5
oped are composite indicators. This reflects the
recognition of complexity that can be found
within our ability to define and tackle problems
in urban development. Specifically, Dr. Luis
Estevez presents an academic method for identifying substandard housing within a community.
Peg Thomas et al. from the Sundance Family
Foundation present a methodology from the professional field. They present a multi-indicator/
multi-structured model for providing policy guidance around developing more equitable economic
opportunities for individual youth and their
communities.
Chapter 11 of the book is a proposed heuristic
outline of the SDGs localized for North American
cities. Dr. Abraham, and his team from Rice
University, will use this outline as the basis for a
multi-city iterative process in 2020 to garner
broad support for an agreed upon set of indicators
for North American cities.
1.5
Recurring Themes in This
Volume on SDGs for North
American Cities
1. Mapping local priorities, programs, and indicators to the national SDGs. This is a task that
has to be locally performed and communicated. The ability to tailor the localization
approach is a hallmark feature of the SDGs.
2. Localization has both been able to leverage
existing local indicator systems and learn
from the experiential knowledge these local
systems have attained.
3. When localization has occurred, the impetus
has predominantly come from the bottom-up
in most of these cities. Even in the cities that
were invited to be a part of the USA-SCI,
these pilot projects were only possible with
local, on-the-ground groups making the case.
4. Low awareness of what the SDGs are and lack
of leadership in North American cities will
hamper future attempts to localize them. More
work needs to be done to bring the growing
international excitement to North American
cities.
5. The SDG framework can be used to highlight
gaps in local indicator systems or priorities.
The SDGs represent a new language or way to
communicate the comprehensive themes in
urban- and country-level development.
6. Local jurisdictions in the United States are
strategic for implementing SDGs since they
are notable for having broad autonomy in
decision-making and adoption and implementation of policies, as long as these do not contradict state or federal laws or statutes.
1 Introduction: Localizing SDGs and Empowering Cities and Communities in North Americ…
oped are composite indicators. This reflects the
recognition of complexity that can be found
within our ability to define and tackle problems
in urban development. Specifically, Dr. Luis
Estevez presents an academic method for identifying substandard housing within a community.
Peg Thomas et al. from the Sundance Family
Foundation present a methodology from the professional field. They present a multi-indicator/
multi-structured model for providing policy guidance around developing more equitable economic
opportunities for individual youth and their
communities.
Chapter 11 of the book is a proposed heuristic
outline of the SDGs localized for North American
cities. Dr. Abraham, and his team from Rice
University, will use this outline as the basis for a
multi-city iterative process in 2020 to garner
broad support for an agreed upon set of indicators
for North American cities.
1.5
Recurring Themes in This
Volume on SDGs for North
American Cities
1. Mapping local priorities, programs, and indicators to the national SDGs. This is a task that
has to be locally performed and communicated. The ability to tailor the localization
approach is a hallmark feature of the SDGs.
2. Localization has both been able to leverage
existing local indicator systems and learn
from the experiential knowledge these local
systems have attained.
3. When localization has occurred, the impetus
has predominantly come from the bottom-up
in most of these cities. Even in the cities that
were invited to be a part of the USA-SCI,
these pilot projects were only possible with
local, on-the-ground groups making the case.
4. Low awareness of what the SDGs are and lack
of leadership in North American cities will
hamper future attempts to localize them. More
work needs to be done to bring the growing
international excitement to North American
cities.
5. The SDG framework can be used to highlight
gaps in local indicator systems or priorities.
The SDGs represent a new language or way to
communicate the comprehensive themes in
urban- and country-level development.
6. Local jurisdictions in the United States are
strategic for implementing SDGs since they
are notable for having broad autonomy in
decision-making and adoption and implementation of policies, as long as these do not contradict state or federal laws or statutes.
1 Introduction: Localizing SDGs and Empowering Cities and Communities in North Americ…