“A city is not an accident but the result of coherent visions and aims.”
Our Approach:
Toronto as the Classroom
At The City Collaborative, community-engaged learning is the foundation of our approach to studying and advancing social justice in the city. We view the city as a dynamic classroom for city-building, advocacy, and research. While the majority of our partnerships are based in Toronto, we continue to expand our reach to new cities and regions, utilizing both in-person and remote collaboration models to facilitate impactful work.
In practice, this commitment means:
Centering Community Perspectives: We are dedicated to prioritizing community voices on the challenges and opportunities facing contemporary urbanites.
Foundational Engagement
Introduction to Urban Studies (URB236H): Students begin their engagement through 12-hour placements with community organizations, using these experiences to connect academic readings to the practicalities of city-building.
Specialized Research & Policy
Housing and Homelessness (URB337H & URB433H1): These courses allow students to engage directly with policy experts and individuals with lived experience to address the complexities of urban housing.
City Challenges & Opportunities (URB335H): A unique partnership between the City of Toronto and local post-secondary institutions, where students learn directly from municipal policy makers.
Public Participation in Policy Making (URB432H): Focused on the mechanics of inclusive urban governance.
Bridging Theory and Practice: Our initiatives connect academic discourse to real-world events, ensuring research and teaching remain responsive to the world around us.
Fostering Civic Responsibility: We aim to inspire a personal vision for more livable and just urban futures by teaching civic and social responsibility.
Pathways for Engagement
The City Collaborative supports a range of courses and initiatives that prioritize community-engaged learning across different levels of study:
Intensive Capstone Projects
The Multidisciplinary Urban Capstone Project (URB431Y): Teams of students from across the university collaborate with community organizations to consult on specific design challenges and develop prototype solutions.
Urban Experiential Learning (URB437Y): An intensive year-long placement (8 hours per week) that provides students with a deep immersion into the professional world of city-building.
The Changing Culture of Regent Park (URB440H): In partnership with the Focus Media Arts Centre, students work with local residents to learn about the history of a rapidly changing neighbourhood and co-produce media projects that highlight specific community issues, culminating in a public exhibition.