The COVID-19 pandemic and urban protests against racial inequality may tempt you to think that our cities are at the root of America’s health, sustainability and equity issues. This conversation series invites you to see the other side of the story - to see cities as the ultimate solution to a healthier, more sustainable, and more equitable America. Eleven conversations over eleven months will make the Case for Cities, while critically discussing their potential and challenges as places of choice and places of justice.

Sessions will invite leading national and local thinkers to discuss various perspectives on what our cities can do for us, and what we can do for our cities. Each from their own geographical, professional and cultural perspective, conversationalists will discuss how Cincinnati and mid-sized cities like it can lead on issues of public space, entrepreneurialism, health, transportation, housing, food and justice.

This conversation series is organized by the University of Cincinnati’s School of Planning, hosted by The Mercantile Library, and graciously supported by the Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr./U.S. Bank Foundation

The Mercantile Library

Professional Year

UC School of Planning: The Case for Cities

Arts and Culture

Philanthropy and the City

Why Do Cities Matter?

The Healthy City

The Living City

The Moving City

The Entrepreneurial City

Justice, Urbanism, and Anti-Urbanism

The Public City

The Green City

The Well-Fed City