NCFR Fellow Bahira Sherif Trask, Ph.D., was invited by the United Nations to give the keynote address at the 2022 observance of the International Day of Families. This year’s theme on “Families and Urbanization” is to raise awareness of the importance of sustainable and family-friendly urban policies.

Dr. Trask has authored a new research paper to be launched at the observance and will give a keynote address during the virtual event organized by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA). The keynote will be followed by a panel discussion that will include presentations from academics, civil society and urban authorities.

Dr. Trask's paper on “Migration, Urbanization, and the Family Dimension” focuses on the impact of urbanization and migration on families. The paper addresses recent urbanization trends impacting families; gender and urbanization; urbanization and family life, in particular the importance of affordable safe housing, child and youth developments and intergenerational issues; urbanization and globalization; urbanization and green spaces; promoting civic life and participation in urban areas, social cohesion and social stability.

The 2022 observance is scheduled to take place online Friday, May 13 from 10-11:15 a.m. ET. Watch the program live on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UNDESASocial

Further information on this year's program can be found in the links below:

• Full event information
• Background note
• 2022 Day of Families Program
• Biographies of Presenters
• Background on the International Day of Families

Dr. Trask is the professor and chair of the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences at the University of Delaware, and served as the NCFR 2018 Conference Chair. Her research focuses on globalization, women’s employment and family change in Western and non-Western countries, and she presents regularly on these topics at international forums. Dr. Trask has authored and edited a number of books including Women, Work, and Globalization: Challenges and Opportunities (Routledge, 2014), Globalization and Families: Accelerated Systemic Social Change, (Springer, 2010) and Cultural Diversity and Families (Sage, 2007). Much of Dr. Trask’s scholarship has been informed through participation with a number of international, national and community-based research projects that focus on diversity, gender and work, and strengthening and supporting low-income families.

NCFR members who have questions about ongoing work with the U.N. and families are invited to reach out to NCFR's U.N. representatives, Dr. Trask and Mihaela Robila, Ph.D., CFLE.