Author: Ting Wei Li

We’re Hiring: Postdoctoral Research Associate

The Boston University Initiative on Cities (IOC) invites applications for a Postdoctoral Research Associate (PDRA) position starting September 1, 2025. This is a two-year appointment. The IOC PDRA will have expertise in urban studies and undertake a research project designed by themselves in relation to an urban issue or challenge in the U.S. and/or abroad. […]

2025 Initiative on Cities City of Boston Summer Internship Applications Now Open

The IOC is excited to offer three paid undergraduate internship opportunities this summer. Interns will work 35 hours weekly in Boston’s City Hall in one of the three roles listed below. Equity & Inclusion Cabinet [Free housing in partnership with the Howard Thurman Center for Common Ground]: The intern will advance Boston’s racial equity policy priorities, foster community engagement […]

IOC Fall 2024 Event Highlights

The Two Faces of Fear: Violence and Inequality in the Mexican Metropolis Book Talk & Discussion September 18, 2024 Boston University Initiative on Cities, Center for Latin American Studies, and Department of Sociology held a book talk on Assistant Professor of Sociology Ana Villarreal’s newly published book on the impacts of criminal and state violence […]

Fall 2024 Event Spotlight: Allston Multimodal Project and Reknitting the Allston Community

 By Sean Waddington On October 2nd, the Boston University Initiative on Cities and City Planning and Urban Affairs Program hosted a wide-ranging discussion on the Allston Multimodal Project – a Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) initiative seeking to realign the Massachusetts Turnpike at the Allston Interchange. BU School of Law Lecturer Rob DiAdamo moderated […]

Louisville KY Metro Council have voted unanimously for a new Anti-Displacement Tool

By Loretta Lees (Boston University), Kenton Card (University of Minnesota), and Andre Comandon (University of Southern California) Led by the Initiative on Cities at Boston University, Loretta Lees (Boston University), Kenton Card (Boston University, now the University of Minnesota), and Andre Comandon (University of Southern California) developed a new Anti-Displacement Assessment Tool (ADA Tool) to be implemented by the Louisville Metro Government. […]

The 2024 Greater Boston Housing Report Card

The Initiative on Cities Co-Authors the 2024 Greater Boston Housing Report Card Special Analysis on Using Public Land to Develop Affordable Housing Greater Boston’s well-publicized housing challenges continue, even as communities work to change zoning rules to comply with the state’s new MBTA Communities requirements. A lack of new construction, high interest rates, and changing […]

On the Housing Crisis: A Discussion with Jerusalem Demsas

When: Monday, December 9, 4 PM – 5:30 PM ET Where: Kenmore Room (Rm 916), 1 Silber Way, Boston, MA 02215 Jerusalem Demsas from The Atlantic will join us to discuss her new book, On the Housing Crisis: Land, Development, Democracy. The discussion will focus on the housing crisis and local democracies, and be led by […]

City Makers: Urban Experiential Learning Open House

When: Friday, November 22, 12 PM – 1:30 PM ET Where: Initiative on Cities, 75 Bay State Road Calling all students! Stop by the BU Initiative on Cities to learn about our urban experiential learning opportunities. From our MetroBridge classroom-based program to our internships and fellowships with Boston City Hall and the National League of […]