GIL PENALOSA – “8 80 CITIES, FOR EVERYONE”
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Gil Penalosa is passionate about cities for all people. He advises decision makers and communities worldwide on how to create vibrant cities and healthy communities for all, regardless of age, gender, ability and social, economic, or ethnic background. His focus is on the design and use of parks and streets as great public places, as well as the promotion of sustainable mobility: walking, riding bicycles, using public transit, and new use of cars. Gil has worked in over 350 different cities across all continents.
Gil is the Founder and Chair of the Canadian non-profit organization 8 80 Cities. In addition, Gil is founder of Cities for Everyone and leads the international consulting firm, Gil Penalosa & Associates. In 2022 Gil ran for mayor of Toronto. In 100 days, he got 100,000 votes, and changed the conversation, which was his objective. His focus was on how to create an affordable, equitable, and sustainable city, a Toronto for Everyone.
Throughout his career, Gil has been a strong advocate for improving city parks, making his first mark in Bogotá, Colombia, where he led the design and construction of over 200 parks – including Simon Bolivar, a 113-hectare park in the heart of the city. His team also radically transformed the Ciclovía / Open Streets – from a program of few kilometers to one that sees over a million people walk, run, skate and bike along 121 kilometers of Bogotá’s city roads every Sunday of the year, and today is internationally recognized and emulated.
Gil was elected twice as chair of World Urban Parks and was its first ambassador. He holds an MBA from UCLA’s Anderson School of Management, where he was selected as one of the “100 Most Inspirational Alumni” in the school’s history. Gil received a Doctorate Honoris Causa from the Faculty of Urban Planning at the prominent Swedish university, SLU. He was named one of Planetizen’s Top 50 Most Influential Urbanists, and received the World Urban Parks Annual Distinguished Individual Award.
About CIVIQ
A free, quarterly speaker series introducing and humanizing national and international movements in urban design. Chattanooga Design Studio aims to position Chattanoogans to leave feeling inspired, informed, and activated. More than a lecture, each event is intended to equip the city to think differently about challenges faced in our community. Our gratitude to the Lyndhurst Foundation for seeding and sustaining CIVIQ.
A special thanks to Presenting Sponsor, PlayCore, for helping to make this event possible. We also thank Community Partner, Chattanooga Public Library, and City of Chattanooga Parks & Outdoors for supporting our mission and CIVIQ.
For more information about Chattanooga Design Studio, visit chattanoogastudio.com
