CoursesParticipatory Cities
URBS 3140 / SOCI 2960

Participatory Cities

What is a participatory city? What has that term meant in the past, what does it mean now, and what will it mean going forward? Against the backdrop of increasing inequality and inequity, and the rise in a search for solutions, what role can citizens play in co-creating more just cities and neighborhoods? How can citizens be engaged in the decision making processes about the places where we live, work, and play? And most importantly, how can we work to make sure that all kinds of voices are meaningfully included, and that historically muted voices are elevated to help pave a better path forward?

Designated as an Academically Based Community Service (ABCS) course.

This course will connect theory with praxis as we explore together history, challenges, methods, and approaches, and impact of community participation and stakeholder involvement in cities. Multiple opportunities will be provided to be involved in community engagement work for live projects in Philadelphia.

Instructors:

Marisa Denker and Sylvia Garcia-Garcia

I learned more about community engagement and the art of creating spaces where people of different backgrounds and ideas can come together to co-create the communities they live in. We learned different skills to help facilitate this kind of dialogue, which can often be challenging.

Sample Syllabus

An Academically Based Community Service (ABCS) Course

Other Courses of Interest

HSOC 3210

Health in Philly: Past and Present

Instructor(s)

  • Andi Johnson

Semester

Fall 2025

How have different neighborhood organizations, activist groups, and private and public institutions in Philadelphia tried to understand and address shared health problems? How have Philadelphia organizations, groups, and institutions promoted wellbeing? In this course with a field work component, students will read about neighborhood- and community-based interventions into health in Philadelphia since the turn of the 20th century.

 

Learn More
ENGL 0361.401/ COML 0361 / RELS 0361

First-Year Seminar Collecting and Collectors

Instructor(s)

  • Emily Steiner

Semester

Fall 2025

This first-year seminar examines theories and histories about the art, religion, psychology, ethics, economics, and politics of collecting.

Learn More