For America’s Cities, the Future Can Be Found in the Past
When looking at our cities, can you see the life that you imagined leading? Where do you spend your time? Are our cities inspiring and comforting? Do they offer beauty and health, opportunities and creative experience? Are they rich in culture and distinct in identity?
Imagine our cities. Where are they? In valleys and plains, on rivers and on oceans and in forests; most of us live in cities. Whether we live in a town or in a suburban neighborhood, we belong to an urban center where we carry out our day-to-day lives.
I am who I am today because of my upbringing, and my city.
I grew up in an old city. I walked to stores and cafés and friends’ houses. For longer treks, various forms of public transportation were added to the route. As a child, I rode trolley cars and marveled at the single-lever control that guided the car on its tracks through busy park lanes, neighborhoods, and boulevards. In them, I admired the beautiful scale and details of everyday life. I used minutes to measure distance, allowing time for meandering, wandering, and exploring. I grew to know my city, and it became a part of me. Cities create personalities, likes, dislikes, and present life choices. I am who I am today because of my upbringing–by both my family and by my city. Click Here to Read the Rest
