Stay Informed and Connected: Sign Up for Our Newsletter!

August 29, 2024

Are you passionate about urbanism, community development, and the transformative potential of cities across Africa and the diaspora? If so, we have something special for you! Our newsletter is your gateway to staying updated, inspired, and engaged with the latest events, opportunities, and stories from the vibrant communities we serve.

Why Subscribe?

Here’s what you can expect as a subscriber:

1. Be in the Know About Upcoming Events & Opportunities From conferences and workshops to funding opportunities and community initiatives, our newsletter will keep you informed about events and opportunities that matter to you. Whether you're an urban planner, community leader, or someone deeply invested in the future of African cities and the diaspora, you'll always have the latest information at your fingertips.

2. Exclusive Sneak Peeks at Upcoming Podcast Episodes Love our podcast? Get early access to episode previews, behind-the-scenes content, and insider insights. We’ll share the stories and voices that are shaping urbanism across Africa and the diaspora, giving you a front-row seat to the conversations driving change.

3. Opportunities to Contribute Your voice matters! We’re always looking for contributors who are eager to share their experiences, insights, and ideas. Whether you have a story to tell, a topic you’re passionate about, or research you want to highlight, our newsletter and podcast offer platforms for your contributions. Find out about the Good News Report and how you can get involved.

4. Access to Resources on Urbanism in Africa and the Diaspora Stay ahead with curated resources, articles, and research related to urbanism across Africa and the diaspora. Whether you’re looking for inspiration, knowledge, or tools to drive change in your community, our newsletter will provide you with valuable content to support your journey.

Join Our Community

By subscribing to our newsletter, you're not just staying informed; you're joining a community of like-minded individuals who are passionate about the future of African cities and the diaspora. Together, we can share knowledge, foster connections, and inspire action toward a more sustainable, inclusive, and vibrant future.

So what are you waiting for? Sign up today, and let’s build something great together!

Subscribe Now

Stay connected, stay informed, and be part of the movement

Urban Limitrophe Featured on Radio Free Urbanism

August 26, 2024

We’re thrilled to announce that Urban Limitrophe has been featured in a new episode of Radio Free Urbanism! In this engaging and thought-provoking discussion, Alexandra, the host of Urban Limitrophe and one half of Untitled Planning, joins the Radio Free Urbanism gang to tackle some of the most pressing issues facing our cities today.

In this episode, we dive into the complex world of urban planning, shedding light on critical topics that impact our daily lives:

Transportation Misinformation
Calgary BIA Baloney
Toronto's New Food Hall
The Tragic Acceptance of Deaths on Our Streets
and more!

Tune in to Radio Free Urbanism to hear the full episode, and don't forget to check out Urban Limitrophe for more in-depth discussions on the future of our cities!

Episode 24: How Think Tanger's Multicultural Approach Transforms Suburban and Urban Spaces | Amine Houari & Naziha Nasrin

August 15, 2024

The suburbs are often left out of urban planning conversations, but in many cities around the world as they become more and more diverse, they present interesting opportunities to explore strategies for multicultural planning, that bridge services between the city centre and often under-resourced peripheries and celebrate the distinct cultures evolving.

In this episode, we're headed to Tangier, Morocco. My co-host Naziha Nasrin and I speak with Amine Houari of Think Tanger, a non-profit cultural agency shaping Tangier's development through art, research, and collaboration. Together, we discuss crucial topics such as creative insurgency, planning in suburban contexts in Toronto (Scarborough) and Tangier (Bir Chifae), multicultural approaches to community development, and insights for other cultural planning organizations. Additionally, we offer advice for Western cities planning for diverse cultural contexts.

Key insights from the episode include:

Planning in multicultural cities and suburbs
The importance of people-centred practices to urban/suburban development
Think Tanger's StudioCity program and how it promotes dialogue, arts, city-building, and neighbourhood pride in Tangier
The foundational elements of Think Tanger's approach to fostering a more inclusive and engaged community
Exploring the colonial history of Tangier and its impact on the city's culture and built environment
How Think Tanger uses publications like their magazine MAKAN and their store KIOSK alongside residency programs to support the decolonization of arts and culture in the city
Crafting inclusive approaches that resonate with the unique cultural and historical context of a city
Strengthening cultural programming and development through strategic collaborations and financial support
Inclusive approaches to cultural planning

Guest: Amine Houari, Think Tanger

Amine Houari, born in Fez, and based in Tangier Morocco is a freshly graduated architect and a documentary photographer, with a deep passion for territoriality and urbanism.

