The League of Iowa Human & Civil Rights Agencies

FEDERAL AGENCIES LAUNCH WEBSITE TO HIGHLIGHT U.S. PARTICIPATION IN THE WORLD URBAN FORUM: U.S. Delegation Seeks to Share and Learn New Urban Strategies

Published March 11, 2010 by HUD

WASHINGTON – Four federal agencies are launching a new website today to highlight the increased role the U.S. is playing in addressing 21st century urbanization, housing and sustainability issues facing the nations of the world. The White House Office of Urban Affairs, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Agency for International Development, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture launched the interagency website featuring World Urban Forum (WUF) roundtable discussions, web chats, presentations, and workshops at www.hud.gov/wuf. Organized by the United Nations’ Human Settlement Programme (UN-Habitat), the WUF will be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from March 22 – 26. Every two years this world forum is dedicated to examining the most pressing problems related to urban issues.

HUD Secretary, and head of the U.S. delegation, Shaun Donovan said, “This is a time of great challenge and great opportunity when it comes to addressing the next generation of housing and sustainability issues facing the nations of the world. Though we may have competing interests, it is possible to work as one to steer toward housing solutions that offer all of us a more inclusive, sustainable, and greener world.”

“The rapid rate of urbanization is a key factor in global stability and growth. At the World Urban Forum, we will address the range of crucial human security issues associated with this significant demographic transition” said Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs María Otero.

“Last year, President Obama called on every nation to share responsibility for creating global solutions to global challenges,” said Adolfo Carrión, Jr., Director of the White House Office of Urban Affairs and Deputy Assistant to the President. “We can no longer afford to confront 21st Century urban challenges with a 20th Century vision. We need to address urban development to reflect the way people live and will live, both in the United States and around the world.”

The new interagency website also emphasizes the Obama Administration’s focus on addressing challenges collaboratively amongst agencies. The site will be used by the U.S. WUF Delegation to publicize U.S. initiatives on urban development, give the public open access to information on the U.S. government’s international agenda/outreach efforts and engage with the public through the use of social media tools such as blogs and social network sites.