Living on the Move: Insights from Three Months of Placemaking Abroad

Over the past three months, I’ve worked alongside diverse communities, cities, and changemakers across three continents. These experiences have powerfully reminded me of our shared challenges and the unique opportunities placemaking offers to create lasting, inclusive impact.

• World Urban Forum in Cairo: This global stage brought together leaders and practitioners to discuss systemic change. Placemaking aligned with the SDGs, showcasing how community-led solutions can address urban challenges. Our 20+ panels from Placemaking Leaders demonstrated unmatched geographical, gender, and cultural diversity, emphasizing the power of a truly global network to inspire and mobilize action.
• Placemaking Europe Week in Rotterdam: A collaboration and knowledge-sharing hub where European governments and practitioners demonstrated how creativity and strategic governance can navigate bureaucracy and empower communities to shape their cities. The event highlighted the potential of partnerships to drive innovative, impactful transformations.
• Bloomberg Philanthropies CityLab in Mexico City: A dynamic platform that emphasizes funding and scalable urban interventions as drivers for local impact. The discussions reinforced the potential for cities to harness resources creatively and implement bold, transformative projects for their communities.
• Placemaking Latin America in Bogotá and Medellín: These cities highlighted the region’s unique energy and leadership in community-driven action. Latin America’s momentum for change was evident, offering new approaches and strategies for fostering local impact that align with global goals.
• AMEX Leadership Academy in New York City: A gathering of nonprofit leaders and changemakers centered on purpose and collective leadership. It reinforced the value of shared vision and collaboration in creating systemic change and advancing community well-being.

These months of travel and engagement have strengthened my understanding of placemaking’s diversity and adaptability. From the vibrant streets of Cairo to the creative governance in the Netherlands, the grassroots energy in Medellín, and the local pride and funding opportunities in Iztapalapa, each experience has been a lesson in what it takes to create places that truly serve people.

Looking Ahead: As 2025 approaches, the work ahead is clear and focused:

• Fundación Placemaking México will strengthen its programs, foster government partnerships, and continue its action-oriented approach to create 52+ new public spaces—one every week during 2025.
• The Place Institute will continue to expand global programs, connecting local place efforts to broader goals like lovable cities, markets of care, and togetherness.
• Guillermo Bernal : After 15 years of studying and practicing placemaking, I’m ready to take on new challenges. I’m open to roles where I can apply my experience and expand my impact on a global scale.

The journey is far from over. These recent experiences have reaffirmed the need to turn ideas into action, strengthen connections, and ensure that places continue to bring people together in meaningful ways while honoring our path. Thank you to my family, friends, colleagues, and the placemaking community for being part of this journey.