A woman in black standing on stage giving a presentation to an audience in a conference room. Large screen behind her displays multimedia visuals, with a yellow banner on the left side showing event information and sponsor logos. The event is in Den Haag, Netherlands, Summer 2022.

Keynote at Start with Children Summit, 2024

The Start With Children Summit in Bratislava in 2024 brought together leaders from many disciplines to explore ways to transform cities for children and families. Read more on this edited version of my opening keynote, which encourages us to go beyond playgrounds and build climate-resilient, child- and family-centered cities.

A promotional slide for a webinar titled 'Flourishing Families and Resilient Cities' with upcoming start time. Features logos for 'Cities for Everyone with GIL' and '880 Cities.' Includes photos of presenter Ankita Chachra and host Gil Penalosa, along with their titles and affiliations. Background has colorful abstract brush strokes.

Cities for Everyone with Gil, 2024

In this webinar, Gil Penalosa and I discuss how our cities, buildings, and homes must adapt to create environments where young children and families can be safe, healthy, and grow to be resilient and flourish. See the recording here.

Panelist, International Society for Urban Health Conference, 2023

In this plenary session featuring Georges C. Benjamin, Carlos Dora, and Nathaniel Smith, we discussed how proactive climate action by governments, businesses, and communities can improve health, protect biodiversity, promote sustainability, and mitigate the impacts of climate disruptions, particularly in cities.

A colorful illustrated urban planning infographic about playing in the changing climate, highlighting outdoor spaces, nature solutions, and community involvement, with suggestions for quick fixes and long-term planning.

Play in the Changing Climate, Urban Design Forum, 2023

Curated and facilitated a breakfast discussion with Urban Design Forum on adopting a nature-based design approach for schoolyards and playgrounds to make cities greener, safer, and more nurturing for children.

Panel discussion at Bloomberg CityLab on designing an accessible city with four panelists including a woman holding a baby and a man in a wheelchair, audience listening.

Bloomberg City Lab, 2022

An illuminating discussion with Victor Penida and Fergus O'Sullivan about creating truly accessible cities. Freshly back from my maternity leave, I shared the challenges and opportunities cities face in improving access and accessibility for babies, toddlers, and caregivers. The conversation was particularly meaningful as I was also joined by my son, who was just 5 months old at the time.

Group of people standing outdoors on paved ground with chalk drawings. There are adults, children, and a baby stroller. Some people are holding props like animal masks and a pumpkin. Behind them are trees, a sports court, and residential buildings.

Walkshop at Walk 21, 2019

Led a walkshop where participants stepped into the shoes of children and caregivers. Some used sticks at 95 cm to view the city from the perspective of a three year old, while others navigated busy streets with strollers or carrying rice bags in baby onesies.
I also presented insights on how tactical interventions can lay the groundwork for long-lasting change, enhancing both safety and comfort in the meantime.

A woman standing on a stage giving a presentation at a conference, with a large screen behind her displaying an image of two people outdoors in a snowy environment. The venue is ornate with chandeliers and statues, and there are banners and flags around the stage.

Opening Keynote, Child in the City Conference 2018

“We have the space – we just need to reclaim it.”
An opening keynote speech at Child in the City 2018 to shine a light on how cities can be made truly child-friendly.

Presenter, NACTO’s Designing Cities Conference 2017, Chicago.

Seeing is Believing
Improving our streets can take time, and bringing communities along requires effort. Often, we need a common language to facilitate this process. At the NACTO Designing Cities conference, I shared how the language of design can empower designers, advocates, and residents to envision and believe in the change they want to see.