and reskilling for a green economy.
Listen to the experience of 2 pioneers cities in this field narrated by Anamaria Vrabie from the City of Cluj Napoca (Cluj Furture of Work) and Andrea Patrucco from the City of Milan (Open Agri). This discussion is moderated by Eddy Adams, UIA expert.
Find more about this work here: Skills for a green future | UIA - Urban Innovative Actions (uia-initiative.eu)
This podcast is part of a wider discussion led by the UIA Initiative on the implementation of Just Transitions at urban level. Have a look at the results and explore UIA projects promising practices for the green and fair urban futures: Just Urban Transitions | UIA - Urban Innovative Actions (uia-initiative.eu).
Just Urban Transitions #2- Urban promising practices supporting new green sectors
This series of 3 episodes drop on the recent report published on the UIA website and the 10 case studies that explore the jobs and skills of our green future. This first session focuses on supporting new green sectors.
Listen to the experience of 2 pioneers cities in this field narrated by Carles Ferrero, Director of Innovation from the City of Viladecans (Vilawatt project) and by Eeva Pihlajaniemi and Terhi Jantunen from the City of Lappeenranta (Urban Infra Revolution). This discussion is moderated by Eddy Adams and Pr. Costas Cartalis, UIA experts.
Find more about this work here: Skills for a green future | UIA - Urban Innovative Actions (uia-initiative.eu)
This podcast is part of a wider discussion led by the UIA Initiative on the implementation of Just Transitions at urban level. Have a look at the results and explore UIA projects promising practices for the green and fair urban futures: Just Urban Transitions | UIA - Urban Innovative Actions (uia-initiative.eu).
Just Urban Transitions #1- Skills forecasting for a climate neutral economy
This series of 3 episodes drop on the recent report published on the UIA website and the 10 case studies that explore the jobs and skills of our green future. This first session focuses on skills forecasting for a climate neutral economy.
Listen to the experience of 2 pioneers cities in this field narrated by Joe Crawler, Skills Intelligence Lead for Greater Manchester Combined Authority (IGNITION project) and Andries van Vugt, from Organiq, partner of the Passport4Work Project, Eindhoven. This discussion is moderated by Eddy Adams and Ronald Lievens, UIA experts.
Find more about this work here: Skills for a green future | UIA - Urban Innovative Actions (uia-initiative.eu)
This podcast is part of a wider discussion led by the UIA Initiative on the implementation of Just Transitions at urban level. Have a look at the results and explore UIA projects promising practices for the green and fair urban futures: Just Urban Transitions | UIA - Urban Innovative Actions (uia-initiative.eu).
Innovating in Cities - CUP4Creativity Zoom-in #1: Imagining the Adaptér
In this first Zoom-in for the UIA project CUP4Creativity, Levente Polyak visits a pop-up event in the future Adaptér, to learn about the art & tech center under construction in the heart of Újbuda, Budapest's 11th district.
CUP4Creativity builds on the district’s current dynamic as a new cultural centre, by generating new connections between cultural producers, artists, creatives, technology initiatives, businesses and residents. One of the key objectives of CUP4Creativity is the establishment of a new cultural institution, Adaptér (a wordplay connecting “adaptation” and “space”) to bring together art and technology in a user-friendly manner. This new institution will act as an entrance point to the local cultural and technology ecosystems, positioned as a hub in a broader network of spaces, a kind of a “decentralised FabLab” at the neighbourhood scale.
For this first episode of the CUP4Creativity podcast, UIA expert Levente Polyák visits the future Adaptér and met some of the project’s protagonists to explore the perspectives of this new culture and technology venue, the ways it will connect with existing initiatives and spaces and the activities leading to the renovation and opening of the new institution. In the podcast, Barbara Szij (VALYO) tells about the role of temporary events leading up to the opening of Adaptér (3'30"), Bálint Köves (KÉK) explains the cultural and economic context in which the venue is situated (8'45"), while Andrea Kovács (Let it Be! art agency) reveals plans for the cultural programming of Adaptér (12'25").
Find more about the innovative project implemented by the city of Budapest Újbuda, CUP 4 CREATIVITY - Cultural Urban Platform to nurture creativity and fight digital loneliness
Innovating in Cities - Scaling up and scaling out CoGhent…
What are the needs and demands for upscaling of CoGhent project? What will be the « upscaling readiness » at the end of project and the conditions of transfer of its outcome to other cities?
Talking to Pieter-Jan Pauwels and Olivier D’Huynslager the 2 « fathers » of the CoGhent project this 30 min. podcast discusses how they see the project they imagine and created in the face of this UIA Up-scaling key-challenge!
