The most powerful ingredient of happiness is strong positive social connections and it is so when it comes to making citizens and cities happier. Charles Montgomery speaks at Sam Sullivan's February 2014 Public Salon in Vancouver, BC, Canada. 

How can we be happier in cities? Charles Montgomery looks for answers at the intersection of urban design and the new science of happiness. In psychology, neuroscience, and behavio

ral economics, and in cityscapes from Disneyland to Dubai, he explores the link between the ways we design our cities and the ways we think, feel, and act. His work demonstrates how each of us can change our own lives by changing our relationship with the cities we inhabit.

Order his book from Amazon by clicking on the image or visit your local bookstore. Thank you.  

This is a proposal for the location of a Chinese style Green Grocer in the New Chinese Japanese Historical District of the Old Town Chinatown Neighborhood Association. Ruth Ann Barrett is a sustainability advocate living in the neighborhood with experience in community development, local government, association management and marketing. This is an update of an earlier version. Published on Oct 26, 2014

What do the youngest-ever President of the Sierra Club and the first Chief Sustainability Officer of Walmart have in common? They are co-founders of yerdle, the Bay Area startup that helps members to share and receive free items with their social network. Hear Adam Werbach and Andy Ruben speak about their convergent paths to the sharing economy and their insights on driving fundamental change in the private sector. Published on Dec 2, 2013

TEDxPhylly speech, Architecture critic Inga Saffron challenges cities to shift focus and look beyond skyscraper fantasies in her TEDxPhilly talk - "Moving from The Grand Vision to The Grand Adjustment." Cities should instead work to improve and build amenities that make urban areas better places to live for existing dwellers. Public spaces should be a priority: upgrade transit systems, add bike lanes to all major roadways, increase walkability, create and maintain great parks and public plazas. Saffron believes that skyscrapers are not the only way to achieve the worthy goal of density and sustainability. To explain, she points to the success of mid-rise buildings in Philadelphia and posits that different cities need a range of densities. American cities must be flexible and make adjustments - an idea jokingly demonstrated in Saffron's opening skyscraper yoga poses. Uploaded on Jan 29, 2012

Date: April 4, 2014

National Perspective on Homelessness with Nan Roman
Is ending homelessness a realistic goal -- or a utopian pipe dream? Nan Roman, President and CEO of the National Alliance to End Homelessness, will discuss what is known about the causes and nature of this difficult problem. She will examine emerging evidence-based solutions and the impact they have had on communities that adopt them. Finally she will consider whether there is adequate knowledge, capacity, and public and political will to end homelessness in our cities and in the nation once and for all.

Nan Roman, President and CEO of the National Alliance to End Homelessness, is a leading national voice on the issue of homelessness. It works with over 10,000 partner organizations and agencies across the nation. Published on Apr 4, 2014

Portland, Oregon gets a lot of attention for our strategic and efficient land-use planning and we are known as one of the greenest and most livable cities in the world. We've invested in and revitalized places like the Pearl District and Alberta, and they are highly desirable places to live, shop and eat. Portland is a city that strives for equitable and healthy communities, but are those goals tangible enough to get the work done? What will it take to move forward with projects like the Memorial Coliseum and Centennial Mills, which have been hot topics of discussion for decades? Brian Libby will moderate this program, while John Russell addresses these development issues and provides us with his ideas to keep development moving forward in our city, while keeping Portland's values intact. Published on Jan 16, 2013 by City Club of Portland.

This is Portland's oldest surviving brick commercial building. The Hallock & McMillan Building was built in 1857. It is located at 237 SW Naito Parkway in Portland, Oregon. The original architect was Absalom B. Hallock. The original cast-iron manufacturer was Phoenix Iron Works (San Francisco).

Published on Feb 25, 2014

Irish house performance and an external insulation upgrade in Rathfarnham.

People from all over the world express their concern over climate change and the future of our cities.

Published on Oct 24, 2012 by the A GoodPlanet Foundation project, based on an initiative, 7Billion Others, by Yann Arthus-Bertrand and supported by BNP Paribas.