Urban Inequalities Workshop

Each semester, the Boston University Initiative on Cities hosts a doctoral workshop led by Professor of Sociology and Urban Faculty Fellow Japonica Brown-Saracino that invites faculty, graduate students, and postdocs to explore the issues of urban inequality.

This workshop approaches the topic of urban inequalities from different disciplinary, methodological, and theoretical angles. The workshop explores themes that include, but are not limited to, cities and race, economics, health, politics and governance, education, youth, climate change, resiliency, sexualities and gender, marketing, and neighborhoods.

Open to doctoral students and faculty from across the university and the broader Boston area, the workshop brings together students and faculty whose work addresses theoretical and policy concerns. Workshops include two types of meetings:

• presentations of work in progress by regular participants
• presentations of work in progress by scholars from outside of Boston University

Before each meeting, a working paper is circulated for participants to read. At the workshop, the author will offer a short presentation providing background information about their work, while the rest is devoted to feedback and conversation.

In Spring 2025, the workshop will be held at the Initiative on Cities (75 Bay State Road) on the following Mondays from 12 to 1:30 PM. Lunch will be provided.

• February 24, 2025: Dr. Raquel L. Jimenez, Harvard University
  • “A Storied City”
• March 17, 2025: Yasemin Girgin, Ph.D Student, Boston University
  • “Politics of Gentrification: Desecularization of Culture in Istanbul”
• April 14, 2025: Dr. Sarah Mayorga, Brandeis University
  • “Owners, renters, and the social relations of private property”

If you are interested in presenting at the workshop, please contact graduate student coordinator Andrew Ward (amward@bu.edu).