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.
Mobility is not a transportation problem. It is a public health problem, a housing problem, a climate problem, and an equity problem. Yet the people working on each of those pieces rarely sit in the same room: This learning community changes that. A small, cross-disciplinary cohort of BU graduate students, convened by Lecturer of Law […]
When: Wednesday, July 22, 2026, 10:00 – 11:30 AM Eastern Time (Boston/New York City time) Where: Virtual Join the Boston University Initiative on Cities for a virtual discussion on the Global Fight to Reclaim the "Right to the City." The "right to the city" has become a powerful framework for urban social movements and has […]
The Boston University Initiative on Cities Gentrification & Urban Displacement Lab (GUDL) is proud to announce the third recipient of our pilot partnership seed grant program. This award supports a collaboration between Lowell Alliance, the Merrimack Valley Project, and Yeşim Sungu-Eryilmaz, Assistant Professor and Director of the Boston University Metropolitan College City Planning & Urban […]
MetroBridge, the experiential learning program of the Boston University Initiative on Cities, collaborated with 19 municipal and community partners on 20 projects over the 2025-2026 academic year. During the fall and spring semesters, 410 students worked on applied learning projects, gaining real-world experience addressing urban challenges. Municipal and community partners interested in partnering with MetroBridge […]
We are excited to share that Reuben Danyali (CAS/KHC '28) is the inaugural Norman B. Leventhal Map & Education Center Summer Research Intern at the Boston Public Library! Reuben will contribute to geospatial research and data analysis of historic housing patterns, evictions, and property ownership in Boston and across Massachusetts to support a new public-facing […]
We are excited to share that Iliana Colie (CAS '27) is our inaugural City of Boston Streets Cabinet Intern! Iliana will aid in the Streets Cabinet's community engagement and outreach initiatives for transportation projects and mobility programs, including creating social media content, designing communications materials, and working on the ground to learn from and hear […]
We are excited to share that Dominic Muratore (Pardee '28) is this year's City of Boston Planning Advisory Council (PAC) Intern, representing the Initiative on Cities and Boston University this summer at the City of Boston Planning Department. Dominic will work under the Executive Director of PAC Katharine Lusk, who is also the former Co-Director […]
We are excited to share that Briannya Evans (Pardee '27) is this year's City of Boston Equity & Inclusion Cabinet Intern! Briannya will be contributing to efforts to address racial equity policy priorities in the City of Boston, to community engagement with stakeholders and residents of Boston, and to developing data-driven policy recommendations. She will […]