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Hello! We Are Block by Block.

We are a nonprofit that empowers communities to reimagine the cities they live in, using the magic of Minecraft. We began in 2012 as an innovative partnership between the UN and Mojang Studios, developers of Minecraft.

We are now one of the leading nonprofits working at the intersection of gaming and social impact, and the only organization that turns people’s dreams into reality using a video game.

Empowering Communities

Our unique approach actively engages neighborhood residents who don’t typically have a voice in public projects. We teach them to use Minecraft, a powerful tool for visualization and collaboration, to design the space that they would like to see. And then we build it.

 
 
“I can see the difference people can make because I am a person who did that. I made a difference, and I will keep making a difference.”
— KOCHA A., Block by block workshop participant
 

Focus Areas

 
“For millions around the world, public spaces are key to people’s livelihoods, safety, and health. Access to and use of quality public spaces is a civic right which must be upheld.”
— James Delaney, BLOCK BY BLOCK CHAIR
Projects
Building Equity
Building Equity

Youth, elderly, people with disabilities, and women and girls are populations whose voices are too often ignored. In Hanoi, we engaged girls who travel miles to school every day through dangerous, poorly lit areas to design safer streets.

Building Peace
Building Peace

Too many video games are about war and fighting. Minecraft is constructive, not destructive, and can help communities heal. In Kosovo, residents came together to turn a deserted market into an appealing public space with gardens, a playground, and the country’s first skatepark.

Building Resilient Cities
Building Resilient Cities

Cities around the world are facing serious challenges from climate change. They need to adapt, and adapt quickly. We helped residents of Addis Ababa renovate crucial waterfront infrastructure and create a sustainable area for all to enjoy.

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Global Impact

 
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2.5M

Block by Block has catalyzed the revitalization of urban neighborhoods in 55 countries, impacting the lives of more than 2.5 million people.

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30K

More than 30,000 community members—including women, children, elders, refugees, and the disabled—have participated in Block by Block workshops worldwide.

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10M

The Block by Block Foundation has contributed more than $10M to UN-Habitat to help make the UN Sustainable Development Goals a reality.

 
 
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“As an indigenous woman, I learned to overcome my fears, to interact with men, and to give them our points of view as women—that we too can design public spaces.”
— ANTONIA, BLOCK BY BLOCK WORKSHOP PARTICIPANT, ESCONDIDO

Block by Block in the News

Our work adds up to larger impact—from more engaged communities and more livable cities to more forward-thinking public space policies at every level.

Block by Block wins Innovation Award at National Urban Design Awards

The Block by Block Building Peace in Kosovo project was honored for Innovation by the Urban Design Group.

Are Our Cities Built for the Youth?

Collective Intelligence for Sustainable Development: Getting Smarter Together

This report from Nesta and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) includes the Block by Block Minecraft Methodology, which actively engages neighborhood residents who don't typically have a voice in urban planning and design, as an example of innovative sustainable development.

How Minecraft is Changing the World

Block by Block is featured in the HyperX “Good Game” video series showing how people are making the world better through video games.

Gamifying Urban Design with Block by Block

The development of our public spaces often feels hidden behind complex planning processes, motivated by the visions of a few. This in-depth piece from Assemble Papers highlights participatory urban design through the lens of Block by Block.

Building for Real With Digital Blocks, The New York Times

The original inspiration and broad application of using Minecraft to catalyze community involvement in public space planning.