ANKITA
CHACHRA
Urban Designer and Strategist,
Systems Thinker, Social Changemaker,
Teacher, New Parent, Indian-born Immigrant,
and Bollywood Dance Instructor, amongst many other constantly evolving roles and identities.
About me
I am committed to building a future where people flourish and cities thrive.
With more than 12 years of global experience, I am passionate about advancing my mission through partnerships with city agencies and the private, non-profit, and philanthropic sectors. I support organizations, leaders, and peers in creating thriving cities where young children and families can flourish.
I draw on my professional expertise and lived experiences to solve complex problems for cities, organizations, my community, and, more recently, my toddler and baby.
How can I help?
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Helping cities and organizations create sustainable, vibrant, and human-centered streets and public spaces.
Vision Setting, Design Development, Review & Research – Support conceptulization, design and evaluation of public spaces through evidence-based insights.
Knowledge Exchange & Case Studies – Conduct literature reviews, interviews, and global case studies to surface lessons and best practices.
Design Facilitation & Capacity-Building Workshops – Lead collaborative workshops that build design capacity and shared understanding.
Public Speaking & Thought Leadership – Offer keynotes, talks, and panel discussions that inspire action on equitable and joyful city design.
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Integrating the needs of young children and caregivers into city planning, design, and policy, with an emphasis on climate adaptation and resilience.
Design Development, Review & Research – Integrate child- and caregiver-centered insights into planning and design processes.
Knowledge Exchange & Case Studies – Document and share promising practices from around the world.
Design Facilitation & Capacity-Building Workshops – Convene cross-sector partners to co-create strategies for family-friendly cities.
Public Speaking, Writing & Thought Leadership – Share perspectives through talks, op-eds, and essays.
Field Building & Network Curation – Connect practitioners and advocates advancing child- and family-friendly urbanism.
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Bridging design, research, and governance to shape policies that make cities more equitable, resilient, and people-centered.
Services include:
Policy Research & Development – Analyze urban systems and create actionable policy frameworks for local or national governments.
Policy Review & Evaluation – Assess existing policies and identify opportunities for improvement and alignment with community goals.
Strategic Advisory Support – Advise organizations and public agencies on translating evidence and design principles into effective policy.
Knowledge Exchange & Capacity Building – Facilitate learning sessions that strengthen institutional understanding of urban policy innovation.
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From concept to implementation, guiding projects and programs that deliver results.
Program & Project Design and Delivery – Lead or support teams to design, manage, and deliver impactful initiatives.
Special Projects & Convenings – Plan and execute events or one-time programs that drive collaboration and learning.
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Supporting foundations, nonprofits, and institutions to shape strategies, grantmaking, and systems for long-term impact.
Program & Initiative Design – Envision and operationalize funding or programmatic strategies.
Grantmaking & Capacity Support – Review proposals, advise on portfolio design, and strengthen implementation systems.
Strategic Frameworks & Planning – Develop tools and frameworks that guide strategic decision-making and learning.Description text goes here
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Helping teams grow stronger, more aligned, and better equipped to achieve their missions.
Strategic Analysis & Insights – Conduct organizational assessments to surface strengths and opportunities.
Coaching & Mentorship – Provide tailored support for leaders and teams to enhance collaboration and clarity.
Alignment & Capacity Building – Facilitate processes to improve structure, decision-making, and shared purpose.
Recruitment & Structural Advising – Guide staffing and organizational design to strengthen long-term capacity.
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Engaging audiences and teams through talks, panels, and workshops that spark learning, reflection, and collective action. See more under Thought Leadership.
Keynote Talks & Panels – Deliver compelling presentations on urban design topics, including sustainable street and public space design, child-friendly urban planning, climate adaptation and resilience, among others.
Facilitation – Design and lead participatory sessions for teams and organizations that foster creativity, collaboration, and shared ownership.
Event Hosting & Moderation – Curate and facilitate conversations that bring diverse voices and perspectives togethetion
Still uncertain about how we can partner? Let's connect!
Recent Media
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![Cities for Children]()
Interview with Venetian Letter
Cities good for children are cities good for everyone
In this interview, I share my thoughts on how cities can be designed to support children and their caregivers better. Creating nurturing environments, ensuring caregiver well-being, and promoting mental health are essential for healthy childhood development.
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![A lively urban street scene featuring a library and open street programs with trees, people walking, and children playing, with colorful murals on buildings and a bike lane in the foreground.]()
Rewire with Urban Design Forum
Promote Climate Literacy at Public Libraries
I was one of the 48 experts Urban Design Forum convened to explore how to rewire New York City to shape a climate-positive future. Our group explored how community anchors in New York can better support decarbonization efforts by promoting climate literacy. -
![Biking_Dubai_Ankita Chachra.jpg]()
Connecting cities, young children and climate action
“I want to feel safe and comfortable biking my toddler to an affordable, quality child care.”
In this essay for Capita, I argue that to create climate-adaptive cities for young children, we need more than financial investment. We need bold leadership and a concerted intersectoral collaboration to change the built environment. -
![Sao Paulo Child and Parent Bike]()
Interview with Early Learning Nation
How and Why Cities of the Future Can Work Better for Children
In this interview, Tim Gill and I discuss the concept of a child-friendly city, which extends beyond just playgrounds. We explore the importance of safe streets, accessible green spaces, and opportunities for intergenerational connection.
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![Framed photo of two children dressed in costumes, standing indoors near a wall with all-purpose background light from a window.]()
Generation Heat
Drawing on my childhood in India, this essay explores the challenges of adapting to extreme heat.
My memories of growing up in India are filled with scorching summers and school gatherings that often turned into health hazards. Fast forward to the present, and what sets that time apart from today is our growing understanding of the significant impact of heat on young children, pregnant women, and families worldwide. -
![a video call; the woman on the left with long brown hair, glasses, and a white blouse, sitting in front of a microphone; the woman on the right with dark hair, glasses, and a black top, against a brick wall background; text overlay says "COMING UP..."]()
Building Green Podcast
One-third of all urban trips are made for caregiving, yet many cities are still designed primarily for commuting to work.
In this conversation with Ladina Schopf, we explore how prioritizing care in urban design is not only an effective policy but also a radical, urgent, and efficient approach. -
![Two women riding bicycles along a tree-lined pathway with flowers and buildings in the background]()
Focusing on Early Years
Promoting cycling and walking fosters healthy development and caregiver-child bonding while reducing pollution.
Cecilia Vaca Jones and I discuss how cities can support young children and caregivers through better street design. We emphasize the importance of safe and joyful public spaces that foster play and social connections. Designing streets from a child's perspective benefits everyone and leads to healthier, more equitable urban futures.
