Cities of Migration

Cities of Migration showcases good ideas in immigrant integration and promotes innovative practices that create inclusion and urban prosperity.

Live

Toronto, Canada

Diaspora Dialogues: Writing the New City

Developing audience, voice and a meaningful reflection of the city through its culturally diverse writers.
Work

Erlangen, Germany

Triple Win: Tapping Refugee Talent

In partnership with the city, an engineering multinational pilots a training program for asylum seekers as part of a campaign to counter misconceptions about refugees.
Learn

Munich, Germany

Giving Young Refugees a Shot at Success

A learner-centred approach gives young refugees opportunities for education and integration
Connect

London, United Kingdom

Future-Proofing the Library: The Idea Store

An aging library system’s dramatic re-invention delivers better service for its community today—and into the future
Plan

San Francisco, United States

Bank On San Francisco

A local government partnership provides banking services to the financially excluded

Browse the Good Idea Index

Conversations

Featured StoryTaking the Pulse of Diversity

Denise O-Neil Green, Ryerson’s first VP Equity & Community Inclusion, discusses her journey from Chicago to Toronto.More.

Featured StoryToronto The Good

Martin Rett Cohn on how Toronto’s diversity offers a degree of immunity during times of terror.More.

Featured StoryTwo cheers for the Global Compact

The Global Compact on Migration is surprisingly ambitious – but will it be implemented?More.

Learning Exchange

Featured Webinar Planning for Urban Resilience and Inclusive Cities: Lessons from Toronto

Dr. Zhixi Zhuang, School of Urban and Regional Planning, Ryerson University (Toronto) in conversation with Dr. Stacy Harwood, Department of Urban & Regional Planning, University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign) to discuss planning for urban resilience in a multicultural context, and how municipal planning policies can create safe, accessible, and inclusive public spaces while promoting intercultural social interactions and understanding.More.

Webinar Video Inclusion of Migrants with Irregular Status: a Role for Cities

Sarah Spencer, Director of the Global Exchange on Migration and Diversity (Oxford), and Jan Braat, Senior Policy Advisor, Migration and Integration, City of Utrecht explore C-MISE findings, recommendations, and the specific example of the City of Utrecht's public commitment to be a ‘Human Rights City' and the inclusive policies and practices it has developed to ensure undocumented residents have access to ‘Bed, Bath and Bread.’ More.

Archived Videos Past Webinar Videos

Find archived videos and resources. More.

Featured Video

Municipal Leadership

Mayors on Migration

“Les ciutats han canviat, estem obertes, i hem de fer que la gent que se sent cridada a les ciutats en formi part.”
— Xavier Trias, l’alcalde de Barcelona
“Immigrants are a positive force in Finnish society.”

Jussi Pajunen Mayor of Helsinki
“Immigrants tend to open more small businesses, which leads to more jobs.”

Raquel Castañeda-López Council member from Detroit
“Naturalization is much more than an administrative act. It is the declared belief in our state and our society.”

Olaf Scholz First Mayor, Hamburg
“Promoting and embracing diversity is essential in today’s context, as it is a reality faced by more and more cities the world over.”

Dr. Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman Mayor, Southeast District, Singapore
“I want our city to be the first destination for immigrants because they are going to create the jobs, create the new companies, the businesses of the future. We have to be the most welcoming cities we can be.”

Rahm Emanuel Mayor, Chicago, US
“Bilbao is an open city. At the City Council we encourage values of coexistence, dialogue and management of cultural diversity. In Bilbao, all persons, whether from Bilbao or outside, have the same opportunities and access to services offered by the city.”

Iñaki Azkuna Mayor, Bilbao, Spain