Amine:

LinkedIn: Amine Houari
Instagram: @AmineHou.ari

Think Tanger

Website: www.think-tanger.com
Instagram: @think-tanger

Co-Host: Naziha Nasrin, Program Director of plazaPOPS

My name is Naziha and I am a recent graduate from the University of Toronto's Masters in Planning program. Prior to that, I also completed my undergraduate degree at UofT with a major in Public Policy and a double minor in City Studies and International Development. I'm very passionate about city building and my research interests particularly focus on public space, land use and cultural planning. My research focuses on creating inclusive and equitable public spaces for the Muslim community, particularly Muslim women in relation to prayer and multi-faith rooms and ablution stations in the public realm.

LinkedIn: Naziha Nasrin
Website: www.plazaPOPS.ca

Timestamps

01:44 | Introduction to Naziha, Scarborough, and plazaPOPS

12:27 | Can you please introduce yourself and share a bit about who you are and the work that you do?

14:10 | What is the Think Tanger and how was it created?

18:25 | Can you explain the different work that Think Tanger does, specifically your Studio City program?

27:45 | What does an inclusive approach to your work mean?

33:04 | What does a form of cultural planning look like for you? What are some barriers that your organization has faced when trying to establish new programs like Studio City?

40:07 | How do colonial influences whether French, Spanish, or Arab, affect communal expressions of art, culture, and planning practices in terms of how Think Tanger wants to move forward?

44:41 |Do you have any recommendations that Western cities like Toronto can implement to what Think Tanger is doing?

54:41 | What’s next for Think Tanger?/How can people get involved?

58:51 | Key takeaways from Naziha and Alexandra

Show Notes

Acknowledgements

Sponsorships

This episode is co-sponsored by the University of Toronto School of Cities and the Department of Geography and Planning.

The School of Cities "convenes urban-focused researchers, educators, students, practitioners and the general public to explore and address complex urban challenges, with the aim of making cities and urban regions more sustainable, prosperous, inclusive and just". To learn more about the School of Cities visit www.schoolofcities.utoronto.ca.

To learn more about the Department of Geography and Planning and the different undergraduate and graduate programs available please visit www.geography.utoronto.ca.

Support

Editor + Music Producer: Imany Lambropoulos
Podcast Host and Graphic Designer: Alexandra Lambropoulos

Stay in the loop!

If you would like to be interviewed, have an interesting idea to share for an episode, or have any feedback on the podcast, please email at hello[at]urbanlimitrophe.com or DM on social media!

If you enjoy the show, please share it with your family, friends, Upholsterer, User Experience Designer (UX/UI Designer), Urban Planner (👀) ... and leave a review, or you can buy me a coffee here!

Make sure to subscribe to the newsletter and follow the podcast on Instagram to stay in the loop for upcoming episodes and opportunities to engage with guests and the show.

Watch the Documentary 'Nothing for Us, Without Us: Anti-Black Racism in Canadian City Planning'

August 05, 2024

Photo Credit: Shae Yearwood

I had the honour of narrating the School of Cities documentary, Nothing For Us, Without Us: Anti-Black Racism in Canadian City Planning. The full film is now available on YouTube, where you'll discover the challenges, opportunities, and communities working to make our cities more inclusive, vibrant, and just.

This docuseries delves into how anti-Black racism has been embedded in Canadian urban development, renewal, and gentrification policies. It emphasizes the exclusion of Black businesses, organizations, and leaders from decision-making processes, leading to an unequal distribution of services and resources. The series highlights how the reluctance to acknowledge anti-Black racism in urban planning creates the illusion that systemic injustices do not exist. It also explores the impact of real estate capitalism on displacing Black communities and showcases how Black leaders and organizations in Canada are creating space and opportunities for Black and marginalized communities to thrive.

