Who We Are

The Mission

The mission of the Initiative on Cities is to research, promote, and advance the adaptive urban leadership strategies and policies necessary to support cities as dynamic centers of inclusive economic growth and sustainable development in the 21st century.

Areas of Focus

Advancing Urban Leadership

We seek to understand and address the most pressing leadership challenges facing mayors, on issues ranging from financial governance to urban planning, population growth, and health and sustainability.

Promoting Research in Practice

We unlock the knowledge of the Boston University scholarly and research community by catalyzing and supporting highly impactful, multi-discipline urban research, hosting critical conversations that showcase the breadth of our community’s urban academic expertise, fostering multi-discipline exchange of ideas, and connecting faculty to city-level collaborators.

Supporting the Next Generation of Leaders

We seek to inspire the next generation of civic leaders by providing opportunities that connect students to local, national, and international visionaries.