David Roberts

I am the Director of the Urban Studies Program at the University of Toronto and an Associate Professor. My research generally focuses on the power dynamics in city-building and the ways in which historically marginalized groups are excluded or included in these processes. Most recently, I joined a team of researchers in Toronto, São Paulo and Brighton, UK to study the way in which racialized communities organized to fill the gaps of government services with regards to public health and food sovereignty during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.

My doctoral research focused on the hosting of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and worked to map the ways in which various communities attempted to have their voices heard and needs met through the planning process for that event. I continue to be interested in the ways in which hosting large scale event dovetail with other trends in urbanization both globally and locally – and annually teach a course on the topic.