Global Philadelphia Around the World
One of the elements of GPA's core mission is to develop of an international consciousness in the Philadelphia region and contribute to the growth of the city's global profile. Since Philadelphia was designated as a World Heritage City in 2015, Global Philadelphia has been the key facilitator of international exchange with the Organization of World Heritage Cities, attending numerous conferences to exchange project ideas,
GPA communicates, facilitates, and organizes World Heritage events, projects, and education. To do this, we work closely with the City of Philadelphia and the Organization of World Heritage Cities to extend the value of the World Heritage City designation.
Cordoba, Spain - September 24 to 27, 2024 - 17th World Congress of the OWHC
The 17th World Congress "The Liveable City" took place in Cordoba, Spain, in September 2024, and was a remarkable cultural success. Mayor José María Bellido Roche and his team created a vibrant atmosphere, showcasing Andalusian art and gastronomy. The Congress advanced the Quebec Roadmap strategy, which unites World Heritage Cities to tackle challenges like climate change and urban planning. Future multi-city workshop areas will include Requalifying Habitat, Refreshing the City, Transforming Mobility, and Regenerating the Urban Environment.
Attendees:
Zabeth Teelucksingh, President, GPA
Dr. Harold B. Yaffe, GPA Development Board Director
Bruges, Belgium - October 11-13, 2023 - Regional Secretariat Meeting
The Regional Secretariat for Northwest Europe and North America together with the City of Bruges and its Mayor, Mr. Dirk De fauw, invited all member cities as well as interested experts and students to join us in Bruges.
Attendees:
Zabeth Teelucksingh, President, GPA
Omar Woodard, Chief Philanthropy Officer, HRS Management
Daisy Van Hoof Mertens, President, Flemish in the World
Jonathan Burton, Director, Friends of Independence National Park
Vilnius, Lithuania - December 2022 - Workshop on World Heritage City Resilience
With 29 participants from 19 different World Heritage Cities and 13 different countries, the workshop organized by the Regional Secretariats for Northwest Europe and North America and Central and Eastern Europe was a great success. The host city Vilnius presented itself with amazing heritage sites, a wonderful winter fairytale scenery and absolutely delicious food.
The topic of the 2.5 days intense workshop – moderated by Luca Arbau and Elena Petsani from ICLEI Europe – was “Heritage Cities building resilience – managing the risk of disasters in a changing world”.
Attendee:
Zabeth Teelucksingh, President, GPA
Quebec City, Quebec, Canada - September 6-9, 2022 - World Congress
The theme, “Enhancing Livability in World Heritage Cities,” is particularly pertinent to consider emerging new lifestyles, how ways of inhabiting cities are changing and the wants and needs of various city users (inhabitants, but also elected officials, technicians, workers, visitors, etc.).
Attendees:
Zabeth Teelucksingh, Executive Director, GPA
Mayor Jim Kenney
Sheila Hess, City Representative, City of Philadelphia
Margaret Hughes, office of the City Representative, City of Philadelphia
Micheal Newmuis, Government Affairs, VisitPhilly
Rachel Ferguson, Communications, VisitPhilly
Micheal Norris, Executive Director, Carpenters’ Hall
Cynthia MacLeod, Superintendent, Independence National Park
Regensburg, Germany - May 2022- Training Course on “Design Thinking Tools”
With 10 participants from 9 OWHC member cities (Augsburg, Brugge, Budapest, Philadelphia, Quedlinburg, San Antonio, Stralsund, Vienna, Vilnius), a very inspiring and creative training course could be held from May 9-11 in Regensburg/Germany. The Regional Secretariat for Northwest Europe and North America was incredibly happy to finally welcome everyone for the first in-person meeting after 2.5 years in its homebase Regensburg.
