About Us
Connecting people and place
At Maximum City, every connection matters. We are committed to identifying and cultivating connections at all levels in schools, cities, and beyond. We are in the business of social cohesion.
Who we are
We are change makers, educators, strategists, planners, designers and data analysts.
We are system thinkers, child- and youth-friendly experts, and IAP2-trained facilitators. We learn and draw inspiration from each of our professional and lived experiences, while also drawing from the expertise of external collaborators.
What we do
We design and facilitate rich engagement processes, develop digital tools for change, and craft context-sensitive strategy and solutions for our collaborators and clients. With our clients, we focus on deeply understanding place and community needs, taking cues from context to tackle the interconnected challenges and opportunities facing cities and schools.
We connect people to each other, to place, and to the decisions that affect them; we ensure the meaningful participation of children and youth and the promotion of their rights; we teach and we learn.
Why we do it
To help create happier, healthier, more connected communities.
We believe the time for urban and educational transformation is now. Our vision is to transform schools and cities, changing the way children and youth learn, connect, and contribute to the pressing challenges facing the places where we learn, live and play. The choices and actions taken now in urban development and education will define the future health and thriving of schools and cities.
Our work is grounded in three core values.
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We look for daily opportunities to learn, improve, and change our minds.
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We set conditions for children & youth to build agency in matters that affect them.
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We connect people to each other, to place, and the decisions that affect them.
Our story
Our company is founded on one idea: young people are powerful.
Maximum City was founded on the dual principles of impactful education and meaningful engagement. It began in 2011 as a pilot project to engage youth in urban problem-solving and was incorporated in 2013.
Josh Fullan, Executive Director
“When I first started Maximum City, the goal was to tap into young people’s creativity and problem solving in the context of a rapidly urbanizing world.
What I have witnessed over time is how much resolve children and youth have for improving their communities and cities. They have a deep commitment to better the world around them. Our work now is broader and deeper than youth engagement in cities, but it’s still the origin of everything we do.”
