All Things Urban

In a city short of funds where urban air pollution was a growing concern something creative needed to be done to change the city for the better. Elected in 2015 mayor Erion Veliaj has transformed the city, harnessing the power of its children, “a small revolutionary in every family” to help him. In his first year Veliaj took 40,000 sq m of land from illegal developments, making way for 31 new playgrounds. He instigated repeated traffic closures on the main Skanderbeg Square to allow children to play safely, now permanently car free the square sits at the centre of a pedestrian zone that has expanded monthly. The Mayor of Tirana will talk about his visions for the city and the difficulties of introducing change and talk with Amica Dall, one of the directors of Assemble, a democratically run architecture, art and design practice **Ticket registration** This event is free and open to all, and no registration is required. Entry is on a first-come, first-served basis. Our events are very well attended, so please make sure you arrive early to avoid disappointment. We cannot guarantee entry, but retain a limited number of tickets at the door on the evening.

The Urban95 Academy launched in January 2022 and has delivered the programme to 283 cities including 116 Mayors & Deputy Mayors from 75 countries across eight cohorts. Taking part in the Urban95 Academy connects you to a growing network of engaged and motivated urban practitioners around the world, who are working to improve the lives of young children and caregivers in their cities. [Find out more on our website](https://urban95academy.org/). [The London School of Economics and Political Science](https://www.lse.ac.uk/) is a social science university based in central London with a global reach. Ranked first in Europe and second in the world for social sciences and management in the QS subject rankings 2021. Since 1895 the LSE has been pioneering social science research, challenging existing ways of thinking, and seeking to understand the causes of things in order to transform them. [LSE Cities](https://www.lse.ac.uk/cities) is an international centre that investigates the complexities of the contemporary city. It carries out research, graduate and executive education, outreach and advisory activities in London and abroad. Extending LSE’s century-old commitment to the understanding of urban society, LSE Cities investigates how complex urban systems are responding to the pressures of growth, change and globalisation with new infrastructures of design and governance that both complement and threaten social equity and environmental sustainability. [The Van Leer Foundation](https://vanleerfoundation.org/) is an independent Dutch organisation working globally to foster inclusive societies where all children and communities can flourish. The Foundation brings together people with different perspectives and supports them to achieve large-scale impact. Their support involves a unique combination of funding, networks, executive education, technical assistance and knowledge.