Welcome

Several years ago, I asked myself: how come most people don’t know much about their own city? Or even other cities? Why do we like it here and what makes us stay?

Whether we’re home or change our scenery once in a while: what is it we want to explore and what is it we want to learn? Something I often quote when explaining my vision, is that our current way of experiencing a city is just like a onenightstand. We get in, take it all in, leave, and never call back.

We tend to be after things, constantly consuming, asking ourselves: where can we eat, drink, sleep, shop and party? But why don’t we ask ourselves how people live in these cities, how they move, what has changed and what has been trending over the years? What’s the less visible, real culture of a particular city?

The answers to these questions can only be found through social context, through interaction with people that give us a sense of belonging, a sense of acceptance and direction.

And it’s those people, citizens, who make us feel at home, knowing how to move and behave… it’s people who create their city, every single day.

It was that moment I started shaping a network of citizens, a like-minded and committed collective of city correspondents. Curious and excited citizens who like to go out there and observe, capture, show and share, using this network as a tool to share valuable stories on city life and culture; but to also, with collections of stories, to create a context of understanding on why they love their city and how it’s developing.

Therefore, we’re extremely proud, moving forward from an online magazine and hosting local speaker events, to finally bring you the best stories of our cities to your doorstep via print.

So whatever your blood type is, whether you’re a fellow citizen, an expat or a traveller, let’s create these connections with like-minded citizens across the globe.

We hope you’ll enjoy all the people, places and stories from our cities in this first issue of A City Made By People. And we hope you’ll feel inspired to join us in this exciting journey.

With kind regards, Robin Cox City Enthusiast Officer (CEO)