This research surveys how graduate level urban planning students think about social justice and equity issues and how academic instruction in urban planning affects the disposition of students toward these issues and themes in the context of their development as urban planning professionals. Although the quantitative findings did not demonstrate that the graduate curriculum and instruction had any appreciable impact on student understanding and navigation of equity and social justice themes, qualitative evidence did suggest that students are understanding and care about issues related to social justice and equity and were interested in incorporating those issues into their professional practice. This research also suggests that graduate academic instruction may fall short in supporting students with the useful integration of social justice and equity issues into their professional practice.

One powerful expression of the neoliberal orthodoxy within economic development practice in the United States has been local governments’ use of economic-development-driven eminent domain. However, the presumed benefits but not the actual harm of the eminent domain actions typically eludes the working-class and low-income segments of the community that often shoulder the greatest consequences of the action. Municipal governments must be much more exacting, deliberative, and strategic in ensuring there is an obvious and direct connection between the potential economic development opportunities leveraged by eminent domain practices and the benefits, opportunities, and resources that the community derives from those transactions of local government. Thoughtfully and strategically designed and executed Community Benefit Agreements have tremendous potential to afford working-class and low-income residents, as well other city residents, a chance for more equitable and democratic results than they frequently experience under existing economic-development-driven eminent domain practice.

A five-year outreach and engagement initiative focused on addressing systems and policy issues affecting the life-chances of Black men and boys and the Black community as a whole. This initiative was supported by the Citibank, McCormick Foundation, the Chicago Community Trust and the Pritzker for Early Childhood Foundation. This initiative resulted in over 80 community-based convenings.

On May 10, 2016, The Chicago Community Trust convened residents across the Chicago area for the 3rd Annual “On the Table” conversations. The Black Men and Boys Community of Practice (BMB CoP) project were invited to host a number of these conversations with black men and young black men. The BMB CoP reached out to partnering organizations that hosted participants that were struggling with success (e.g., unemployment, returning citizens). The hosts facilitated several conversations with groups ranging in size from half-a-dozen to thirty participants.

The Gary Commission on the Social Status of Black Males (GCSSBM) hosted two conversations at Indiana University Northwest on August 11, 2016 and January 21, 2017. One session was with black men and the other with young black men. Each session hosted around 20 participants.

The Jane Addams Resource Corporation (JARC) hosted this series of conversations on January 27, 2017. JARC prepares workers for jobs in the manufacturing sector, and assists individuals who were were unemployed or need to be retrained to get back into the workforce.

The 2015 version of our Black Men and Boys Community of Practice Initiative report.

A statewide applied research initiative (touching sixty-eight counties and one hundred and ninety-eight organizations) that sought to assess family strengthening and father-engagement practices amongst community-based health centers and community organizations throughout the state for purpose of increasing father involvement as a prophylaxis to infant mortality and poor health outcomes for mothers of color.

Dr. Harris focuses his attention on the challenges facing black men in public housing. He argues that fathers are an essential resource for public housing families, but that public policy has systematically undermined their role and their potential contribution. This essay discusses how black men can and do contribute to the well-being of their families, not only by providing material support, but also by engaging with their children and becoming involved in their development. In addition, Dr. Harris recommends specific changes in the public housing, child support, and welfare policies that currently pose barriers to more constructive father involvement.