Urban Sustainability

France

Duration 10 days

Suggested group size 12 - 20 students / 2 Envoys Field Staff

Suggested ages 14 - 18

Experience Urban sustainability
Multiculturalism & Art

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Urban sustainability, multiculturalism, art as a means for social change

Paris I

Students study immigration in Paris, speaking with immigrants, documentarians, journalists, and nonprofit leaders. We balance an exploration of Parisian history, art, food and culture with these conversations, and look underneath the veneer to discover truths about contemporary Paris. As we travel through the city, we collect portraits, stories and interviews from a multiplicity of perspectives, and zoom out to apply what we learn to our home country and the global stage.

“In the City of Light, cobblestone streets echo with history and the Seine cradles tales of artistic revolutions.“

“Paris whispers secrets of love and creativity, inviting all to indulge in its timeless allure.“

Impact Statement Everywhere we go, we carry a promise – to engage with respect, act with purpose, and leave a positive imprint. As envoys of our journey is more than travel; Our footprint is light, but our impact is profound, creating bridges of cooperation and mutual growth across the globe.

Day 1

Students arrive in Paris, participate in a program briefing and go on an exploratory walk along the Seine and a peek inside Notre Dame. The day ends with a people-watching walk around the Marais and Ile de la Cite, a celebratory first dinner of Parisian specialties, and ice cream at Berthillon.

Day 2

We explore Belleville, where immigrants from all over the world have come to settle in waves over the last century. After a first impressions workshop, we check out the Atelier des Artistes de Belleville. In the evening, we go on a self-guided tour of the neighborhood’s street art.

Day 3

We meet a representative of the Art for Social Change program at the Paris College of Art. Then, we visit L’Atelier des Artistes en Exile, an organization that provides immigrants with internet, meeting spaces, and legal assistance. We conduct a reflection session in the Jardin des Tuileries.

Day 4

We explore the National Museum of History of Immigration, and meet with journalists at Bondy Blog. We visit Soul Food, a nonprofit that assists young migrants waiting to be admitted to the public schools. Dinner at Refettorio, a restaurant that fights food waste through social inclusion.

Day 5

We visit Jardins d’Éole, illuminating the question of who gets to control open spaces within the city. Next, we go to La Caverne, an underground urban farm in a former underground parking lot. Later, a workshop and lunch at La Recyclerie. We end the day in Montmartre with empathic interviews.

Day 6

We conduct a mapping project of urban sustainability features, livability indicators and amenities around the city. Then, we visit Ecole Kourtrajmé, a school providing people without access to higher education a chance to acquire the means and skills to bring their artistic intentions to life.

Day 7

We visit a project of Studio Cur/Art, a nonprofit that encourages collaboration between artists and producers, architects and scenographers in a diversity of spaces outside museums. Thenh, we learn about sustainable local agriculture at Nature Urbaine, the largest urban rooftop farm in Europe.

Day 8

Students create zines and distribute them to other tourists around the city. We walk to the Institut du Monde Arabe. We have a celebratory teatime at the Grande Mosquée de Paris Tea Room and a final dinner at La Residence du Refugee Food Festival, a restaurant that trains refugee cooks.

Day 9

On our last day, we conduct our program closing ceremony, pack up and head to the airport for our flights home.

Highlights

Lenses of Inquiry

URBAN SUSTAINABILITY

Dive into city projects and their connection to grassroots efforts. Students explore green policies, including bike lanes, pedestrian areas, and car bans. Urban green spaces emerge, with plans for a Champs-Elysées garden. Impact varies, raising questions about equity for lower-income residents.

MULTICULTURALISM

Paris, a cosmopolitan city since the Middle Ages, has seen waves of immigrants contributing to its multicultural fabric. Our program explores diverse perspectives and emphasizes the need for humility and understanding in navigating our global and local communities.

Role of Art in Society and Culture

Paris has witnessed movements like Cubism and the May 1968 protests. Today, artists still address issues such as racism and environmental degradation. From street art to performance art, our program explores the role of art in conveying ideas, raising awareness, and inspiring action.