Innovative Approaches to Belonging in Urban Spaces

Innovative Approaches to Belonging in Urban Spaces: Reframing the Debate on Integration, Migration, and Inclusion from a Multidisciplinary Perspective

Registration required: bit.ly/iasfm20-webinar

Discussants:

1. Anita Fábos, Professor, Department of Sustainability and Social Justice, and co-Convenor of the Integration and Belonging Hub, Clark University
2. Leora Kahn, Founder and Executive Director of PROOF: Media for Social Justice, and co-Convenor of the Integration and Belonging Hub at Clark University
3. Tunggul Puji Lestari, MA Student, The Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies, University of Washington
4. Craig Mortley, Ph.D. Student and Graduate Assistant, School of Social Work, University of Connecticut
5. Adam Saltsman, Associate Professor, Department of Urban Studies, Worcester State University
6. Akino Tahir, Senior Fellow, Urban Refugee Research Group, Resilience Development Initiative

This panel discussion brings together scholars and practitioners who explore belonging, migration, and displacement in urban settings through a multidisciplinary lens. The original panel was planned to be presented at the IASFM20 conference in Indonesia, however not all panelists were able to make it, so this virtual event provides an opportunity for all panel members to join and share their insights on how urban spaces can better include and empower displaced populations.

The discussion will highlight diverse initiatives—spanning academic research, media, cultural studies, and artistic expression—that center the voices of those with lived experiences of displacement and mobility. Panelists will critically examine how these approaches have challenged dominant narratives of migration and belonging and assess their impact on shaping more inclusive urban environments.

The aim of this interactive dialogue is to identify common challenges across these efforts and showcase innovative strategies that amplify marginalized perspectives in decision-making processes, reshape urban discourses, and foster empathy for the diverse experiences of displaced individuals. Following the pre-recorded panel discussion, attendees will have the opportunity to engage in a live Q&A session with the panelists.

Sponsors: International Association for the Study of Forced Migration (IASFM); Resilience Development Initiative – Urban Refugee Research Group (RDI | UREF); Department of Anthropology, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM); The Integration and Belonging Hub (IBH) at Clark University

Learn more about the IASFM20 Conference here: https://iasfm.org/iasfm2025/ 

Questions? Contact IBH@clarku.edu