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In this article, I challenge the tendency towards underreported engagement with one's own positionality vis-à-vis the state and note that qualitative manuscripts offer a unique opportunity to engage in liberatory practices by articulating this specific aspect of positionality on the page. To provide empirical evidence of the value of identifying and reckoning with the scholar's relationship with the state, I use an autoethnographic approach to articulate the explanatory power of considering of my own state relationship within the research analysis and writing processes. I show that early findings from a qualitative research endeavor led me to view citizen coproduction practices that targeted homeless individuals as overly deterministic rather than distinctively malicious and tied to systems of state violence. In writing the manuscript that was relevant to this research endeavor, I engaged with my positionality vis-à-vis the state directly within the document which enhanced the validity of my final findings. As the qualitative research process is particularly suited for this liberatory practice, I conclude with some loose guidance for other researchers seeking out ways to identify their own relationship with the state and place it within the manuscript. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Suburban revitalization efforts can remain ineffective when they do not adequately address the historic harm done to minority, low-income communities via economic, housing, public finance, banking, and urban planning practices. To determine an alternative approach, I use a process tracing method to study the efforts of a Midwestern inner-ring, minority-majority suburban community, returning from the edge of collapse after decades of disinvestment and crises. The findings reveal a significant change in revitalization efforts following the election of the first Black and first woman mayor; driven by justice-centered partnerships and justice-centered language. In my analysis, I argue that though the policy efforts do not vary significantly from standard redevelopment practices, the administration's emphasis on resolving historic harm added an important restorative justice lens, making the effort more fruitful and far-reaching. I conclude with recommendations to enhance the study and application of restorative justice themes in urban research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the importance of networking often is emphasized to graduate students, straightforward guidance on how to approach this task is typically reliant on individual advisors who both know and can demystify the discipline's hidden and informal practices. This article provides concrete, point-by-point tips for both junior scholars and their supporters, building on our experiences in creating an online communication forum for early-career scholars on the job market. Specifically, we suggest a model of community networking focused on robust, cross-rank engagement along dimensions of similar experiences and similar interests. Community networking moves beyond individuals angling to obtain a seat at the table and instead builds a bigger, more inclusive table. Although junior scholars must focus primarily on their research rather than expansive service commitments, community networking is ultimately both a service to the discipline and a fruitful strategy for raising a scholar's profile and finding coauthors, colleagues, friends, and allies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]