WSU Urban Studies Blog

  On Friday, October 17th, Urban Studies professors Dr. Thomas Conroy and Dr. Timothy Murphy moderated panels at the  PEAS Symposium: Meeting the Moment, Protecting Education Pathways for Latino students in MA schools , which was held at Worcester State.  This symposium convened educators, policymakers, youth, and community leaders to reflect on key themes from the newly published book Critical Perspectives on Latino Education in Massachusetts , to which Drs. Conroy and Murphy contributed a chapter along with Worcester State co-authors Professor of Sociology, Alex Briesacher and Mary Jo Marion, Associate Vice President of University and Community Engagement.  The symposium was a day of learning, dialogue, and collective action, featuring voices from practitioners, superintendents, college presidents, and experts who each offer unique perspectives aimed at fostering meaningful dialogue and impactful collaboration. Dr. Conroy’s panel explored how current and emerging f...

The results of the 2025 Manhattan Short Film Festival are in!   Here's the word from the Manhattan Short website:  " We Have Sinned Before You , written and directed by Ifat Nener Orgad (Israel), is the Gold Medal Winner of the 28th Annual Manhattan Short Film Festival. We Have Sinned Before You , a family drama set around a game designed to pass the time on Yom Kippur, resonated with viewers around the world."   In second place worldwide and winning the silver medal was  Passarinho , directed by Natalia García Agraz (Mexico). This film was "about two teenage girls who try to meet their favorite soccer player, but their plan is threatened when one of them gets a red card. The film is dedicated to all the Messi Mums in the world."   Finally, winning the bronze medal was Beyond Silence , written and directed by Marnie Blok (The Netherlands). This film "tells the story of two women from two generations who experience a singular trauma. One retre...