New Localism, Sanctuary Cities, and Superheroes: CityLab Programming During SXSW Cities Summit

The inaugural Cities Summit at SXSW 2018 is less than two weeks away and we're feeling excited about the incredible programming ahead. From March 12-13 civic leaders, creative citizens, and urbanists of all disciplines will come together for sessions at the Four Seasons focused on the arts, technology, equity, food, transportation, design, and more.

Hear from speakers including City of Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs, President and CEO of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights Vanita Gupta, Social Practice Installation Artist Theaster Gates, and more.

For SXSW 2018, Cities Summit has partnered with CityLab to produce inspiring sessions, a special event happy hour, and according to CityLab's General Manager Rob Bole, to encourage "the next generation of activists, advocates, innovators, and leaders to wrestle with the important challenges of equity, justice, mobility, housing, and community."

CityLab explores the trends and innovative solutions shaping our urban future and captures the unmatched creativity of our increasingly urbanized world. Through the expertise of thought-leaders and practitioners, CityLab informs and inspires the leaders who are building the cities of the future — and those who will live there.

Join us for HappyHourLab with CityLab, featuring artist Tunde Olaniran on March 12 on the Four Seasons Terrace. At the Happy Hour, Nicole Flatow, editor of CityLab will be interviewing Tunde Olanrian to kick off the evening. The event is presented by Kresge Foundation's American Cities Practice and will celebrate the work they are doing in Memphis, Detroit, and New Orleans.

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New Localism: Reimagining Power in a Populist Age

Power is shifting in the world: downward from national governments and states to cities and metropolitan communities, where policy is less partisan and more pragmatic.

Bruce Katz and Jeremy Nowak argue that this new locus of power—this new localism—is emerging by necessity to solve the grand challenges characteristic of modern societies: economic competitiveness, social inclusion and opportunity; a renewed public life; the challenge of diversity; and the imperative of environmental sustainability. Where rising populism on the right and the left exploits the grievances of those left behind in the global economy, new localism has developed as a mechanism to address them head on.

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Redefining Sanctuary Cities

As Jeff Sessions has rolled out his law-and-order missions to curb immigration and stop violent crime, he has increasingly suggested that the two go hand-in-hand — a phenomenon known as “crimmigration.” In this environment, cities and advocates are seeking to define - and redefine - what it means to be a sanctuary city. Should cities that dub themselves "sanctuaries" protect immigrants and nonimmigrants alike, particularly people of color, through criminal justice and surveillance reform?

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Superheroes and the City

The NYC that gave rise to the most beloved superheroes in the Golden Age of comic books is transformed. Hell's Kitchen, where Daredevil fought gangsters and criminals, is now home to the High Line. Gotham isn't Gothic anymore. This panel brings together urban journalists (and comic-book fans) with celebrated comic-book authors, who will look at how once-gritty cities of comic-book lore look more and more like futuristic Metropolis—and how those changes are reflected in comic books and films.

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What Happened to Our Chocolate Cities

A look at gentrification in our cities, historical context of the Great Migration and current examples of industries/concepts/infrastructure that are grappling with the changing makeup in our cities and the challenge of improving a neighborhood without driving out the people who made it what it is.

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Join Us for SXSW 2018

The SXSW Conference includes 24 programming tracks divided amongst Interactive, Film, Music, and Convergence. Each March, some of the world's most creative minds come together in Austin, Texas to discover, learn, network, brainstorm and collaborate.

Register to attend and get ready to explore new opportunities during 10 days of sessions, screenings, showcases, exhibitions, networking, and beyond from March 9-18 at SXSW 2018.

SXSW registrants get access to SXSW hotels at the lowest rates available by making reservations through SXSW Housing & Travel.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and SXSW News for the latest SXSW coverage, announcements, and updates.

Teaser Photo by Alexa Gonzalez Wagner

By Ari Roth

03/2/2018