Grove Harris, the Temple of Understanding’s Representative to the United Nations, will join the Green Hope Foundation for their annual side event at the UN High Level Political Forum: Centering Health, Equity, and Lived Experience in Sustainable Urban Development. The side event will take place from 4:15 to 6 p.m. July 6 in Conference Room 8 at the United Nations headquarters.
The side event will examine critical dimensions of urban sustainability – including health, safety, accessibility, inclusion, and wellbeing – that remain insufficiently integrated into policy and practice despite their profound impacts on quality of life and equitable development outcomes. Policymakers, practitioners, civil society representatives and other stakeholders will discuss elements of sustainable cities including inclusive public spaces, safe and sustainable housing, and community-led solutions. Participants will explore how to strengthen the implementation of SDG 11 – to make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.
Grove is excited to add the TOU ideas about civic spaces as “Temples of Understanding.” Libraries, schools, museums, cafes and pubs, and all places where people gather for community and mutual understanding are essential soft infrastructure for peace in our cities and our world, Grove said.