Jacopo Miro

My research interest lies in the broad areas of social planning, and community development, often drawing inspiration from discussions about spatial justice, intercultural planning, urban/planning history, public policy, and space, inequality & the city. In its most abstract form, my research focuses on the relationship between wealth, ethnicity and place, both in terms of how class and ethnic/racial divides are imprinted in urban space, and how, in turn urban space helps to mitigate and/or reinforce those divides. I’m currently working on a doctoral thesis that broadly examines how suburban residence shapes the experience of being poor and a newcomer to Canada. Building on current debates about the changing geography of poverty and immigration in US and Canadian cities, I explore the unique challenges and opportunities that low-income new Canadians face as they settle in more suburban areas, particularly in regards to accessing services, and community supports. I approach much of my research with an eye toward bridging the gap between academia and the rest of society. In my current studies, I am working to raise awareness about some of the socio-economic changes impacting the city of Surrey (BC), and doing so with the intent of helping to build local capacity and assisting community groups in leveraging needed resources.