How is the Initiative on Cities Making a Difference in Urban Scholarship?

We catalyze early-stage research that deepens understanding of cities and urban populations. Today, with over half the world’s population living in urban areas, it is more crucial than ever for scholars and practitioners to address the complex challenges facing 21st-century cities – and to shape the policies and practices that will shape their future. If you are a member of the BU community and interested in submitting a proposal, we encourage you to review our annual requests for proposals, which typically open in December or January.  
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724 result(s) found.

  • Just Released! Counting the City: Mayoral Views on the 2020 Census

    September 22, 2020
    Bipartisan Concern Among Mayors over Census Undercount Latest Menino Survey of Mayors from Boston University Initiative on Cities, supported by Citi and The Rockefeller Foundation, also Addresses COVID-19, Policing & Protests, and Parks & Greenspace As the 2020 Census concludes at the end of September, a large majority of the mayors of America’s major cities […]

  • Just Released! First Set of Findings from the 2021 Menino Survey of Mayors

    November 22, 2021
    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 […]

  • Just Released: Mayors and the Health of Cities

    June 4, 2019
    Today, the Boston University Initiative on Cities, with support from Citi and the Rockefeller Foundation, launched Mayors and the Health of Cities, a new report that sheds light on how US mayors perceive and prioritize the health of their cities in the context of existing urban health data. The report also highlights promising city-led initiatives […]

  • Just Released: Workforce Development for Vulnerable Youth: Lessons from Two National Studies

    April 1, 2022
    In a new white paper published by the BU Initiative on Cities (IOC), Mary Collins, Professor at the BU School of Social Work (BU SSW), and Adrianna Spindle-Jackson, PhD Student at the BU SSW, summarize key results of two studies, conducted by a team at the BU SSW between April 2020 and March 2021, to […]

  • Justice and Inclusion: Lessons for Boston from New York and Chicago

    March 3, 2021
    Daniel Daponte (CAS ’22) is IOC’s 2020-2021 National League of Cities (NLC) Menino Fellow. Daniel graduated with a BA in Environmental Analysis and Policy with a minor in Urban Studies. Daniel spent the fall semester with IOC Director and Professor Graham Wilson through this Fellowship in a Directed Study program. Daniel’s research project focused on restorative justice initiatives, analyzing […]

  • Justice in Urban Climate Mitigation

    July 2, 2018
    Principal Investigator Earth & Environment Associate Professor Anne Short seeks to examine climate action plans in 24 cities across the United States to determine if and how they integrate environmental justice into their goals. Professor Short undertakes this project in order to add to empirical evidence—of which there is little—examining justice in the context of […]

  • Justice in Urban Climate Plans: How and Where Cities Are Integrating Equity and Climate

    November 1, 2021
    Held on December 7, 2021. Watch a full recording of the event, or scroll down to read a recap and watch event highlights. Recap by Amelia Murray-Cooper On Tuesday, December 7, 2021, the Boston University Initiative on Cities and Institute for Sustainable Energy hosted a panel discussion to share the latest research on equity in […]
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    Karl Dean Completes Term as Mayor-In-Residence

    February 8, 2018
    Karl Dean, the former Mayor of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, Tennessee, completed his term as the first Initiative on Cities Mayor-in-Residence in May 2016. As Mayor-In-Residence, Mayor Dean spent the 2016 spring semester on the Boston University campus as a member of the IOC team, helping to reinforce our focus on […]
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    Karl Dean Completes Term as Mayor-In-Residence

    May 12, 2016
    Karl Dean, the former Mayor of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, Tennessee, completed his term as the first Initiative on Cities Mayor-in-Residence in May 2016. As Mayor-In-Residence, Mayor Dean spent the 2016 spring semester as a member of the IOC team on the Boston University campus, helping reinforce our focus on connecting […]

  • Kathya Correa Almanza: Reflecting On My Menino Fellowship

    March 18, 2026
    My experience with the Menino Fellowship during my final year at Boston University was incredibly rewarding and meaningful. It not only prepared me for life after graduation but also equipped me with valuable skills in research, writing, collaboration, and interviewing. I first heard about the fellowship through the BU Newbury Center’s newsletter and applied because […]