(New York, November 11, 2020) – The Resilient Cities Network (R-Cities) congratulates U.S. President-elect Joseph R. Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala D. Harris on their victory in the recent national election.
“The result is a win, not only for the American people, but for people around the world,” said Lauren Sorkin, Executive Director of R-Cities. “The Biden-Harris platform aligns with our global Network’s priorities for action, emphasizing equity and compassion, safety and health, as well as climate resilience and prosperity. It is a promise for a return to the collaborative action necessary to address the complex challenges facing cities today.”
The Covid-19 pandemic, for instance, while laying bare disparities faced by communities, has also created an opportunity to remake the economic systems that have exacerbated racial inequalities. Throughout the pandemic, R-Cities has been on the frontlines, ensuring the most vulnerable populations are accounted for both in city response and recovery plans. The path from this pandemic must be thoughtful, innovative, and take an intentionally resilient approach. The newly elected national leadership in the United States comes in at the right time to help lead the world by example.
“Advancing the actions and investments laid out by the Biden-Harris transition team will require a holistic approach that leverages knowledge across public, private and non-profit sectors to truly build back better,” emphasized Chief Resilience Officer for the City and County of San Francisco and R-Cities Global Steering Committee member, Brian Strong. “To be effective, we need to leverage existing coalitions, and build new ones, based on the principles of respect, understanding, and our desire for a safer world. For this reason, R-Cities invites all cities to join our coalition. Together we can continue to work collaboratively, to build capacity, finding better ways of communicating and coordinating across sectors to solve complex challenges.”
“R-Cities stands ready to leverage knowledge and solutions from our city-led Network as input for the next Administration’s agenda,” Marissa Aho, Chief Resilience Officer for the City of Houston and R-Cities Global Steering Committee member made clear. “Our experts, including practitioners in 24 cities in the U.S., are uniquely positioned, with an ear to the ground advancing racial equity, COVID and economic recovery, and climate change responses in a way that is integrated and puts people first.”
As the world’s leading urban resilience network, R-Cities members and resilience practitioners look forward to working alongside the new administration. We welcome the opportunity to help leverage global allies and partners working every day to develop practical urban resilience solutions charting a clear path forward for a safer and more equitable world.
About Resilient Cities Network (R-Cities)
Resilient Cities Network is a global city-led non-profit organization that brings together knowledge, practice, partnerships, and funding to empower cities to help them build a safe, equitable, and sustainable future for all. The Network integrates the combined effort of urban practitioners, city governments, and communities in a collective, comprehensive, and well-coordinated call-to-action to deliver urban impact-driven resilience solutions.
Media Contact
Nikki Rudnick
nrudnick@resilientcitiesnetwork.org
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