Book Talk: “The Cities on the Hill” by Thomas Ogorzalek
By Doruntina Zeneli On Friday, March 22, Thomas Ogorzalek, Professor of Political Science at Northwestern University spoke about the divide between urban and rural America and how racial conflict shaped the current political landscape of our country. He illustrated how the divide between these areas originated in his new book, The Cities on the Hill: How […]
Research on Tap: The American City: Promoting Inclusion or Sowing Division?
By Doruntina Zeneli On Wednesday, February 27, professors from various academic fields of political science, global health, economics, and social work presented their findings on current issues surrounding the “American City” and unpacked the question of its impact on inclusivity and division. Research presentations focused on topics ranging from housing wealth effects, aged homelessness, and […]
Research Spotlight: 2018 Menino Survey of Mayors
By Doruntina Zeneli On Wednesday, February 13, Assistant Professors Katherine Einstein and Maxwell Palmer and Associate Professor David Glick joined the Initiative on Cities, sharing key findings from the 2018 Menino Survey of Mayors based on interviews with 110 mayors across 37 states. The three highlighted mayoral views on social mobility, living wage ordinances, the sharing economy, immigration, […]
Urban Health Symposium
On Thursday, December 6th, the Boston University School of Public Health (SPH), the Initiative on Cities, and the Yale Institute for Global Health co-hosted an Urban Health Symposium that examined the intersection of public health and urban development. Over 30 scholars worldwide participated in six panels that discussed the implications of massive global urbanization on […]
Political Messaging & The Modern Media: A Discussion with Jerry Abramson and Margaret Quackenbush
On Wednesday, November 28th, 2018, the Initiative on Cities and the College of Communication (COM) co-sponsored a discussion on the changing role of media in the political landscape. The talk featured Jerry Abramson, former White House Director of Intergovernmental Affairs under President Obama, and Margaret Quackenbush, Deputy Press Secretary at the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office. […]
The Latino City
On Thursday, September 27, the BU Center for Latin American Studies and the Initiative on Cities co-sponsored a discussion on the emergence and development of Latino communities in the heart of American cities. Jonathan Calvillo, Assistant Professor at Boston University, moderated the panel featuring Dr. Llana Barber, Professor at SUNY Old Westbury, and Erualdo González, […]
The Best Solutions For Breaking the Incarceration Cycle
On April 18, Jen Doleac visited the Initiative on Cities to lecture on programs and policies to productively incorporate the formerly-incarcerated into their communities. Doleac is an Assistant Professor of Public Policy and Economics at the Batten School, and Director of the Justice Tech Lab at UVA. Two thirds of those released from prison will […]
A Conversation on Gun Violence and Police Shootings in the U.S.
On April 11, BU School of Public Health Professor Michael Siegel and former Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges visited the Initiative on Cities to discuss firearm violence and community-police relations. Siegel discussed his research on the link between structural racism and fatal police shooting, and Hodges detailed her work as mayor surrounding policing and community building.
Event Recap: Assessing and Planning for Neighborhood-Based Resiliency
On February 13th, Cambridge City Councilor Craig Kelley visited the Initiative on Cities to discuss his advice and experience with the Cambridge Mayor’s Special Committee on Neighborhood-Based Resilience. His seminar, moderated by BU City Planning and Urban Affairs Director and Associate Professor of the Practice Dr. Madhu Dutta-Koehler, explored his challenges when organizing within the community and […]
Former Lord Mayor of London Fiona Woolf Speaks at IOC
On November 27th, former Lord Mayor of London Fiona Woolf visited the Initiative on Cities to discuss her efforts on sustainability and innovation within London’s electricity industry. Woolf began to speak on a Lord mayor’s numerous responsibilities, one being a “champion of the city brand” to creating opportunities within the city. Though, measuring cities can […]