While public spaces have the power to foster understanding and inspire meaningful community participation, our cities are instead becoming increasingly divided, says urban planner Jay Pitter.

She will explore Canada’s history of anti-Black racism, discuss the current moment of reckoning, and outline courageous collective action in a free public lecture entitled "The City's Broken Promise: Confronting Anti-Black Racism Across Canadian Urban Landscapes" on Tuesday, Sept. 22.

Pitter works at the intersection of urban design and social equity to translate community aspirations into the built environment. She holds a Master’s degree in environmental studies from York University and is the co-editor of the 2016 book Subdivided: City-Building in an Age of Hyper-Diversity, which aimed to provoke the conversations required to build a truly connected city.

The event — sponsored by the Windsor Law Centre for Cities, the University of Windsor Humanities Research Group, and the student group Making It Awkward: Challenging Anti-Black Racism — will begin at 7 p.m. through the Zoom web conferencing service. Registration in advance is required; find details on the centre’s website.

Pitter will lead a follow-up workshop for those interested in learning principles of equity-based placemaking and strategies for engaging with the municipality at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 30. Details and registration are available on the event website.