Find more about the innovative project implemented by the city of Ghent, CoGhent - Collections of Ghent.
Innovating in Cities - Narrating urban transformation: DARE's digital platform for Ravenna's Darsena
In this first Zoom-in for the UIA project DARE, Levente Polyak explores the digital platform conceived to support the transformation of Ravenna's Darsena area. DARE is a non-conventional urban regeneration project that instead of focusing uniquely on the physical environment, invests in the skills of its inhabitants and the digital knowledge infrastructure of the area.
In the course of the project’s three years, the Ravenna Municipality is cooperating with the Darsena’s residents, businesses, initiatives and institutions to create an inclusive, accessible digital framework for the area. This framework will help the Darsena's population, users and visitors to better understand their area, develop new skills, improve their quality of life and become protagonists of their neighbourhood. DARE’s digital platform is conceived as a database to combine data coming from various sources, ranging from sensors and statistical data to historical data, visual materials and even stories, to support this process.
For this first episode of the DARE podcast, UIA expert Levente Polyák visited the Darsena and met some of the project’s protagonists to explore how knowledge about the Darsena is collected and distributed through the platform Darsena Ravenna Approdo Comune (darsenaravenna.it). Read the full article of Levente Polyak, UIA expert.
Find more about the innovative project implemented by the city of Ravenna, DARE - Digital Environment for collaborative Alliances to Regenerate urban Ecosystems in middle-sized cities
Innovating in Cities - CREIC and the role of innovation hubs for urban growth
The second Zoom In of Cluj Future of Work is on CREIC, the Regional Center of Excellence for Creative Industries that is hosing the Labs of Cluj Future of Work and is the place where potential entrepreneurs, creative and experts testing of new solutions contributing to rethink the role of cultural and creative industries for the future of Cluj Napoca.
With the interviews to Ovidiu Cimpean, Driector at the City Hall of Cluj Napoca and comanager of Cluj Future of Work, and Ania Pașcalău, marketing manager of the Cluj Innovation Park, the UIA expert of the project Simone d’Antonio goes through the main challenges of the CREIC and the actions undertaken in the framework of the Urban Innovative Actions project to promote smart specialization and support the upskilling and reskilling of workers. Read the full article of Simone d'Antonio, UIA expert.
Find more about the innovative project implemented by the city of Cluj-Napoca - Cluj Future of Work.
Innovating in Cities - Pata-Rât and the future of work
The first Zoom-in of Cluj Future of Work is on Pata-Rât, a Roma settlement located near the city landfill which is one of the main focus of the urban Innovative Actions project.
With the interviews to Adrian Raulea, development coordinator of the Metropolitan City of Cluj Napoca (partner of Cluj Future of Work) and to Pepe Fachete, facilitator and member of the Pata-Rât, we go through the main challenges of the area and the actions that the UIA project is carrying out to ensure an active participation of the residents to the city life and a better access to work. Read the full article of Simone d'Antonio, UIA expert.
Find more about the innovative project implemented by the city of Cluj-Napoca - Cluj Future of Work.
Innovating in Cities - How can local authorities find innovative approaches to finance and implement greenspace and nature-based solutions?
This podcast explores the IGNITION project approaches on how innovative financing models for local authorities to increase and maintain greenspace and nature-based solutions can be developed in a way that they fit well and are broadly applied.
While there is already a general consensus among local decision-makers in Greater Manchester that the amount of greenspace and nature-based solutions need to be increased, they are faced with internal and external challenges. On top of the list is the austerity of public budgets, with further barriers posed by knowledge gaps on the cost-effectiveness of nature-based solutions and working in silos. Citizens are unaware of the extent of services of greenspace as well as of implementation challenges of the local authority, while private investors are uncertain about the benefits. Read the full article of Birgit Georgi, UIA expert.
Find more about the innovative project implemented by the city of Greater Manchester, IGNITION - Innovative financinG aNd delIvery of naTural clImate sOlutioNs in Greater Manchester
Innovating in Cities - New skills for a new home: Training refugees in Athens
In his 2nd Zoom-in, UIA expert of the Curing the Limbo project in Athens, Levente Polyak, explores how education and training activities within the programme help refugees.
The project’s trajectory invites refugees to participate in language courses, audio-visual and ICT trainings and engage with citizen initiatives. These activities help them develop new skills, gradually enter the job market and access housing. In this podcast, Levente returns to the Serafio building, the Curing the Limbo headquarters, located in the Western side of the centre of Athens. Read more
Find more about the innovative project implemented by the city of Athens, Curing the Limbo - From apathy to active citizenship: Empowering refugees and migrants in limbo state to ignite housing affordability
Innovating in Cities - INNOAIR hackathon: How to make urban mobility in Sofia smart and green?
