Phil Thompson is an urban planner and political scientist. He is Associate Professor of Urban Politics and Planning at MIT. He received a B.A. in Sociology from Harvard University in 1977, a M.U.P. from Hunter College in 1986, and a PhD. in Political Science from the City University of New York Graduate Center in 1990. Phil worked as Deputy General Manager of the New York Housing Authority, and as Director of the Mayor’s Office of Housing Coordination. Phil is a frequent advisor to trade unions in their efforts to work with immigrant and community groups across the United States. Phil’s most recent recent book is called Double Trouble: Black Mayors, Black Communities and the Struggle for Deep Democracy published in 2006 by Oxford University Press. After Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans in 2005, Phil has worked with the AFL-CIO Investment Trust Corporation and with local community groups to create affordable housing and workforce development initiatives to help rebuild the city of New Orleans. He also coordinated MIT sponsored projects in New Orleans including work on economic development, planning, and the design of an urban information system to help guide recovery efforts.