Smarter Cities
Main Street, not Wall Street. How can independent retailers and businesses thrive at a time of turbulence.
Main Street, not Wall Street. How can independent retailers and businesses thrive at a time of turbulence.
Interviewing Jen Risley of AMIBA.net—the American Independent Business Alliance—is a perfect opportunity to explore the movement to localize economies, empower communities, and build democratic, regenerative alternatives to extractive corporate systems.
Jen’s work bridges the gap between economic justice, community resilience, and independent business empowerment. Here’s a thoughtfully curated list of interview questions for your conversation, focused on storytelling, systemic change, and action for Generation Now.
Localism as Systemic Change
- How do you define “localism,” and why is it more than just shopping at small businesses?
- What are some of the biggest misconceptions people have about the role of local businesses in systemic transformation?
- Why is shifting power to locally rooted businesses and cooperatives so essential in this moment of global crisis and corporate consolidation?
- You’ve said localism is a path to economic justice. Can you explain how that works in practice?
- What role does ownership play in shaping our local economies—and who gets to make decisions?
Building Regenerative Local Economies
- What does a healthy local economy feel like to live in?
- How can we move beyond “support local” as a slogan and actually embed localization into public policy, education, and infrastructure?
- What makes a community economy truly regenerative—not just self-reliant, but healing?
- Can you share examples of cities or regions that are building inspiring local economic ecosystems?
- What are the key ingredients needed to start a local business alliance or cooperative economy hub?
Networks, Coalitions & Collective Power
- How does AMIBA support communities in creating their own economic ecosystems?
- What are some of the most successful strategies you’ve seen for linking local businesses with mutual aid groups, cultural institutions, or activists?
- How can locally owned businesses become champions for climate justice, racial equity, and democratic renewal?
- What tools or frameworks does AMIBA offer for communities ready to mobilize?
- How do you approach measuring the impact of localism beyond profit—things like community health, equity, or participation?
Culture Shift & Youth Engagement
- How do we shift the dominant narrative that tells young people success = scale, tech, or going global?
- What are the most exciting youth-led or intergenerational local economy initiatives you’ve seen?
- How can media platforms like Mobilized News amplify the stories of local changemakers?
- If a 19-year-old wants to start a community-rooted business that’s climate-resilient and cooperative, where should they begin?
- What gives you hope in the localism movement today, despite all the odds?
You see it everywhere. Big box retailers coming into communities everywhere—supermarkets, superstores, everything from furniture and food to housewares, hardware, building supplies and stores specializing in children’s toys and games. While big corporately controlled businesses have extracted billions of dollars from communities worldwide, this just might be the time for the resurgence of locally owned, produced, and distributed businesses. Whether it’s a farmers’ market or an arts supplies store, we’re going to take a deep dive into the world of independent businesses—and how they can restore financial health to the communities they exist in while serving the communities they exist in.
We will be speaking with Jen Risley, of AMIBA: The American Independent Business Alliance.
In this engaging episode of the Smart Cities Council Podcast, Fanni Melles, PhD, sits down with Brian Flanagan from Ingram Micro and Kelvin Lwin from Centific to explore the transformative role of AI in smart cities.
Brian, a retired U.S. Air Force senior non-commissioned officer and business development executive, drives smart cities, ed tech, and public safety initiatives at Ingram Micro, one of the world’s largest IT distributors. Kelvin, a computer science and AI expert with 20 years of meditation practice, leads Centific’s efforts in building ethical, empathetic AI, including the Assistive Learning Intelligence Navigator.
Together, they discuss what makes a city smart, the necessity of technology, and AI’s evolution from intelligent assistance to ambient intelligence. From real-world wins like AI-powered police reports to the ethical challenges of data and centralization, this conversation offers a balanced look at AI’s promise and pitfalls. Tune in for insights on building smarter, more human-centered cities!
