Democratic City - An Education City in the 21st Century: A Roadmap for Social-Educational-Communal Change
Editors: Ron Dvir, Yael Arbel, Michal Giloboa-Ater and Yael Schwartzberg Designers: Noam Tamari and Bar Dvir
The book offers a comprehensive model for social-educational development of cities, towns, villages and regions. It is a source of inspiration and practical knowledge to the people that are charged with creating better education and society - mayors, urban and social planners, educators, local economy actors, researchers and social activists.
The book addresses the multiple spheres of operation that shape the city and explores how they interact together to create a great democratic city. It provide the reader with theories, practical methods and tools, case studies and a roadmap for implementing the change.
THE BOOK IS COMPOSED OF FOUR RICH SECTIONS:
SECTION ONE: Why a Democratic Education City? We will consider this question from an urban perspective, through questions that a city leader may ask him/herself, and from a personal perspective - the needs and challenges of city residents, young and old alike.
SECTION TWO: What is a Democratic Education City? We will take a bird's-eye view of the model and the manner in which its various dimensions act together.
SECTION THREE The ten Spheres of Operation of the Education City. In this section, we will dive into the different components of the program: the formal educational sphere, the informal education sphere, the citizen participation sphere, the leadership sphere, the economic sphere, the physical sphere, the cultural sphere, the technological sphere, the future sphere, the inclusion sphere. For each sphere, we will propose a methodological approach to handling it, and we will present focused applications, as well as cases that exemplify development of these urban spheres of operation.
SECTION FOUR: The journey to an Education City. In this section, we will illustrate how city leaders can implement the model in practice. We will present a strategic process of change, we will discuss the roles of the various players in the city and identify essential elements of success.
The rich content is complemented by rich design which is fresh, colorful and spiced with many photos, artworks and illustrations.
PRAISE FOR THE BOOK
"In order to change a city it is essential to have a scenario, a project, an idea that all - or the great majority - understand as desirable. If that is collectively understood, society will work towards its realization. A city is a shared dream, and the last refuge of solidarity. This book is a roadmap for understanding the city and realizing this dream" . Jaime Lerner, architect and urban planer, Former Mayor of Curitiba, Brazil
"Let's imagine way of creating places that really are without barriers for learning and participation, really motivated to be inclusive full of social aesthetics... The model presented in this book helps to change the cities that want to become better living places." Ines Boban & Prof. Dr. Andreas Hinz, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Germany
"This book is the best proof of the bridge that can be created between the desired future for all mankind living on our planet, and the possible future which is emerging in front of our very eyes, in many places around the world. The book manifests the power of human dedication and commitment and the possibility to bring about a desired future even when it seems far away". Judge (retired) Shlomo Shoham, Previously Commissioner of Future Generations in the Knesset Chairman, Global Sustainable Leadership Academy