Attendee:
Zabeth Teelucksingh, Executive Director, GPA
Krakow, Poland - November 2019 - OWHC Board Meeting
Attendee:
Zabeth Teelucksingh, Executive Director, GPA
Krakow, Poland - June 2019 - World Congress
Attendees:
Rob McNeill, Board Chair, GPA
Zabeth Teelucksingh, Executive Director, GPA
Sheila Hess, City Representative, City of Philadelphia
Margaret Hughes, office of the City Representative, City of Philadelphia
Melissa Stevens, World Heritage Coordinator, GPA
Danielle DiLeo Kim, Executive Director, Philadelphia250
Cynthia McLeod, Superintendent, Independence National Park
Sintra, Portugal - 2018 - Economic Development Meetings
Attendees:
Zabeth Teelucksingh, Executive Director, GPA
Harold Epps, Commerce Director, City of Philadelphia
Amsterdam, The Netherlands - 2018 - Regional Secretariat Meeting
The Regional Secretariat for Northwest Europe and North America decided to work on the
theme, Heritage & Tourism: Local Communities and Visitors – Sharing
Responsibilities, for its Regional Conference 2018 in Amsterdam with the preparation of a special
Scientific Day Program. It was the goal to inform thoroughly, to strengthen capacity, to work
interactively and focus on the participants in all aspects so that a practical and direct benefit
is granted for our member cities of OWHC.
Attendees:
Zabeth Teelucksingh, Executive Director, GPA
Paul Steinke, President, The Preservation Alliance
San Antonio, USA - Fall 2017 - World Heritage City Festival
The event was established to commemorate the anniversary of the San Antonio Missions inscription as a World Heritage site by UNESCO. The Alamo and four Spanish colonial Missions are the only World Heritage site in Texas.
The Organization of World Heritage Cities (OWHC) provided a grant for GPA’s former World Heritage Program Manager, Melissa Stevens, to share information and explore opportunities for collaboration.
Attendee:
Melissa Stevens, World Heritage Coordinator, GPA
Gyeongju, Republic of Korea -2017 - 14th World Congress
At this World Congress, Global Philadelphia presented The Philadelphia World Heritage Education Program: A Model for Community Engagement through Heritage Education. The theme of the 2017 congress was Heritage and Communities.
Attendees:
John Smith, Board Chair, GPA
Zabeth Teelucksingh, Executive Director, GPA
Dr. Harold Yaffe, Board member, GPA
Sylvia Gallier Howard, Commerce Department, City of Philadelphia
Melissa Stevens, World Heritage Coordinator, GPA
Vienna, Austria - February 2017- Workshop on Communications in World Heritage
From February 20-22, professionals from 13 OWHC member cities from the Regional Secretariats Northwest Europe and North America, Southern Europe and Mediterranean as well as Eastern and Central Europe gathered in Vienna to attend the first OWHC professional training. One and a half day of intense workshops were offering new insights on the field of tools and methods of communication for a better implementation of community in our heritage work.
Attendees:
Zabeth Teelucksingh, Executive Director, GPA
Quedlingburg, Germany - 2016 - Regional Secretariat Meeting
Attendees:
Zabeth Teelucksingh, Executive Director, GPA
Sylvie Gallier Howard, Chief of Staff, Commerce Department, City of Philadelphia
Arequipa, Peru - Fall 2015 - 13th Annual World Congress
The XIII World Congress of the Organization of World Heritage Cities took place in Arequipa, Peru, under the science theme of World Heritage Cities, Resilient Cities. More than 500 participants from 58 cities in 33 countries attended the congress which ended with the adoption of an 18-point resolution on Urban Resilience.
Attendees:
John Smith, Board Chair, GPA
Zabeth Teelucksingh, Executive Director, GPA
Alan Greenberger, Vice Mayor, Commerce Department, City of Philadelphia
Greta Greenbeger, Buildings Guide, City Hall, City of Philadelphia
Sylvia Gallier Howard, Chief of Staff, Commerce Department, City of Philadelphia
Fernando Trevino, MOIMA, City of Philadelphia
Oaxaca, Mexico - Fall 2013 - 12th Annual World Congress
During the four days of the congress, four OWHC member cities presented their achievements in sustainable development thanks to the On the Way to Oaxaca workshop initiated by the OWHC between 2012 and 2013 to discover best cities practices among its members.
Attendees:
John Smith, Board Chair, GPA
Kevin Dow, Commerce Department, City of Philadelphia
Fernando Trevino, MOIMA, City of Philadelphia