An Intergenerational Call for Democratic Knowledge Making: Youth Leadership, Coalition Building & Activism

The 2027 URBAN Conference convenes scholars, grassroots organizers, youth activists, educators, and community practitioners committed to advancing participatory, justice-oriented democracy through engaged research and public scholarship. As communities navigate compounding civic disorientation, systemic constriction, health inequities and environmental challenges, the imperative for collaborative, intergenerational movement-building has never been more urgent.

This year’s conference centers the transformative power of intergenerational alliances, positioning youth leadership not merely as the future of civic life, but as an indispensable driving force in current coalition building and systemic change. Sponsored by the Center for Montessori Studies at the University of Hartford and the Department of Ethnic, Gender & Disability Studies at the University of Utah and hosted by the URBAN Utah Node, the gathering prioritizes critical, community-engaged youth-led scholarship and action rooted in intersectional equity, racial justice, and self-determination.