The organisation behind Ethical Cities
Ethical Cities Network is a non-profit association (vzw) registered in Belgium, working internationally. It promotes and coordinates the Ethical Cities project, providing the governance, strategic direction, methodological development and international relationships required to develop the first Ethical City in Athens and, over time, to support a connected network in other cities.
2. FOUNDERS
Kellys Rodríguez — Founder & Executive Director
Kellys Rodríguez is an economist, public infrastructure adviser and philosophical educator. Her work brings together public policy, infrastructure development and practical philosophy.
She combines nearly two decades of international experience in economics, public policy, infrastructure, public-private partnerships and social impact with seven years leading Stoa Madrid. A practitioner of Stoic philosophy since 2015, she is completing a Master's degree in Ancient Philosophy at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.
Ethical Cities grew from the intersection of these fields: an interest in the conditions societies create for development, and in the capacities people need to live, decide and act well within them.
Jean-Marie Oriot — Co-Founder & Director
Jean-Marie Oriot leads the creative, audiovisual and digital development of Ethical Cities, and the design of the environments and experiences through which the project reaches the public — including the Contemporary Agora.
3. STOA MADRID
Practice since 2018
Founded in 2018, Stoa Madrid is a community for the study and practice of Stoic philosophy, built on education, practice, community and service. It continues to operate.
Its experience gives Ethical Cities a practical foundation in philosophical education, facilitation, community building, individual mentoring, experiential learning and work with organisations.
7 years of practice · 1,000+ participants · 1,000+ hours of philosophical education · 60 philosophical routes covering more than 1,000 km · 40+ talks with international experts · 50+ editions of Stoic Week, run monthly in Spanish · 7 Stoic Camps
The work has also included educational programmes with companies and schools, social volunteering, and a Solidarity Mental Health Fund connected with REBT support.
Ethical Cities builds on this experience and extends it into a broader civic model.
4. PHILOSOPHICAL ADVISORY CIRCLE
Philosophical scrutiny matters.
The Philosophical Advisory Circle brings together scholars and practitioners who contribute philosophical scrutiny, academic rigour, sensitivity to the Greek context and connections with relevant philosophical and academic communities.
Name | Affiliation / Role |
Angie Hobbs | Professor of the Public Understanding of Philosophy Emerita, University of Sheffield |
George Karamanolis | Professor of Ancient Philosophy, University of Vienna |
Chloë Balla | Professor of Ancient Philosophy, University of Crete |
Maria Kasmirli | Honorary Research Fellow, University of Sheffield; Founder, Philosynthesis |
Georgia Sermamoglou-Soulmaidi | Associate Professor, Department of Philosophy, University of Patras |
Spyros Rangos | Professor of Classics, Department of Philology, University of Patras |
Stasinos Stavrianeas | Assistant Professor, School of Humanities, Hellenic Open University |
Brittany Polat | Co-Founder and President, Stoicare; Steering Committee Member, Modern Stoicism |