Project Team: Bahar Bayhan, Sena Nur Gölcük
Project Advisors: Fatih Artvinli, İlker Kayı, Kumru Çılgın, Selma Karabey
Researcher: Ayça Yüksel
In a time marked by macro-level threats such as wars, disasters, and crises, along with the severe experience of rising poverty, is it naive to bring ‘well-being’ in cities into the discussion? On the other hand, what do the voices of ‘we will heal,’ raised by the survivors from Antakya after the devastating February 6 earthquakes, tell us as they collectively mourn the loss of their city? Contrary to the approach that individualizes healing and views well-being as a concept solely related to personal development, disconnected from community dynamics, as the Center for Spatial Justice (MAD), we invite everyone to reflect on the impact of cities on the health and well-being of society, and to engage in discussions and advocacy on the politics of well-being.
On September 26, we gathered with 26 participants, including representatives of civil society organizations conducting rights-based work in various fields and advocates of the right to the city. During the workshop, we discussed the barriers and potentials for cities that support well-being, as well as the necessary actions to overcome these barriers and turn potentials into opportunities.
You can find the workshop report in Turkish, in the link below.
Our report titled “Guiding Principles for Ensuring Well-Being in Cities” written by Ayça Yüksel and prepared with the support of the MATRA Program of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, aims to discuss the impact of urban policies on public health and well-being ahead of the 2024 Local Elections, inviting discussions and advocacy on the politics of well-being.
The report will soon be available in English. Stay tuned for updates.
March 2, 2024, Saturday, 16:00 – 18:00, Postane, Galata
Panelist: Ayça Yüksel, Bahar Bayhan, Fatih Artvinli, İlker Kayı, Kumru Çılgın, Selma Karabey
Moderator: Sena Nur Gölcük
The launch event for our report titled “Guiding Principles for Ensuring Well-Being in Cities” took place on March 2, 2024. During the event, the preparation process, objectives, research findings, and the guiding principles for well-being presented in the report were discussed with the author and advisors. To watch the launch event with captions in English, visit out YouTube channel via the link below.
WELL-BEING IN CITIES UNDER THE PRESSURE OF LOCAL ELECTIONS
MAD YouTube
REPORT LAUNCH EVENT
MAD YouTube
Our podcast series* named “Well-being in Cities” started broadcasting. In the series we meet with experts to discuss how our health and state of well-being are influenced by urban issues and agendas. You can listen to the first 3 episodes on MADpodcast Spotify.
* The episodes are held in Turkish.
We collaborated with experts to prepare policy notes*, each referring to a different aspect of well-being in cities. They will soon be published online on our website.
* The policy notes are in Turkish.
As MAD, we find it important and necessary for municipalities to place public health and well-being at the center of their strategic plan visions. We have compiled our recommendations for municipalities in the process of preparing their strategic plans to integrate the Health and Well-Being Approach into their plans.
You can access the document by clicking the link below.
PODCAST:
Guiding Principles for Well-Being in Cities
Açık Mimarlık
INTERVIEW:
Is it too late to talk about well-being in cities?
TIP Dünyası
WEBINAR:
Strategic Planning for Well-Being in Cities
Marmara Municipalities Union
INTERVIEW:
Justice and Well-Being
ZoomyaTV
