On May 23, 2022, Guttman College students in Introduction to Urban Studies participated in a Social Justice Walk. Professor Molly Makris, who is an Associate Professor and Program Coordinator of Urban Studies at Guttman, coordinated the tour with local activist and organizer Michael Higgins Jr. Higgins Jr. is a tour guide at Social Justice Walks as well as being the Housing and Sustainability organizer at the Brooklyn Movement Center. With a part of the tour focusing on gentrification, Higgins Jr. emphasized the development that has recreated downtown Brooklyn since the Downtown Brooklyn Rezoning of 2004. Students in Professor Makris’ class engaged with Higgins Jr. in conversations about the history of the community, the use of the rezoning, and landmark status.
On May 26, 2022, in collaboration with the Urban Academy at the School of Labor and Urban Studies (SLU), The Urban Studies program held an event—its annual Urban Studies Dinner and Book Talk. This year’s well attended event featured CUNY SLU’s Dr. Penny Lewis, co-author of A People’s Guide to New York City. Students and faculty enjoyed learning about New York City sites and stories that can shift our collective perspective of what defines and is essential to the character of the City. Participants even got to make suggestions for sites to be included in the future.
Please check out pictures from both events below.
Social Justice Walks and Urban Studies Dinner and Book Talk
