Inaugural event gathered researchers and community leaders at Lehigh’s Mountaintop campus.
What is a small city, anyway? The Small Cities Lab brought together people from various sectors and disciplines to tackle this prevailing question. It’s not just a question about numbers — the size of a population, for instance — but about stories. It was clear from the people in the room that what makes a small city unique is the community it creates.
The two-day event, featuring sessions, talks, and workshops was held September 18–19 in Iacocca Hall’s Wood Dining Room. Guests looked out over the Lehigh Valley as the morning sun lifted the fog—a fitting backdrop for opening remarks by Robert A. Flowers II, the Herbert J. and Ann L. Siegel Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.
“The work of the Small Cities Lab is guided by a commitment to epistemic humility, approaching every project with a beginner’s mindset, listening deeply, learning from others, and shaping projects collaboratively,” Flowers said. This work is deeply personal to Flowers, who shared his own story of a challenging time growing up when his family was without permanent housing. “We can achieve much more when communities, universities, governments, and nonprofits bring their strengths together,” he concluded. “This model of partnership represents the possibility of dignity, security, and permanence for families who might otherwise be left without options.”
Read the full story on the College of Arts and Sciences News.
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