Special Programs and Convenings

Special Programs and Convenings serve as a home for major moments in the life of the Great Cities Institute - events that mark milestones, honor legacies, elevate urgent public issues, and bring people together across disciplines, communities, and sectors. This collection includes anniversary programs, research summits, public webinars, memorial and tribute events, partner celebrations, policy conversations, community-centered dialogues, and press convenings. Together, these programs reflect the many ways GCI responds to the times: by creating space to remember influential scholars and organizers, spotlighting emerging initiatives, addressing issues such as migration, environmental justice, racial equity, Latino research, and youth joblessness, and strengthening the relationships that sustain public scholarship. These special programs and convenings capture the breadth of GCI’s work and its ongoing role as a place for reflection, recognition, dialogue, and collective action.