The 18th International Congress calls for critical thinking and community
Marina Garcés, Philippe Meirieu, Eliane Brum and Souleymane Bachir reflect on the role of cities as spaces for learning, coexistence and social transformation.
The 27th of May of the 18th International Congress of Educating Cities focused on critical thinking and the collective construction of cities through two conversations of great intellectual and social depth. Philosophy, education and a community perspective have starred in a day marked by reflection on the transformative role of contemporary cities.
Within the framework of the Ordinary General Assembly, the Executive Committee of the IAEC was renewed, which is now composed of the cities of:
- Brussels
- Cascais
- Geneva
- Granollers
- León
- Lisbon
- Málaga
- Montevideo
- Rosario
- São Paulo
- Seoul
- Tampere
- Torres Vedras
Barcelona and Rennes are added to this list as permanent members.
The first session of the morning, under the title “Cities that teach us to think”, brought together the philosopher Marina Garcés and the pedagogue Philippe Meirieu, in a dialogue moderated by Ester Bonal. Framed within the thematic axis of the critical sense, the conversation addressed how urban spaces can become scenarios for learning, awareness and citizen participation.
The second major event of the day revolved around the concept of community with the dialogue “The voices that make a city”. Brazilian journalist and documentary filmmaker Eliane Brum and African intellectual Souleymane Bachir, moderated by Yayo Herrero, reflected on the narratives that build cities and on the need to listen to voices that are often invisible.
The International Congress then consolidated its commitment to turning cities into spaces for thought, coexistence and social transformation with the presentations of workshops, direct dialogues and scheduled study visits, which have vindicated shared knowledge as the engine of the future.
