Cycle of Segregation: Why American Neighborhoods Are Still Divided Along Racial Lines

Maria Krysan, professor of sociology, University of Illinois, Chicago and co-author, Cycle of Segregation: Social Processes and Residential Stratification 

Five decades after the passage of The Fair Housing Act of 1968, many metropolitan areas continue to be segregated by race, ethnicity, and/or income. In this talk, Maria Krysan, co-author of Cycle of Segregation, a recently published award-winning book, will explain why a nuanced understanding of everyday social processes is critical for interrupting these entrenched patterns of residential segregation. Krysan, who also is a professor and head of sociology at the University of Illinois, Chicago, will discuss findings indicating that everyday social processes – such as past neighborhood experiences, social networks, and daily activities – have combined to make segregation a self-perpetuating system. She also will describe promising multilevel policy solutions, such as those that pair inclusionary zoning and affordable housing with education and public relations campaigns that emphasize neighborhood diversity and high-opportunity areas.

Harvard Graduate School of Design
Gund Hall, Room 109
Bring your lunch, dessert provided