On February 1st, 2019, the Center for Cities + Schools hosted the 2019 Symposium: The Power of Civic Learning for Resilient Cities at UC Berkeley in response to the 2017-2018 Y-PLAN Resilient by Design Youth Challenge. 

Over eighty civic leaders from around the Bay Area region came together to reflect on last year’s Youth Challenge where more than 800 young people developed proposals for a climate resilient Bay Area. This Symposium celebrated youth-generated proposals for resilient and inclusive housing, transportation, public space, and schools, services, and amenities, following up from the April 2018 Y-PLAN Youth Challenge Regional Summit held at UC Berkeley. From floating housing to greening schools to multi-benefit parks doubling as flood protection, Y-PLAN Student Scholars – from 3rd grade to UC Berkeley undergraduates – pushed the envelope on climate resilience, arguing that their existing resilience within their communities is a crucial starting point for adapting to climate change.

Download our Symposium Report Out to learn more. Check out event photos and watch the Youth Challenge video premiered at the Symposium.