Tag Archives: UHA

¡ Mike Davis, Presente !

Urban History Association Conference 2025

Metropolitan Majorities: UHA 11th Biennial Conference

The Biltmore Los Angeles in Downtown LA, October 9-12, 2025

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Cities of Quartz: How Mike Davis Transformed Urban Studies (Roundtable)

Saturday, October 11, 2025 | 1:15-2:45pm

Abstract:

In this roundtable discussion, a group of writers, academics, and urban planners will discuss the life and work of Mike Davis. With books like City of Quartz, Ecology of Fear, and Planet of Slums, Davis played an irreplaceable role in pushing urban scholars to foreground questions of equity, justice, and sustainability in their work. Each of Davis’ books and articles was grounded in a clear-eyed assessment of the power dynamics that create unequal societies, and throughout his life he remained a forceful advocate for the moral necessity that poor and working-class communities — whatever their ethnic or racial makeup — have the same chance at opportunity as the ruling class.

To illuminate Davis’ legacy, our discussion will begin with the impact he had on how the city of Los Angeles understands itself, before we open our inquiry into applying his method to cities everywhere and incorporating his ethos into future urban plans.

The roundtable will be moderated by Mike Sonksen, a poet and former Woodbury University professor who was mentored by Mike Davis and remained friends with him for over two decades.

Speakers:

— Carolina A. Miranda, Culture Writer

— Mike The PoeT Sonksen, Poet & Moderator

— David Kipen, UCLA Writing Faculty 

— Jonathan Pacheco Bell, Urban Planner 

— Kyle Paoletta, Journalist & Author

We’re honoring Mike Davis at the Urban History Association Conference 2025.

Urban History Association Conference 2025

Metropolitan Majorities: UHA 11th Biennial Conference

The Biltmore Los Angeles in Downtown LA, October 9-12, 2025

---

Cities of Quartz: How Mike Davis Transformed Urban Studies (Roundtable)

Saturday, October 11, 2025 | 1:15-2:45pm

Abstract:

In this roundtable discussion, a group of writers, academics, and urban planners will discuss the life and work of Mike Davis. With books like City of Quartz, Ecology of Fear, and Planet of Slums, Davis played an irreplaceable role in pushing urban scholars to foreground questions of equity, justice, and sustainability in their work. Each of Davis’ books and articles was grounded in a clear-eyed assessment of the power dynamics that create unequal societies, and throughout his life he remained a forceful advocate for the moral necessity that poor and working-class communities — whatever their ethnic or racial makeup — have the same chance at opportunity as the ruling class.

To illuminate Davis’ legacy, our discussion will begin with the impact he had on how the city of Los Angeles understands itself, before we open our inquiry into applying his method to cities everywhere and incorporating his ethos into future urban plans.

The roundtable will be moderated by Mike Sonksen, a poet and former Woodbury University professor who was mentored by Mike Davis and remained friends with him for over two decades.

Speakers:

— Carolina A. Miranda, Culture Writer

— Mike The PoeT Sonksen, Poet & Moderator

— David Kipen, UCLA Writing Faculty 

— Jonathan Pacheco Bell, Urban Planner 

— Kyle Paoletta, Journalist & Author

We’re honoring Mike Davis at UHA in LA.

Urban History Association Conference 2025

Metropolitan Majorities: UHA 11th Biennial Conference

The Biltmore Los Angeles in Downtown LA, October 9-12, 2025

---

Cities of Quartz: How Mike Davis Transformed Urban Studies (Roundtable)

Saturday, October 11, 2025 | 1:15-2:45pm

Abstract:

In this roundtable discussion, a group of writers, academics, and urban planners will discuss the life and work of Mike Davis. With books like City of Quartz, Ecology of Fear, and Planet of Slums, Davis played an irreplaceable role in pushing urban scholars to foreground questions of equity, justice, and sustainability in their work. Each of Davis’ books and articles was grounded in a clear-eyed assessment of the power dynamics that create unequal societies, and throughout his life he remained a forceful advocate for the moral necessity that poor and working-class communities — whatever their ethnic or racial makeup — have the same chance at opportunity as the ruling class.

To illuminate Davis’ legacy, our discussion will begin with the impact he had on how the city of Los Angeles understands itself, before we open our inquiry into applying his method to cities everywhere and incorporating his ethos into future urban plans.

The roundtable will be moderated by Mike Sonksen, a poet and former Woodbury University professor who was mentored by Mike Davis and remained friends with him for over two decades.

Speakers:

— Carolina A. Miranda, Culture Writer

— Mike The PoeT Sonksen, Poet & Moderator

— David Kipen, UCLA Writing Faculty 

— Jonathan Pacheco Bell, Urban Planner 

— Kyle Paoletta, Journalist & Author