Research, Policy, and Practice for Flourishing Neighborhoods
The Center for Urban Research is a partnership between the Georgia Institute of Technology and the City of Atlanta Office of the Mayor, focused on collaborative solutions to address socio-economic inequities in urban areas. The Center is committed to advancing research, policy, and practice within the emerging field of neighborhood flourishing.
This field of neighborhood flourishing examines the role of place as a primary driver of racial and economic disparities in the United States. Mayor Andre Dickens and the City of Atlanta have launched several neighborhood revitalization efforts in support of their strategic goal of transforming historically disinvested neighborhoods in the city. Atlanta’s ongoing efforts serve as a living laboratory, offering valuable insights and scalable models that can be applied nationwide.
Mission
The Center’s mission is to build mutually beneficial partnerships with university, community, nonprofit, and municipal leaders to develop and evaluate solutions that address social, economic, and racial inequities in urban areas.
Activities
The Center engages in three core activities:
Building Strategic Partnerships: The Center fosters collaborative relationships among academic institutions, community organizations, non-profits, and municipal leaders, facilitating the exchange of best practices and fostering mutually beneficial partnerships.
Research, Evaluation, and Reporting: Serving as a central hub, the Center develops cutting-edge research on community development based on the Atlanta experience, evaluates programs, and shares learnings and insights.
Direct Support to Civic and Community Organizations: The Center provides direct support to civic and community organizations by mobilizing the skills and expertise of faculty and students while developing a talent pipeline that connects universities with local agencies.
By focusing on these key activities, the Center for Urban Research seeks to contribute to transformative change in urban communities, advancing equity and opportunity in Atlanta and beyond.
Vision
At the Center for Urban Research, we envision data and research-driven urban policies that foster sustainable, resilient, and equitable urban areas.
For academic institutions, the center will offer an avenue to advance community engagement and racial equity goals in partnership with local government agencies, serve as a “public policy makers-space” for research and implementation of community development ideas, and provide real-world experience for students and faculty.
For local government partners, the center will provide policy expertise, guidance, and continuity by maintaining the “long view” and serves as an execution arm for advancing racial and economic equity goals.
For neighborhoods, the center will serve as a central source of guidance and expertise and brings infrastructure, partners, and resources to support the implementation of their strategies.
For the philanthropic community, the center will ensure collaboration among non-profits operating in the community development space, amplify the work of non-profits and other NGOs serving the community, provide a central clearinghouse for data and research to measure outcomes and improve performance, and demonstrate best practices and scalable strategies that can be replicated in other cities.
Get in Touch!
Email us at centerforurbanresearch@pubpolicy.gatech.edu to connect and learn more.