Last week saw the kick off of the global certificate I co-direct on human rights and the built environment (which, as someone mentioned recently, is pretty much my “love language”).
The course runs weekly over 10 Thursdays. I’ll share a window into each session here to reach those of you who aren’t on board for the full ride.
Like last year, the first point of inspiration is the diversity of the course participants, each bringing their unique perspective and expertise on the built world, how it is shaped, and how it could be shaped differently. The group includes people from nine countries, including Nepal, Nigeria, the UK and Ukraine.
During the opening I shared three “touchstones” that will recur at moments planned and unplanned throughout the course.
“Early action”: Identifying and acting on risks to people and opportunities for people at the earliest stages of the building lifecycle is key - whether for an individual building or a major infrastructure project.
Language: We speak different languages, literally and also professionally. Through the course we’ll find shared framings and paths of action while also acknowledging and drawing on these differences.
Humans + nature: While the course is focused on outcomes with and for people, the interconnections with the environment will be a through-thread. Building is consequential for both!
Additional touchstones may emerge as we go.
The guest faculty for this opening session was Alejandro Echeverri. He played an instrumental role in the “social urbanism” process in Medellín, Colombia from 2004 - 2012 which provided inspiration and lessons for cities around the world.
One of his key points: transformation is not a destination. A challenge can create the space to tackle it - when conditions are right and people come together. Which leads to innovation, and transformation, which in turn opens up new challenges to tackle, and so on. It’s a continuous journey.
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Check out the foundational report for the course, Dignity by Design