New Partnership with Community Solutions to Research Homelessness Policy
Community Solutions — a leading nonprofit committed to creating a lasting end to homelessness — and researchers from Boston University and Cornell University will study the landscape of homelessness public policy and its consequences Numerous government agencies at all levels make public policies that are influential to the well-being of people experiencing homelessness in the […]
New Report! Gaps and Opportunities: Supporting Boston’s BIPOC Small Businesses
Boston’s Small Business Service Providers Call for Focus on Capital, Contracts, Cultural Competency, & New Approaches to Mitigate Displacement of BIPOC Businesses Boston University Releases Findings from Survey of Boston’s Ecosystem of Small Business Providers While Boston’s population is majority-minority, its small business community is not reflective of its diversity. In the wake of the […]
New Report on Growth of Public Interest Technology Initiatives at PIT-UN Member Institutions
Field of Public Interest Technology is Growing Despite Funding and Institutional Challenges Boston University and New America Release Report on Growth of Public Interest Technology Initiatives at Members of Public Interest Technology University Network The still nascent field of public interest technology is growing at a rapid clip in higher education. Institutions need to build […]
BU Giving Day (4/6): Support the IOC!
BU Giving Day is here! Today is our chance to come together and make a collective impact for BU students. With your help, the Initiative on Cities will continue to empower the next generation of civic leaders at BU by providing forums and professional opportunities that connect undergraduate and graduate students to urban challenges. Your gift to […]
2021 Menino Survey: Closing the Racial Wealth Gap
America’s Mayors Recognize Sizable Racial Wealth Gaps in Their Cities, According to Survey of US Mayors Mayors Overwhelmingly Believe that Access to Capital Disproportionately Burdens Small Business Owners of Color At Least Half of Mayors Believe that Housing Programs Should Emphasize Homeownership Over Renting A strong majority (67%) of mayors are worried about the racial […]
Looking back on ARPA and America’s Cities: A Menino Survey Reflection
By Katherine Levine Einstein, David Glick, and Maxwell Palmer On March 11, 2021, the American Rescue Plan was signed into law. It stands as one of the largest federal spending stimulus bills ever passed, with $350 billion in total funds directed to help transform American states, cities, and towns[1]. A look in the rearview mirror […]
2021 Menino Survey: Mayors and America’s Homelessness Crisis
America’s Mayors Say They Feel Accountable But Unequipped to Address Homeless Crisis, Citing Lack of Funding and Public Opposition to New Housing as Biggest Barriers Almost One-Third of Cities Have No Staff Dedicated to Homelessness; Nearly a Quarter Cite Reliance on Police While a strong majority of America’s mayors feel that voters hold them largely […]
Just Released! First Set of Findings from the 2021 Menino Survey of Mayors
Among Long-Term Impacts of Pandemic, America’s Mayors Are Most Concerned with Residents’ Mental Health and Learning Loss, According to Survey of US Mayors Mayors Are Far Less Concerned with Crime and Fallout Due to Shift to Remote Work and Outmigration Four-in-Five Mayors Plan to Use Funds from American Rescue Plan Act for “Transformative Aims” on […]
Beyond the City Walls: Part 1 Recording
The Politics of Resentment Held on October 18, 2021. For information on Beyond the City Walls Part 2, please click here. Cities are vibrant centers of innovation and change. In most places, however, cities themselves are mostly defined by archaic boundaries sometimes originating in the mists of history that bear little relationship to current realities. […]
IOC Awarded Multi-Year Grant from The Rockefeller Foundation
The Initiative on Cities has been awarded a three-year grant for $355,000 from The Rockefeller Foundation to support the 2021-2023 Menino Survey of Mayors. This marks the fifth year of support from the Foundation, who previously provided support for the 2017-2020 Surveys. Citi Community Investing and Development also renewed their support for the 2021 Menino Survey, marking their seventh year […]