Frontline Cities – 2018 SXSW Programming Trends

Each year, different trends emerge from SXSW programming and act as identifiers for where we're at and where we're headed. From the 12 significant trends identified by the SXSW Programming Team for the 2018 event, Frontline Cities explores how cities are evolving and uniting to confront issues like climate change, cybersecurity, immigration, and extremism. Get to know this trend and related-SXSW sessions below that we think will dominate discussions this March.

Frontline Cities Trend

Among SXSW 2018 sessions related to the Frontline Cities Trend, hear from Buddy Dyer Mayor of the City of Orlando, Nathan Sales of the US Department of State, Andy Berke Mayor of Chattanooga, and others during Local Leadership in the Wake of Terror as they discuss how to minimize the short-and long-term impact of terrorism, from reducing hate crimes, fear, and misinformation through the words and actions of local leaders. Delve into how cities are confronting racial inequity in the Government Track session America’s Mayors: Fighting for Racial Equity and learn how cities and advocates are seeking to define - and redefine - what it means to be a sanctuary city during the Cities Summit session Redefining Sanctuary Cities.

According to SXSW Cities Summit Programmer Julie Yost, "In the past year, we've seen cities in the US and abroad taking matters into their own hands. These sessions explore the evolving role of cities as new leaders on a variety of issues including immigration, digital equity, climate change, government transparency and more. Beyond government, we're seeing new generations of activists, artists, technologists, and designers stepping up to solve problems at the local level, and we're honored to include many of these inspiring voices in our inaugural Cities Summit.

Hear from mayors, directors, researchers, and activists on how cities can overcome partisan politics and revolutionize their role in addressing systemic problems. Stay tuned as we continue to announce more sessions through March. But for now, be sure to add these sessions to your SXSW 2018 schedule.

Frontline Cities Session Highlights

• Local Leadership in the Wake of Terror
• America’s Mayors: Fighting for Racial Equity
• New Localism: Reimagining Power in a Populist Age
• Redefining Sanctuary Cities
• Sensemaking for Cities: Conflict and Complexity

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Teaser Photo by Nicole Burton