Instead of making flashcards of political theories for my Policy Making Process midterm, I spent an hour listening to Sarah Stillman describe how she investigates stories of immigrants whose experiences can only leave deep questions about the efficacy of the policies that shape them. Certainly, her stories must have resonated with my classmates who soon were tested on how well they understood the ways that narratives shape policy discussion and implementation.

Ken Smith considered the Habitat III conference in Ecuador a possible once-in-a-lifetime experience. The conference – formally known as the United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development – is held only once every 20 years.