INNOAIR Podcast is reporting on a hackathon aimed at ideas and solutions making Sofia's urban mobility smart and green.
- The Bulgarian capital Sofia is far from being a clean air showcase. The city now is considering the potential of innovative mobility solutions for the improvement of air quality, and it is trying to unlock the capabilities of its citizens for this.
- During the European Green week, Sofia held a virtual three-day hackathon, where it challenged teams from high schools, universities and startup companies to ideate and prototype ways to make Sofia’s urban mobility smarter and greener.
- The winners of the hackathon was a team of avid bicyclists who are annoyed of Sofia lacking an infrastructure of safe and convenient bike lanes. They developed a mapping tool that helps cyclists to find the best routes, to rate them and to share experiences.
Find more about the innovative project implemented developed by the municipality of Sofia, INNOAIR - Innovative demand responsive green public transportation for cleaner air in urban environment
Innovating in Cities - From refugees to active citizens
UIA Expert Levente Polyak presents in his podcast how the project transforms one specific neighbourhood of the city – Victoria.
Listen to the different interviews he has collected and learn how Curing the Limbo is influencing the local community!
Find more about the innovative project implemented by the city of Athens, Curing the Limbo - From apathy to active citizenship: Empowering refugees and migrants in limbo state to ignite housing affordability
Innovating in Cities - Making Breda’s nature-inclusive quays health-inclusive
The GreenQuays project in Breda aims to develop and establish nature-inclusive quays. Although it was not in focus when developing the project, this podcast explores, if these quays, at the same time, could be health-inclusive for citizens.
Health benefits are among the many additional benefits that nature-based solution can potentially offer. UIA expert Birgit Georgi discusses the options and the team’s journey for including positive health impacts together with the project partners and collaborating external partners.
What has been the motivation for the different partners to include health benefits in the development of the quays? What are the lessons learned for combining a nature-inclusive design with a health-inclusive design? How will GreenQuays measure the health impacts and how can the results be used? Has the collaboration with external partners, such as the regional health service, supported new ideas, and has it vice versa impacted their work? Check it out in the podcast.
Find more about the innovative project implemented developed by the city of Breda GreenQuays - Urban River Regeneration through Nature Inclusive Quays.
Cities engaging in the Right to Housing #2: Fair finance
The second episode of the series “Cities engaging in the Right to Housing” explores the financial sector’s influence on housing. In this podcast, Raquel Rolnik, professor at the University of São Paolo and former UN Special Rapporteur on Adequate Housing describes the process of housing financialization and invokes policies to counter its influence and to secure affordable housing.
“We can learn from the measures that we saw at the beginning of the pandemic: those interventions in the private housing market, with rent freezes and regulations, were unthinkable before. They created a political opening”
“It is important to provide housing that is literally out of the financialised market. But it is also very important to intervene in the private housing market, instead of leaving it as it is.”
“Rental is a form, home ownership is another form, collective ownership another one. It is very important to support all these forms of tenure, in order also to support the initiative of the people themselves. This should be a very integral part of any social agenda now, during and after the pandemic.”
Cities engaging in the Right to Housing #1: Collaborative housing
The first episode of the series “Cities engaging in the Right to Housing” explores the politics of housing in Berlin. In the podcast, Florian Schmidt, councillor of the Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg district, explains ways in which the municipality can support collaborative housing initiatives. This support ranges from using regulatory tools like rental caps, the right of first refusal or expropriation, through helping housing initiatives to self-organise, to bringing together different non-commercial actors like foundations, housing associations and cooperatives.
“Real estate issues are not only of investors and not only of the city but also of the people who can self-organise.”
“It is not only about laws and regulations; it is also about creating initiatives that help people to self-organise and collaborate.”
“It is important to have a real estate politics that imagines that people want to build the city.”
Soft skills to sustain employability
UIA project P4W expert Ronald Lievens, explores why soft skills are a key part of the Passport4Work project. Especially with certain jobs suffering from COVID-19, it is important for individuals to develop and sustain their employability.
Soft skills are instrumental in this process, since they allow job seekers to maintain a broad orientation to the labour market. In this 40 minute zoom-in podcast, different (public & private) project representatives are interviewed on this subject. Topics addressed touch among others on what are soft skills exactly, why are soft skills becoming more important, and in what way are soft skills integrated in the Passport4Work project.