The promise of the future shouts adventure and new hopes. But thinking about the future does not have to mean blasting off to unknown worlds—leaving us, our problems, and our places behind.

Urban futures will not be found in the metaverse. The metaverse, with its incomplete and inequitable fantasies, of digital rather than social networks, is the pathway to dystopia and disconnection.

For us, a radiant urban future means standing in the reality of our concrete neighborhoods with real people. It means imagining with compassion and clarity–about piecing ourselves and our community back together with the glue of our common good. Right here, right now.