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This article is in response to the recently published article from The Atlantic, “The Future of the City is Childless.” The article presents demographic data on the declining number of children in high-density cities like San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington, D.C., noting that in these cities, the fastest growing group is wealthy, college-educated whites without children, while families with children older than six are on the decline. The article points to the very real and pressing concerns facing many of today’s “superstar” cities, the rise of urban “workism” that favors capital and profit over family, the high and increasing costs of urban living, neighborhoods catering to millennial tastes for lattes and brunch spots over other amenities and services, and the simple fact that raising a kid in a city can be hard. Follow this link to read more. Sourced from: Brookings
The Department of Housing and Urban Development reports that for every $1 federal investment through Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) another $4.09 in private and public funds are leveraged. These leveraged funds allow communities to make large investments in LMI neighborhoods, where public services, affordable housing, and economic development are needed the most. Typically, states, counties, and municipalities distribute CDBG awards to local partners, who they collaborate with on the Consolidated Plan. Then, in coordination, the groups invest in development projects. Therefore, CDBG effectively acts as the catalyst for investment in at risk LMI areas that may otherwise not receive any substantial funding. Follow this link to read more. Sourced from: Cities Speak
Vertical farming company 80 Acres Farms is moving its headquarters to Butler County and has been granted a tax credit for committing to create 125 new jobs. 80 Acres Farms was founded in 2015 by Mike Zelkind and Tisha Livingston, two veteran food industry executives. It is supported by a board of directors representing executive and leadership experience at leading food, health care, and other companies. Hamilton is “the perfect home” for 80 Acres, given the company’s commitment to social responsibility, year-round sustainable farming, and innovative automation, according to Kimm Lauterbach, president and CEO of REDI Cincinnati. Follow this link to read more. Sourced from: Journal News
Evaluating impact is a priority of Extension programs. Assessing the impact of digital content and online learning opportunities is no less important than assessing the impact of traditional face-to-face programs, but it does require a bit more planning and preparation. Evaluation should be fully integrated into the development and design of online learning opportunities. This webinar will offer participants helpful information on incorporating evaluation into formal online learning through online courses and webinars and informal online learning through social media, videos, and e-newsletters. This webinar will be presented by Danae Wolfe and Debby Lewis on Monday, August 5, 2019 from 10-11 a.m. Follow this link for registration information. This webinar is a part of OSU Extension's Digital Engagement Webinar Series. Sourced from: CFAES
While the growing housing crisis stems from numerous factors, such as a housing shortage and lack of affordability, discrimination in the housing market has contributed to what is arguably the most important housing challenge: unequal access. Although the federal Fair Housing Act (FHA) of 1968 protects people from housing discrimination based on race, religion, national origin, sex, disability, and family status, thousands of discrimination complaints are filed each year by those who depend on housing vouchers. Since source of income is not protected by federal law, many cities and states have instituted additional fair housing laws to protect voucher holders. Follow this link to read more. Sourced from: Cities Speak
The National Science Foundation (NSF) is investing in a portfolio of interdisciplinary activities to advance fundamental knowledge about the diverse changes associated with urbanization to help the nation and the world address the challenges and seize the tremendous opportunities of urban systems. Key questions NSF is interested in having addressed include:
  • What theories explain the structure and function of urban systems and what are the critical drivers of change?
  • What aspects and intersections of social, built, and natural systems influence the resilience and sustainability of communities and the wellbeing of the people living in them?
  • Can successful innovations in one urban system be transferred to others?
  • Can science improve forecasts and make predictions about the future states of urban systems?
  • How can communities design urban systems from within to achieve beneficial outcomes?
Ohio State University has helped organize two NSF conferences to help frame an emergent research agenda that may serve as the basis for subsequent NSF calls for research proposals.
  • Exploring a Research Network of Urban Sustainability Observatories via Data-Enabled University-Community Partnerships was held July 15-16 in Columbus and focused on mobility. It was organized by Harvey Miller (OSU - CURA), Kristin Tufte (Portland State), Kelly  Clifton (Portland State), Sathya Gopalakrishnan (OSU – AEDE), and Gulsah Akar (OSU – CRP). Click here to view the conference abstract.
  • Wasted Food and Sustainable Urban Systems: Prioritizing Research Needs will be held September 9-10 in Baltimore, MD and will focus on research needs to address wasted food in urban settings.  It is organized by Sauleh Siddiqui (Johns Hopkins), Roni Neff (Johns Hopkins) and Brian Roe (OSU – AEDE).  Click here to view the conference abstract.
If you work on food waste topics in urban settings as either a practitioner or researcher, you are encouraged to provide your thoughts on what research would be most useful to forward progress on food waste.  Please click here to complete a brief survey. Article credits to Brian Roe
If you're looking for a reason to care about tree loss, the nation's latest heat wave might be it. Trees can lower summer daytime temperatures by as much as 10 degrees Fahrenheit, according to a recent study. But tree cover in U.S. cities is shrinking. A study published last year by the U.S. Forest Service found that we lost 36 million trees annually from urban and rural communities over a five-year period. That's a 1% drop from 2009 to 2014. If we continue on this path, "cities will become warmer, more polluted, and generally more unhealthy for inhabitants," said David Nowak, a senior U.S. Forest Service scientist and co-author of the study. Follow this link to read more. Sourced from: CNN Health
The Columbus Urban Farm Tour Series is a joint project sponsored by the Franklin County office of Ohio State University Extension and the Columbus Urban Farmers Network. The goal of the Columbus Urban Farm Tour Series tours is to demonstrate to the general public the many benefits of urban farms in Columbus. Join the tour August 10, 2019 from 10-11:30 a.m. as they visit Magic House Farms, a community-based urban farm spanning a half acre on converted vacant lots in the Franklinton neighborhood of Columbus. Follow this link for registration information. Sourced from: CFAES
Timothy McDermott (grey shirt) provides grower education for southside residents as part of the BuckeyeISA program.The City of Columbus, Franklin County Local Food Board and the Franklin County Local Food Council named Timothy McDermott, of OSU Extension, Franklin County as the winner of the Local Food Champion Award. Columbus City Council member Priscilla Tyson presented Tim with a resolution during a June Council meeting. “Tim’s work as the educational lead for the Buckeye ISA project, which assists family farmers in growing food to provide for their personal and family food security, is transforming the lives of family farmers, especially in the Linden community,” said Tyson. Follow this link to read more. Sourced from: City of Columbus
Hamilton County Public Health is now offering opioid users a way to test their drugs for the deadly synthetic opiate fentanyl. The health department's mobile syringe exchange program, The Exchange Project, will provide fentanyl test strips, which advocates say can prevent some overdoses. “Anything we can do to give people another chance at life and another chance to get into treatment is worth the effort,” said Hamilton County Health Commissioner Tim Ingram. Follow this link to read more. Sourced from: Cincinnati Enquirer

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