What would a progressive city agenda look like? How would it confront the challenges of urban poverty, unemployment, inadequate and unaffordable housing, poor public transportation, decaying physical infrastructure, and the growing risks of climate change? Who would lead such an initiative? And why should urbanists care?

These themes and more will be explored by Professor Ron Vogel, drawing upon his current research collaboration with Professor Meghan Joy at Concordia University. What is needed is a comprehensive approach which transcends our often ad hoc, incremental, siloed, and symbolic thinking and presents an urban policy agenda that aims to tackle the problems that materialize in cities that promote democracy, equity, and sustainability.

The lecture will be followed by a panel discussion on how to construct a more robust progressive city policy agenda – one which will mobilize citizens to transform their city into a better place.

Ron Vogel

Ronald K. Vogel is a professor of politics and public administration at Ryerson University.  Prior to joining Ryerson in 2011, he was chair of the Department of Political Science and professor of political science and urban and public affairs at the University of Louisville.  His research focuses on comparative urban governance and policy. He was a Fulbright Scholar in Japan (1997-98) and Hong Kong (2007-08).  He is president of the section on urban and local politics in the American Political Science Association and also heads the comparative urban politics group. He is former secretary-treasurer of the Urban Affairs Association and serves on the editorial board of Urban Affairs Review.