Urban Seminar: Latin American Cities
According to UN-Habitat, Latin America is the most urbanized region in the world. Over 75% of its population lived in cities at the turn of the 21st century and that figure is expected to rise to almost 85% by 2030. Event recap coming soon.
Urban Seminar: Faith and the City
What is the role of faith in the modern city? How do religious leaders and institutions impact urban residents, especially marginalized populations? Join us on Wednesday December 7th, at 11:45am to discuss the multitude of ways faith-based organizations contribute to the success of cities, particularly in the city of Boston. Moderated by Rev. Dr. Robert […]
Urban Innovation: Exploring the Future of Buildings
Rebuilding our urban infrastructure means more than simply replacing old with new. It will require new ways to thinking about the design, performance and economics of the places where we live, work and play. Join us this evening, Tuesday November 29th, at 6pm in the Questrom School of Business (Room 426), for a presentation by […]
Understanding the Economic Development Gap
On Tuesday October 25th, the Initiative on Cities (IOC) welcomed students, faculty and staff to Understanding the Economic Development Gap, the first Urban Seminar for the fall 2016 semester. The Seminar examined why some cities have experienced an economic development boom while others have stagnated. Moderated by Boston University Professor of Economics and IOC Advisory […]
After the Votes are Counted, What’s Next for America’s Cities?
Nearly two out of every three Americans live in urban areas. Cities are responsible for 75% of the US GDP. Mayors are among the most innovative and creative leaders in politics. And yet, our cities will undoubtedly be impacted by the 2016 Election and the incoming Trump administration. The Boston University Initiative on Cities invites […]
Boston Public Schools’ Assignment Plan
By Patricia Cahill On February 4, 2016, The Initiative on Cities held a panel discussion that brought together Boston Public Schools (BPS) and Boston University community members to discuss the newest BPS Assignment Plan that was rolled out in 2014. This new plan reorganized Boston schools into tiers and normalized the distribution of “quality” schools […]
IOC Urban Seminar: Understanding the Economic Development Gap
Why have some cities experienced an economic development boom, while others have struggled? What can cities do to recover from decades of decline? This panel will focus on exploring and understanding the urban development gap, especially as it applies to Gateway and Legacy cities in the U.S. Join us for lunch and a conversation with […]
Jakarta: Making a Megacity a Smart City
With a population of nearly 10 million, Jakarta stands as one of the largest cities in the world. As the city government attempts to manage its massive population, overcome a history of corruption, and implement Smart City technology, what are the chief challenges and the biggest opportunities for progress? On September 15th, alongside the Pardee […]
Fiscal Leadership Summit Comprehensive Report
In the spring of 2015, Fiscal Leadership and the Modern City, the Initiative on Cities’ third City Leadership Summit, convened Mayors, CFOs, public officials, fiscal watchdogs, academics, and members of the private sector for a two-day discussion focused on a critical question: how we will pay for the cities of the future? The IOC hopes […]
UK Cities: Coffee and Conversation with Liverpool’s Chief of Staff
England is undergoing a significant political shift at the municipal level. The creation of metro city governments is ushering in the first wave of directly elected mayors, including Mayor Joe Anderson of Liverpool. This fundamental change in the way cities operate is reviving the importance of local government and changing the power dynamic in English […]