MIAMI — Aug. 18, 2016 — The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation today announced $200,000 in support to CityLab 2016, an annual conference that brings together mayors and city leaders from around the globe to share and build new ideas in urban innovation and governance. CityLab: Urban Solutions to Global Challenges will be held in Miami from Oct. 23-25, and is presented by The Atlantic, the Aspen Institute and Bloomberg Philanthropies.
In its fourth year, CityLab convenes the world’s most creative mayors and city practitioners along with artists, academics, funders, and other public- and private-sector leaders focused on improving cities and identifying solutions. Previous CityLab summits have been hosted in London, Los Angeles and New York.
As with each CityLab host city, the story of Miami—its burgeoning financial sector, emerging startup and tech ecosystem, strong arts and cultural assets, and unique diversity—will be woven into the summit’s content on and off stage. Sessions will address topics of central importance to Miami and CityLab’s global audience, from the challenges of migration and changing demographics, to global health priorities and sea level rise, to affordable housing and economic inclusion.
“The event puts Miami on a global stage—as a place where leaders and problem-solvers meet to discuss ideas that can make our community and our world better,” said Matt Haggman, Knight Foundation program director for Miami. “It is a chance to showcase local innovation and share lessons, while learning from some of the greatest minds in urban transformation.”
“We’re looking forward to bring CityLab to Miami. It will provide a fascinating backdrop for our gathering,” says Margaret Low, president of AtlanticLIVE, the events division of The Atlantic. “We can’t wait to soak up what the city has to offer and to once again benefit from the support of Knight Foundation.”
With a focus on Latin America, this year’s gathering will also include finalists in Bloomberg Philanthropies’ 2016 Mayors Challenge, including leaders from Latin America and the Caribbean. CityLab will commence after a private, daylong mayors-only session called the Mayors Innovation Studio. Hosted by former New York Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, the studio focuses on the art and science of mayoral leadership and the specific tools and techniques that mayors are using to create more innovative, flexible and adaptive local governments.
At the last conference in London, an international group of mayors and urban leaders representing 133 cities and 44 countries gathered to share innovation and effective practices in urban governance. Conversations explored European cities and the refugee crisis, global perspectives on policing, how cities are dealing with government’s digital transformation, India’s booming urbanization, and innovative answers to affordable housing.
Over three years the award-winning event has welcomed as participants mayors from around the globe, including: Accra, Ghana; Athens, Greece; Atlanta, Georgia; Austin, Texas; Barcelona, Spain; Cape Town, South Africa; Denver, Colorado; Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, Israel; London; Los Angeles; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Montreal; Nairobi, Kenya; Oakland, California; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Schaerbeek, Belgium; Seoul, South Korea; and Washington, D.C., among others.
To learn more about CityLab or to request advance media credentials, please contact The Atlantic’s Anna Bross ([email protected]).
About the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation
Knight Foundation supports transformational ideas that promote quality journalism, advance media innovation, engage communities and foster the arts. We believe that democracy thrives when people and communities are informed and engaged. For more visit, knightfoundation.org.