There's so much happening at the World Urban Forum. It can be very overwhelming! Our team of Christian leaders is staying on task, though. We've been out networking with the other leaders at this event, conducting interviews, sharing about what we're up to, inviting people to our UN sanctioned networking event, and dreaming about next steps for our collaborative movement. WUF 10 created plenty of interesting spaces for these discussions (and power naps on the beanbags).
Many of the workshops at WUF 10 focus on collaborative efforts between UN agencies and civic society organizations. The first workshop that I attended focused on how urban growth in sub-Saharan Africa has traditionally occurred in megacities, but now that growth is taking place more in secondary cities of 300,000 people or less. UNICEF and UN Habitat are collaborating in some of those cities to engage in poverty alleviation efforts among children and youth. Many of the leaders that I have the privilege of working with at Bakke Graduate University are engaged in similar type of transformational efforts in that region. Our BGU leaders are on the cutting edge of innovate relief, development, and advocacy work in that region of the world.
Part of the work that I'm engaged in involves equipping business leaders to transform cities through economics of mutuality. There were many places where economic principles were being discussed at WUF 10, and I was reminded again that BGU's work in empowering business leaders to make a difference in the world is much needed. I also experienced a push for universities with an emphasis on urban issues to partner together at several of the talks that I attended today.
At home in Pittsburgh, I've experienced first hand at North Way Christian Community and with friends from the Imagine movement that Christians are impacting cities through mentoring, orphan care, refugee care, poverty alleviation efforts, and advocacy work. I've enjoyed sharing many stories with leaders that I'm engaging with here in Abu Dhabi. There is often a negative connotation connected to religious activity around the world that has at times been destructive, but I think it's important to share with the world about the positive work of faith groups whenever I have the chance. The Urban Cinema Chris Elisara organized at WUF 10 isn't just focused on transformational faith work, but the films are being received well by delegates who stopping by the booth. Films are another great way to share the narrative of the importance of transformational urban work.
I've been discovering so many amazing resources to share with BGU and TULI leaders. There are many interactive urban mapping resources and books that will be helpful with urban research. I've been invited to participate in a workshop that is being conducted by the Urban Expansion Observatory later in the week. I'm looking forward to learning more about that resource.
At 4:30pm, several years worth of work at Faith-based Urban Thinkers Campuses throughout the urban world culminated in our UN Habitat sanctioned networking event where we shared our outcomes with the world. We organized faith leaders who had been present at the UTCs, and others who came to Abu Dhabi especially to present their research.
We had some challenging discussions on the tensions and challenges of interfaith work, and we also had some incredible break throughs. It was encouraging to be a part of peacemaking discussions in a world that experiences so much violence between religions. All in all, we were very pleased with how everything turned out.
I finished the day off with a dinner with friends from the Urban Shalom Society where we debriefed about the day's events, and planned for the next day. This is such a special group of people to me. I've developed many life long friendships out of this global advocacy work over the past several years. After dinner I enjoyed a stroll around the city center of Abu Dhabi.
It's hard to believe, but our final advocacy event is scheduled to happen the afternoon of February 11 with six presenters sharing about their research and transformational practices in modern cities. Please pray that the last event will go well, and that our team can continue to connect well with the other participants at WUF 10. It's been an amazing journey so far!
Many of the workshops at WUF 10 focus on collaborative efforts between UN agencies and civic society organizations. The first workshop that I attended focused on how urban growth in sub-Saharan Africa has traditionally occurred in megacities, but now that growth is taking place more in secondary cities of 300,000 people or less. UNICEF and UN Habitat are collaborating in some of those cities to engage in poverty alleviation efforts among children and youth. Many of the leaders that I have the privilege of working with at Bakke Graduate University are engaged in similar type of transformational efforts in that region. Our BGU leaders are on the cutting edge of innovate relief, development, and advocacy work in that region of the world.
Part of the work that I'm engaged in involves equipping business leaders to transform cities through economics of mutuality. There were many places where economic principles were being discussed at WUF 10, and I was reminded again that BGU's work in empowering business leaders to make a difference in the world is much needed. I also experienced a push for universities with an emphasis on urban issues to partner together at several of the talks that I attended today.
At home in Pittsburgh, I've experienced first hand at North Way Christian Community and with friends from the Imagine movement that Christians are impacting cities through mentoring, orphan care, refugee care, poverty alleviation efforts, and advocacy work. I've enjoyed sharing many stories with leaders that I'm engaging with here in Abu Dhabi. There is often a negative connotation connected to religious activity around the world that has at times been destructive, but I think it's important to share with the world about the positive work of faith groups whenever I have the chance. The Urban Cinema Chris Elisara organized at WUF 10 isn't just focused on transformational faith work, but the films are being received well by delegates who stopping by the booth. Films are another great way to share the narrative of the importance of transformational urban work.
I've been discovering so many amazing resources to share with BGU and TULI leaders. There are many interactive urban mapping resources and books that will be helpful with urban research. I've been invited to participate in a workshop that is being conducted by the Urban Expansion Observatory later in the week. I'm looking forward to learning more about that resource.
At 4:30pm, several years worth of work at Faith-based Urban Thinkers Campuses throughout the urban world culminated in our UN Habitat sanctioned networking event where we shared our outcomes with the world. We organized faith leaders who had been present at the UTCs, and others who came to Abu Dhabi especially to present their research.
We had some challenging discussions on the tensions and challenges of interfaith work, and we also had some incredible break throughs. It was encouraging to be a part of peacemaking discussions in a world that experiences so much violence between religions. All in all, we were very pleased with how everything turned out.
I finished the day off with a dinner with friends from the Urban Shalom Society where we debriefed about the day's events, and planned for the next day. This is such a special group of people to me. I've developed many life long friendships out of this global advocacy work over the past several years. After dinner I enjoyed a stroll around the city center of Abu Dhabi.
It's hard to believe, but our final advocacy event is scheduled to happen the afternoon of February 11 with six presenters sharing about their research and transformational practices in modern cities. Please pray that the last event will go well, and that our team can continue to connect well with the other participants at WUF 10. It's been an amazing journey so far!
1 comment:
Bryan, This sounds like a very interesting event. Thank you for this blog. It helped us have a peak in your excitement.
Thanks for sharing.
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