University's Small Cities Lab Working in Tandem with Local Communities to Achieve Enduring Transformations
Lehigh University's Small Cities Lab Expands Focus Beyond Affordable Housing
Lehigh University's Small Cities Lab (SCL) has broadened its scope to include initiatives that enhance community health, economic development, cultural vibrancy, and youth engagement. These initiatives are designed to promote neighborhood revitalization and STEM education outreach.
The SCL's recent initiatives extend beyond affordable housing, with key projects such as:
- Collaboration with Bethlehem Economic Development Corporation (BEDCO) to promote innovation, economic opportunity, and neighborhood revitalization in South Bethlehem, supporting programs like the Keystone Innovation Zone (KIZ), SouthSide Arts District, and SouthSide Ambassadors.
- STEM Explorers Program, a hands-on summer program encouraging middle school students from underrepresented groups to explore science, technology, engineering, and math, fostering mentorship and creative problem-solving.
- Homework Club, where Lehigh students provide after-school academic support and mentorship to elementary and middle school students in the local community, building educational confidence.
- Lehigh University Autism Services Clinic, offering individualized assessment, intervention, and family support in autism care, serving as a research and training center.
- Community Service, with Lehigh students contributing over 68,000 volunteer hours annually to various local programs that extend the university’s impact on community well-being and engagement.
Additional academic and outreach programs, such as the Summer Science Program promoting diversity and inclusion in STEM education for high school students, further reflect the lab’s and the university's commitment to broader community development and education.
The SCL's portfolio now includes interdisciplinary projects aimed at creating long-term, scalable solutions for urban problems. One of these projects is Disability Health, Social Life, and Wellbeing, which explores how urban spaces support or hinder individuals with disabilities. Another is Empowering Communities for Climate Justice, which provides job training and advocates for clean-energy solutions in marginalized communities.
The SCL has also been evaluating the impacts of retail electric deregulation on low-income communities and addressing the health impacts of extreme heat in Allentown and other small cities. The Co-Directors of the SCL were invited to participate in roundtable discussions to inform Governor Shapiro's Housing Action Plan.
The Alley House Program, which seeks to revive the historic "Alley House" model of affordable housing in Bethlehem, received startup funding and staff support from the College of Arts and Sciences. The program has designed and built pilot units for affordable housing in West Bethlehem. The Alley House Program Steering Committee convenes quarterly to review progress and discuss priorities as Bethlehem considers updates to its zoning ordinance.
The SCL is also partnering with LANTA to improve the functionality and accessibility of a bus station in South Bethlehem. Additionally, the Tree Equity Coalition is enhancing urban forestry in Allentown's most disadvantaged neighborhoods.
This fall, SCL is planning to convene community leaders, academics, non-profits, municipal officials, and government agencies for the Small Cities Co-Lab, an inaugural symposium and workshop. The SCL was founded with a commitment to addressing challenges in small cities, including affordable housing, and continues to make strides in this area while expanding its focus to include comprehensive community revitalization, educational outreach, and social services.
[1]: Source: Lehigh University Small Cities Lab website [3]: Source: Lehigh University News article titled "Lehigh's Small Cities Lab expands focus to address broader community needs"
- The Lehigh University Small Cities Lab (SCL) is broadening its initiatives to encompass science education through the STEM Explorers Program, which encourages underrepresented middle school students to delve into science, technology, engineering, and math.
- As part of their outreach, SCL faculty are engaged in the Homework Club, offering after-school academic support and mentorship to local elementary and middle school students, contributing to their educational development.
- To address health issues, the Lehigh University Autism Services Clinic, under the SCL, offers personalized autism care, serving as a center for research and training.
- The SCL is exploring the impact of retail electric deregulation on low-income communities and investigating the health effects of extreme heat in Allentown and other small cities.
- In collaboration with various partners, the SCL is working on interdisciplinary projects such as Disability Health, Social Life, and Wellbeing to create long-term, scalable solutions for urban problems, including making urban spaces more accessible for individuals with disabilities.