Flanagan and Ingram Micro: Brian Flanagan on LinkedIn ( 
/ brian-flanagan-546652217 ) Ingram Micro website (https://www.ingrammicro.com/) Ingram Micro on LinkedIn ( / ingram-micro ) @IngramMicroInc as Ingram Micro on X (https://x.com/IngramMicroInc) Kelvin Lwin on LinkedIn ( / kelvinlwin ) Centific website (https://centific.com/) Centific on LinkedIn ( / centificglobal ) @CentificGlobal as Centific on X (https://x.com/centificglobal)
Smart Cities Council invited leading experts to provide quick snapshots of game-changing technologies set to transform our urban landscapes. From Data Privacy to Insider Risk, AI, IoT, sustainable energy, and more, we looked at what might define smart cities in 2025. Watch the recording to gain valuable insights and stay ahead in the rapidly evolving world of urban technology.
Speakers:
- Robyn Francis, Regional Lead Smart Cities Council Asia Pacific – Host
- Nicole Stephensen, Ground Up Privacy – Welcome, Data Privacy, Takeaways
- Sameer Bhandari, Vantiq – AI in Urban Systems and Real Time Data
- Rignesh Soni, SPPlus – AI in Urban Infrastructure and Mobility
- Catherine Caruana-McManus, Meshed IoT – IoT, AI Intersection in Urban Solutions
- Darren Murphy, Core Integrity – Cybersecurity: Insider Threats
- Karandeep Chadha, SCC Intelligent Transport Hubs Task Force and
- Tim Young, Smart Access – AI and Machine Learning in Mobility
- Matthias Gelber, IoT Aggregation
- Nathan Quadros, Veris – 3D City Modelling and Digital Twin Technologies
Corey Gray of the Smart Cities Council provides the opportunity to explore the leading edge of urban innovation, data-driven infrastructure, sustainability, and the ethics of intelligent systems. Corey is positioned at the crossroads of technology, public service, and community design, providing a highly relevant conversation focused on regeneration, localization, and equitable systems transformation.
What is a Smart–or Smarter City? How does it work? What are its benefits? How can a city become a “smarter city” and not be controlled by big tech, but instead, maintain quality control for the people who live, work and play there?
Corey Gray, Smart Cities Council, and Fanni Melles, What’s the Future for Cities Podcast
A qualified scientist, engineer and artist, Corey has a diverse 30+ year career in industries ranging from professional sports, through technology, advanced manufacturing, entertainment, fine arts, charity and philanthropy.
Currently Corey holds several professional positions including: Global President of Washington DC headquartered Smart Cities Council, the world’s peak industry group Smart Cities, Buildings and Technologies ; Co-founder and chair of multi-international award-winning feature film production company, Switch Productions; Global board member of New York based EB Research Partnership, a charity dedicated to finding a cure for the rare genetic disorder. Corey is also a recent director and treasurer of Silcon Valley based technology interoperability group, LonMark, and professional Australian Football franchise, Sturt Football Club.
Fanni Melles, Architect, Host of “What’s the Future For Cities” podcast
Fanni Melles, PhD, is a future of cities researcher, an architect by profession and a project manager by experience. Once involved with Hungary’s largest urban project in 150 years (911,412.13 m², across 10 design teams), she now holds a 2023 PhD from Swinburne University, diving deep into smart cities, future of cities, and innovation. Host of the “What is The Future for Cities?” podcast with more than 300 episodes, she thrives on turning chaos into cutting-edge urban systems. Passionate and dynamic, Fanni crafts bespoke city futures, rallying stakeholders to transform urban landscapes—because cities, she says, are the people who live in them.
Communities are at the Forefront of Paradigm Change
Overcoming Dogma and Misinformation: The Middle East
Uncovering the myths and misinformation of Socialism
Life Coaches: The Truth Behind the Hype
The Future is Now–and it’s in our hands
Communities are at the Forefront of Paradigm Change
The Future is Now–and it’s in our hands
Uncovering the myths and misinformation of Socialism
Overcoming Dogma and Misinformation: The Middle East
Life Coaches: The Truth Behind the Hype
Communities are at the Forefront of Paradigm Change
Overcoming Dogma and Misinformation: The Middle East
Uncovering the myths and misinformation of Socialism
The Future is Now–and it’s in our hands
Understanding the benefits of localized systems in a globalized economy
The World Unites for a New Story.
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