Our Story
The pursuit of happiness in a city.
Our vision is for all citizens to become owners of their city and be empowered to effect change through public, private, academic and philanthropic partnerships. Our mission is to facilitate a process where citizens build and implement solutions that raise the quality of life.
How we started
During the Viva Laredo Comprehensive Plan public-planning process, our team discovered a strong, local interest from the citizen body in bringing their city to life, to become city-makers. That is, for citizens to create the city they want to live, work, and play in. Since, we have catalyzed that energy into action by empowering the community to not only voice their wants and needs, but to lead the changes they want to see in partnership with local government.
Our work has successfully brought quality-of-life projects into fruition, where our main role has been to facilitate the development and implementation of citizens’ goals. These projects include, among other things, the development of policies and programs that promote cycling as an alternative transportation method, the addition of local urban agriculture as a core component of Laredo's food system, and the implementation of economic development tools to incentivize an active nightlife culture in the downtown.
If the pursuit of happiness is an inalienable right, then access to happy life is the main purpose of cities.
The pursuit is powered by JEDI- Justice/Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.
Justice/Equity: We commit to fostering a culture where historically disadvantaged groups feel comfortable discussing equity issues with local leadership. We commit to monitoring for equity by assuring that equitable access is achieved by the efforts of advocates participating in the making of policy and resource spending.
Inclusion: We commit to empower citizens to understand that they are the makers of their cities and communities. Inclusion in prosperity, health, safety, and welfare of every individual can be achieved when advocates understand how local policy and resources shape cities and the lives of citizens.
Diversity: We commit to creating policy for places that serve the whole person in every way that whole person may differentiate him or herself with respect to age, income level, ethnicity, gender, health, physical and mental ability, race, and sexual orientation.