Launch Event

In addition, I had the pleasure of joining a panel discussion with the city-builders featured in the film—Mapfumo Chidzonga, Kofi Hope, Cheryll Case, and Leighana Mais—hosted by Jamilla Mohamud in February 2023. We discussed insights from the movie, explored approaches for a more inclusive city-building sector, and celebrated the hard work of Black communities across the country in preserving their cultures and advocating for more inclusive policies and opportunities for future generations. This quote from Mapfumo Chidzonga from the event captures the essence of our discussion:

“Our collective effort to shed light on the systemic challenges of anti-Black racism in city planning is a testament to the power of collaborative action and community engagement.”

Photo Credit: Shae Yearwood

Watch the Video

Movie Description:
Black communities in Canada have been marginalized and undervalued by the planning and design of cities. The SofC docuseries 'Nothing for us, without us' explores the ways that anti-Black racism is embedded in the policies and practices of urban development, renewal and gentrification. Using Hogan’s Alley in Vancouver, Africville in Halifax, and Little Jamaica in Toronto as examples, it argues that Black businesses, organizations and leadership are missing from the rooms where planning decision are made, resulting in the unequal distribution of services and resources in urban areas.

Nothing for us without us is a film by Ricardo Lopez-McDonald, featuring Cheryll Case (Founder and Executive Director, CP Planning); Amina Yasin (Director, Hogan’s Alley Society & Co-Chair, Vancouver City Planning Commision); Kofi Hope (CEO & Co-founder, Monumental & Urbanist-in-Residence, School of Cities); Mapfumo Chidzonga (Senior Engagement Strategist, Government of Nova Scotia); Leighana Mais (Community Leader, Keele + Eglinton Residents Group). Narrated by Alexandra Lambropoulos (Urban Limitrophe / Untitled Planning).

Episode 23: How the Bicycle Mayor of Toronto is Making Toronto's Streets Safer for All with Lanrick Bennett Jr. (Co-Hosts: Joycelyn Guan & Erin Asaba)

December 21, 2023

Join me, along with my co-hosts Joycelyn and Erin, as we dive into an insightful conversation with Lanrick Bennett Jr., Toronto's first Bicycle Mayor, and the Executive Director of Charlie's FreeWheels. We explore his tenure as a bike mayor and the expansive network of BYCS-appointed mayors, stretching from India to Uganda and beyond.

In this episode, we discuss crucial topics such as Vision Zero and efforts to reduce vehicular-related fatalities in Toronto. We delve into designing inclusive cycling infrastructure and offer advice for those looking to cycle in the city and who want to get involved in making their streets safer for all.

Key insights from the episode include:

Understanding the significance of inclusive cycling infrastructure
Exploring how Shaw St has evolved into Toronto's cycling haven
The importance of political will in creating safer streets
Ways to actively contribute to advocating for safer streets in your community
Insights from international transit advocates on Toronto's cycling infrastructure
What it takes to ensure safer streets for cyclists, pedestrians, and drivers alike
The global network of Bicycle Mayors and their impact on urban development

You can listen to the podcast on Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | RSS | Apple Podcasts

Guest: Lanrick Bennett Jr., Bicycle Mayor of Toronto + Charlie's Freewheels

Lanrick Bennett Jr is currently the Executive Director of Charlie's FreeWheels. His previous work has kept him within the active transportation, urban design, and placemaking sphere. His city advocacy work started with his son traveling to all 100 libraries by public transit. He volunteers with the Bike Brigade and HousingNowTO and has been Toronto’s first Bicycle Mayor since 2021.

Website: www.charliesfreewheels.ca/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lanrickbennettjr/

Co-Host: Joycelyn Guan, Urban Planner

Joycelyn is an urban planner passionate about collaborating with others to develop equitable, accessible and inclusive neighbourhoods and cities. They are interested in connecting people through community economic development, parks and recreation, and sports and sports infrastructure.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joycelyn-guan-a4a074227/

Co-Host: Erin Asaba, Aspiring Urban Planner