The Inaugural NEXT Summit on Cities, Urban Development and Community Safety

Co-hosted by the myGoverNEXT Foundation, a non-profit initiative and The CITY Institute at York University.

A select panel of provincial and municipal officials will explore how governance can become more representative, inclusive, and responsive to emerging challenges, while enhancing cities' problem-solving capabilities and capacity to deliver better outcomes for residents. The panel will speak on various issues and aspects  involved in the contextual politics and policies of urban development and community safety in Brampton, Ontario and Medellín (as well as other cities in Colombia).  This will include discussions on such topics as public transit safety, women’s and gender-based safety, as well as the security and safety issues related to urban infrastructure, AI and digital technology.  A particular focus will be on the challenges faced by municipalities in addressing safety and security concerns in the contemporary city.

Due to limited venue capacity, please RSVP here before September 15, 2026.

Detail Program Schedule (Tentative)

9.30am-10am: Assembling and Check-in

10am-10.15am: Opening Remarks by Prof.Harris Ali, Director City Institute & Mr. Dharmendra Singh, Co-Founder, myGoverNEXT Foundation.

10.15am-11.25am: Panel 1-Urban Development and Community Safety in Brampton, Ontario

11.25am-11.50am: Q&A from Audience

11.50am-12noon: Concluding Remarks by Prof. Harris Ali

12pm-1pm: Lunch 

1pm-1.30pm : Keynote by Prof. Luisa Sotomayor

1.30-1.45pm: Q&A for Keynote

1.45pm-2.45pm: Panel 2: Urban Development and Community Safety in Medellín/Cities in Colombia

(Colombia delegation led by Hon. Luis Gabriel Gomez Grisales, Deputy to the Departmental Assembly of Antioquia, the provincial legislature)

• Hon. Luis Gabriel Gomez Grisales, Deputy of the Departmental Assembly of Antioquia (Colombia)
• Ms. Yulieth Lorena González Ospina, Mayor of Bello, Antioquia (Colombia)
• Mr. Sigifredo Cortés, Director, International Cooperation, ESCOLME University, (Colombia)
• Mr. Juan Carlos Vallejo, Former Mayor of the Municipality of La Unión (Antioquia, Colombia). University lecturer and PhD. Candidate in Education (USA)
• Dr. Efraín Suárez, Physician and Surgeon. Hospital Manager in Barranquilla. Former Secretary of Health of the Department of Sucre (Colombia)

2.45pm - 3.15pm : Q&A from Audience

3.15pm - 3.30pm: Final Remarks from Prof. Luisa Sotomayor, Prof Harris Ali, Mr. Dharmendra Singh