KU Graduate Students to Present Research on Recent City Issues on May 8 at the Cider Gallery

On May 8, graduate students in KU’s UBPL 763: Politics and Planning class will present research on recent Lawrence projects and issues at a drop-in event from 6:00-8:00 pm at the Cider Gallery (810 Pennsylvania St. Lawrence, KS). The class is part of KU's Urban Planning program, which is within the School of Public Affairs and Administration. It is celebrating 50 years of graduating Jayhawk Planners and 75 years of educating public servants, respectively.

Urban planning, public administration, and law students in Professor Bonnie Johnson, FAICP’s class interviewed community members and City staff involved in recent community projects, and they looked through public records, news coverage, and research articles. 

The class first interviewed the Coalition for Collaborative Governance, a group of local advocates, who shared the successes and challenges they face in working with City government, and the students used this information to start their research. The list of topics students chose from was identified by the Coalition.

Community members, elected officials, and City staff are invited to the drop-in event at the Cider Gallery on Thursday, May 8 from 6-8 pm. Students will be ready with their research posters to provide information, answer questions, discuss, and listen. Students’ white papers, handouts, and QR codes to access all the students’ research will be available as well. Refreshments will be offered for purchase from the bar.

The City issues and projects that this class researched include:

•             Addressing Homelessness,

•             Affordable Housing,

•             Brick Sidewalks and Streets Policy,

•             City Hall Location,

•             Kaw River Pedestrian Bridge,

•             Lawrence Central Station,

•             Lawrence’s Land Development Code,

•             The Lawrence Loop,

•             New Boston Crossing,

•             Ninth Street Reconfiguration,

•             Tax Incentives, and

•             Terms of Office for City Commissioners and the Council Manager Form of Government.

Additional contacts: Holly Krebs, Coalition for Collaborative Governance, Lead Organizer - hollykrebs@gmail.com, 785-840-4388