We seek to understand and address the most pressing challenges facing local leaders in relation to the contemporary state of cities and their future, both nationally and globally. We bring together academics, elected officials, policymakers, practitioners, businesses, nonprofits, and community leaders to learn from one another and co-create solutions.
The Boston University Initiative on Cities and the School of Hospitality Administration have recently published a brief on their findings regarding short-term rental (STR) regulations and their impact in Boston. The findings were presented to the City of Boston on October 29, 2025. The study examined Boston's regulatory frameworks in the Boston market and their […]
Where: Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.A. When: January 15-17, 2026 Conference Co-Chairs: Karen Chapple (School of Cities, University of Toronto), Loretta Lees (Initiative on Cities, Boston University), and Jesse M. Keenan (Center on Climate Change and Urbanism, Tulane University) Conference Sponsors: Canadian Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Partnership Development Grant and Tulane […]
The Boston University Initiative on Cities is excited to launch Third Spaces: an interdisciplinary, student-led zine that brings together diverse stories on urbanism. Third Spaces celebrates the rich diversity of city life. We foster relationships across communities and hold civic leaders accountable to public needs. Through an interdisciplinary approach, Third Spaces addresses urban inequalities to […]
GUDL is launching a special, time-limited pilot program to support the development of partnerships addressing gentrification and displacement in Massachusetts. We invite local organizations and individuals to submit requests for collaboration for a chance to receive seed funding in early 2026. This pilot aims to foster new, cross-sector partnerships that bridge local knowledge, research, and policy to […]
When: Tuesday, November 18, 2025, 4:00 – 5:30 PM Where: Initiative on Cities, 75 Bay State Road, Boston, MA 02215 Join the Boston University Initiative on Cities and City Planning & Urban Affairs Program at Metropolitan College for our annual Careers in Transportation Information Session! This session provides a direct venue for students and aspiring […]
When: November 3, 2025 | 12:00 - 1:30 PM ET Where: Initiative on Cities, 75 Bay State Road, Boston, MA 02215 Join the Boston University Department of Sociology and Initiative on Cities for a special session of the Urban Inequalities Workshop featuring Dr. Daniel T. O’Brien’s (Northeastern University) latest book, The Pointillistic City (MIT Press, […]
When: Thursday, November 6, 10:00 - 11:30 AM ET (Boston) Where: Virtual via Zoom Join us for a virtual discussion of Urban Health in Africa, co-edited by Boston University Associate Professor of Global Health, Elaine Nsoesie. The event will feature contributing authors highlighting case studies from the volume and a panel conversation on Africa’s rapid […]
When: Monday, October 27, 2025, 12:00 – 1:30 PM Where: Metropolitan College, 1010 Commonwealth Ave., 1st floor, Room 122 Join the Boston University Metropolitan College City Planning & Urban Affairs Program and Initiative on Cities for a noontime Transportation & the City discussion on how people use and navigate with transit map designs. The discussion […]
