A man is always a teller of stories, he lives surrounded by his own stories and those of other people, he sees everything that happens to him in terms of these stories and he tries to live his life as if he were recounting it (Sartre 1964) 

The small stories of people tell us much about the large issues of society. They make us aware of the similarities and differences among ourselves and others. They reveal the lived experience of the city and its developments. They provide a lens into complex experiences of success and suffering, in- and exclusion, being at home or being displaced. Some stories become popular, while others are never told. Who are those people whose stories remain hidden? What can their stories contribute to public debates and political decisions?

This website is an attempt to share the stories that I encountered in life, travel, and research. I write about Activism, Conflict, Citizen Participation, and Urban Development. The stories are useful for Academic purposes, but also for professionals who seek inspiration for Consulted research and training. Under Tales of Towns you find stories of the urban dwellings and personal experiences in different cities.

As a social scientist I embed myself in the stories and practices of diverse youngsters, their parents, other citizens, police officers, welfare workers, policy makers, and politicians. I hope these stories may find recognition. They might be upsetting or inspiring. I hope they open up space in our minds to rethink how we can make cities more inclusive.