Urban Governance Workshop Series
The Urban Governance Series is a multi-part series of lectures, discussions, and experiential learning activities organized in collaboration with the Boston University Initiative on Cities. The series centers on the governance structure of the City of Boston and its key players, along with the real-world dynamics of policy development.
The 2025 Urban Governance Series is required of all first-year trainees and includes:
Part 1: Local Governance Overview
A workshop titled, “Local Governance – Power, Policy, and Communication” will kick-off the Urban Governance Series. In collaboration with the BU Initiative on Cities, it will provide an overview of the local politics and governance structures in the City of Boston, specifically.
Part 2: State of the City Address
Each year, the Mayor of Boston delivers the State of the City address, outlining key successes from the past year and laying out priorities for the year ahead. URBAN Trainees can watch this asynchronously.
Part 3: State of the City Discussion
Following the Mayor’s State of the City speech, we join the BU Initiative on Cities to break down new initiatives, understand where environmental issues sit within upcoming priorities, and navigate how to get involved. We are often joined by a city staffer or elected official to get an insider’s perspective.
Part 4: Democracy in Action – Observing a Civic Meeting
Building on the structures, policies, and initiatives within the city, URBAN trainees observe a civic meeting of their choice (city council hearing, state-level legislative hearing, community meeting, etc.) to become familiar with the mechanics of urban governance (aka “politics in the real world”) and learn more about their area of interest. Learn more and follow the instructions here.
Part 5: Stakeholder Meetings
Trainees expand their networks and begin the important work of building relationships with those who are relevant for their research and career interests through informational interviews. This can grow out of the civic meeting observation (see Part 4) and/or be an important starting point for connecting with possible internship partners. The stakeholder meeting is an opportunity to hear more about someone’s leadership role tackling an urban environmental challenge, their career pathway, or their perspectives on your research and where the field is heading. Learn more and follow the instructions here.
The URBAN Program Manager is eager to help you with any step along the way (identifying a relevant civic meeting, determining who to connect with for an informational interview, providing an introduction to someone in your field, etc). Please reach out: urban@bu.edu