Boston University’s Questrom School of Business will welcome civic leaders, community organizers, public officials, and engaged residents from across the city when it hosts the City of Boston Civic Summit 2026 on Saturday, August 1.
Presented by the Mayor’s Office of Civic Organizing in partnership with Questrom and Cities Forward, the summit will bring together as many as 300 participants for an afternoon of conversation, learning, and relationship-building. This year’s theme, “We the People,” recognizes the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding and invites attendees to consider the evolving meaning of democracy, civic participation, and belonging.
The summit will take place at Questrom from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and will feature a fireside conversation with Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, a panel examining the role of public assembly and civic action, interactive workshops, and a closing networking and social hour.
Questrom Faculty Bring Business Expertise to Civic Leadership
Questrom faculty will play a central role in the program, sharing practical insights into negotiation, organizational collaboration, and the ways leaders can work across boundaries to create meaningful change.
Paul Carlile, Senior Associate Dean for Research and Innovation and the Peter and Deborah Wexler Professor in Information Systems, will provide opening remarks welcoming participants to Questrom and helping set the stage for the day’s conversations. Carlile’s research and professional work focus extensively on overcoming the knowledge boundaries that can hinder collaboration and innovation across organizations and areas of expertise.
During the summit’s workshop sessions, Moshe Cohen, Master Lecturer in Management and Organizations, will lead “Advocating to Meet Your Goals Through Influence and Negotiation Skills.”
Through real-world scenarios and interactive exercises, Cohen will introduce practical approaches that civic leaders can use to advocate confidently, manage conflict, navigate difficult conversations, and negotiate toward shared goals. The session is designed to help participants recognize and strengthen the influence and negotiation skills they already use while organizing, leading meetings, engaging neighbors, and advocating for policy change.
Rodrigo Canales, Kelli Questrom Associate Professor in Management and Organizations and Faculty Director of Questrom’s Social Impact Program, will lead “Collaborating Across Divisions: Why Is It So Hard and How Can We Make It Work?”
The workshop will examine the barriers that frequently make collaboration across teams, organizations, and community groups difficult. Participants will share experiences, identify opportunities for stronger coordination, and discuss practical strategies for building partnerships capable of addressing complex community challenges. Canales’ research explores how individuals can influence and change complex organizations and institutional systems, making his expertise especially relevant to civic leaders working across organizational and community boundaries.
Building a More Connected and Engaged Boston
In addition to the Questrom-led workshops, the program will include a fireside chat between Mayor Wu and award-winning journalist and NBC10 on-air host Kwani Lunis. Their conversation will explore democracy, belonging, and the shared responsibility of creating a more connected, inclusive, and engaged city.
A panel titled “Public Assembly and Civic Action: How Can We Use Our Voices to Create Change?” will bring together community organizers, artists, activists, and storytellers to examine how public participation has shaped Boston’s history and how residents can continue influencing its future.
The event will conclude with an interactive networking and social hour designed to help participants develop new relationships, continue the day’s conversations, and identify opportunities for future collaboration.
By hosting the Civic Summit and contributing faculty expertise to its programming, Questrom is helping create a space where the knowledge developed within a business school can support community leadership, civic participation, and collective action across Boston.
The Civic Summit is free to attend, but advance registration is required and space is limited. Learn more and register through the City of Boston’s Civic Summit 2026 website.
