The Department of Commerce-Main Street Initiative, in partnership with AARP, held a interactive and engaging Master Class with Gil Penalosa, founder of 8 80 Cities 8 80 Cities | Creating cities for all.
Gil (Guillermo) Penalosa is passionate about creating cities for all people. He has inspired and advised decision makers in more than 350 different cities around the world. His priority now is on the post-pandemic city, equitable and sustainable, where all people can live healthier and happier regardless of age, gender, race, ethnicity, ability, or socio-economic background.
His focus is on the design and use of parks, streets, sidewalks as great public places, as well as sustainable mobility: walking, riding bicycles, taking public transit, and new uses of cars. Gil highlights the benefits to public health, the environment, mobility, economic development.
Gil is Founder and Chair of 8 80 Cities, a successful Canadian-based international non-profit organization, grounded on a simple but powerful concept which still guides much of his work: What if everything we did in our cities had to be great for an 8-year-old and an 80-year-old? Surely, we would end up with fantastic cities for all!