John Hagedorn Annual Lecture

Promotional graphic for the John Hagedorn Annual Lecture featuring a portrait of John Hagedorn on the left and the Great Cities Institute and UIC logos on the right.

The John Hagedorn Annual Lecture honors the life, scholarship, and lasting impact of Dr. John Hagedorn, whose work deepened public understanding of gangs, violence, urban inequality, and community life. This annual lecture series brings together scholars, practitioners, students, and community members to engage with pressing social issues through research, dialogue, and reflection. Through this series, the Great Cities Institute continues Dr. Hagedorn’s commitment to connecting rigorous scholarship with the lived realities of communities and the structural conditions that shape urban life.

The Inaugural John Hagedorn Annual Lecture Featuring Dr. Avelardo Valdez, in Conversation with Dr. Kathryn Bocanegra

Event flyer for the Inaugural John Hagedorn Annual Lecture with Dr. Avelardo Valdez, featuring a dark background with a portrait of Valdez, event details for October 7, 2026, from 4:00 to 6:00 PM at UIC Student Center East, Cardinal Room, and an RSVP QR code.

The Great Cities Institute is pleased to launch the John Hagedorn Annual Lecture series in Fall 2026, beginning with the inaugural lecture honoring Dr. John Hagedorn’s life, scholarship, and enduring contributions to the study of gangs, violence, urban inequality, and community life. Kicking off the series, Dr. Avelardo Valdez will discuss his new book, Homeboys Forever: The Lifetime Consequences of Gang Membership, published by the University of Chicago Press, in conversation with Dr. Kathryn Bocanegra from the Jane Addams College of Social Work at the University of Illinois Chicago. Drawing on more than two decades of longitudinal research, Valdez’s work offers a humanizing examination of gang involvement, structural inequality, institutional stigmatization, and the lasting effects of social and economic marginalization. Click here to access the event page.

  • Event Date: Wednesday, October 7, 2026
  • Event Time: 4 PM to 6 PM
  • Event Location: UIC Student Center East, Cardinal Room, 750 S. Halsted St., Chicago, IL 60607
  • Click here to RSVP or bit.ly/inaugural-johnhagedorn-lecture.

Remembering John Hagedorn: Past Events at the Great Cities Institute

Below are videos from past Great Cities Institute events, conversations, and tributes remembering Dr. John Hagedorn and honoring his life, work, and legacy. These gatherings brought together colleagues, students, community partners, and friends to reflect on Hagedorn’s influential scholarship, his commitment to understanding urban inequality and gang life, and his deep engagement with communities in Chicago and beyond. Together, these videos serve as a record of his lasting impact and the conversations his work continues to inspire.

Continue the Legacy

Graphic promoting the John Hagedorn Memorial Fund, featuring a QR code, donation link, and a faded background image of John Hagedorn seated outdoors.

Contributions to the John Hagedorn Memorial Fund will support research, programming, and public conversations that continue Dr. Hagedorn’s legacy at the Great Cities Institute. The fund will help advance research and events such as the John Hagedorn Annual Lecture, bringing together scholars, students, practitioners, and community members to engage with issues central to his work, including gangs, violence, urban inequality, and community life.