20th Anniversary — Accelerating City Equity Project ‘Starter Kit’ for Practitioners

Workshop Facilitator & Moderator:
Patrin Watanatada – Accelerating City Equity (ACE) Project Advisor
Patrin leads the development of the Accelerating City Equity (ACE) Starter Kit to help people working in city government, nonprofits and community-based organisations develop approaches to advancing equity in their communities and places. Patrin is founder and principal of thinkfeelchange, a solo consultancy helping foundations, nonprofits, and creative businesses grow their distinctive impact for a more equitable world, with a particular focus on the intersection of cities, health, climate action, and equity. She was previously the first knowledge for policy director at the Bernard van Leer Foundation, where she helped develop their award-winning Urban95 programme to link urban planning and healthy early childhoods. Patrin is chair of the board of Capita, a think tank working to build a future where all children and families flourish. She is involved with her local antiracism and climate action groups, and has become passionate about community-led change.

Panelists: 
Dian Tri Irawaty, Program Director at Rujak Center for Urban Studies, Jakarta, Indonesia
Dian Tri Irawaty gained her PhD in Geography from UCLA. She researches social movements, urban politics, and housing. Her dissertation project examines resistance to eviction in Jakarta and grassroots movements fighting for housing justice through insurgent planning. Currently, she is the Program Director at the Rujak Center for Urban Studies.

Martha Halbert, Social Inclusion Specialist, Cork City Council, Ireland
Martha Halbert is Social Inclusion Specialist for Cork City Council, Ireland. The local authority leads on the RAPID programme- Revitalising Areas through Planning, Investment and Development, focusing on communities with traditionally poor health and socio economic outcomes. As a team whose work is rooted in the principals of community development, engagement and co-creation, the Placemaking approach has recently become a grounding focus for the Council’s work with communities, the third sector and other state agencies for the betterment of the community. Martha focuses on the implementation and support of community development initiatives, cultivating networks and relationships, and on centring the voice, knowledge and lived experience of communities of geography and identity.

Regina Opondo, Senior Community Principal at Kounkuey Design Initiative, Nairobi, Kenya
Regina is a Justice and Peace worker currently serving as a Senior Community Principal at Kounkuey Design Initiative - Kenya (KDI). Regina seeks to advocate for social justice and the equitable development of all people using her abilities to contribute to the achievement of a culture of human rights, good governance, and justice. She supports KDI’s commitment to the community-driven transformation of public spaces through partnership, capacity development, advocacy, and networking. Regina has and continues to provide leadership in several Civil Society networks and organizations including the Independent Medico-Legal Unit (IMLU) and the Elections Observation Group (ELOG). She is passionate about the arts and keen to explore how arts and technology can strengthen civic engagement and organizing especially for women and girls.