Debating the Future of Urban Transportation

March 25th, 2022

There are many different visions for the city of the future. LSE Cities, a research center at the London School of Economics and Political Science, recently conducted a global survey of 342 urban thinkers and practitioners from 52 countries to learn more. These experts shared their predictions, and insights on how their cities were addressing transportation shifts driven by COVID-19. One of the most prominent changes seen around the world has been a decrease in ridership of public transportation as individuals shifted to active transport like biking, or reliance on privately owned cars. These shifts require new ways of thinking about our cities, and are an opportunity to approach public transportation and urban planning differently.

Community Changemaker Dion Dawson: Addressing Food Insecurity in Chicago

March 23, 2022

How would you react if you saw members of your community struggling? If you were Dion Dawson, you would do something about it.

Dawson, a native of the Englewood neighborhood of South Chicago, witnessed his community suffering during the early months of 2020 following the impacts of the pandemic. Across the nation, people lost their jobs, schools closed, and food insecurity spiked — Englewood was no different. The Greater Chicago Food Dispensary reported a 120 percent increase in demand for their services.

Instead of just thinking about how his neighbors were in need, Dawson sprang into action. He set up a GoFundMe campaign to raise $2,500 to feed 100 families in Englewood. Not only did he raise the money in less than 24 hours, people wanted to donate more.