Since 2013, The Urban Social Forum (USF) has become an open and inclusive space organized by Indonesia’s HIC Member Kota Kita to create an open and inclusive space for exchanging knowledge, debating ideas, and networking between civil society organizations, activists, academics, and students working on pressing urban issues.
This 2021 edition has been the 8th year when the USF persists to affirm the slogan “Another City is Possible!” as a call to facilitate critical conversations about what kind of city we want and need, and how cities can be more inclusive of all kinds of aspirations, communities, people, and futures.
The Urban Social Forum brings together civil society members, social activists, experts, organizations, students, members of communities, and citizens to discuss and participate in a critical debate about the direction of Indonesia’s urban development. Year after year, the USF grows and expands the critical conversation about what kind of city we want and need, and how cities can be more inclusive of all kinds of aspirations, communities, people, and futures.
Opening Plenary: Another City is possible
On 7 September 2021, HIC participated in the Opening Plenary: Another City is Possible! where participants discussed new forms of activism rising, the leverage of various digital tools and platforms to organize and mobilize to advocate for systemic change.
The discussion was moderated by Prodita Sabarini, Executive Director of The Conversation Indonesia, with speakers including Ahmad Rifai from Kota Kita, our President Adriana Allen from Habitat International Coalition, Rodrigo Faria G. Iacovini from Polis Institute, and Beka Ulung Hapsara from Indonesia’s National Commission for Human Rights (Komnas HAM). Ashok Das also joined us as a discussant.
Over the course of four days (7th-11th September), the International Mini Forum became a space to exchange ideas and knowledge on how we can create better cities for all, you can watch the sessions of the Forum here. From October to December, Kota Kita will continue the conversation back to the city scale and co-host local discussions in two cities of Indonesia – Jakarta, and Makassar.
For more info: visit Kota Kita website
