In our journal City Diversity, a special issue is calling for papers about COVID-19�s impact on urban communities.

Cities are becoming more diverse. �Nearly 70% of the country�s largest cities are more racially and ethnically diverse than they were in 2010.� (According to the U.S. News analysis by Deidre McPhillips data editor.) Diverse cities and neighborhoods can however create opportunities for their citizens: The presence of different residents in a relatively small area creates possibilities for new social contacts, social cohesion, innovative practices of solidarity in diversity, and social mobility. Diversity also refers to the mix of uses and land fragmentation within the cities or communities. It includes an emphasis on the public realm such as kindergartens, parks, and community centers. These public spaces are important meeting places for citizens, where they can talk, interact, decide on common issues, and feel that the city is relevant to their social needs.

The spread of the coronavirus pandemic offers a unique opportunity to improve our understanding of the role of city planning strategies in the resilience of the communities confronting a pandemic. This special issue examines the relationship between city diversity and epidemiological resilience by empirically assessing the relation between the level of neighborhood homogeneity and the probability of being infected by the coronavirus. Potential topics include but are not limited to the ones mentioned above.

urban diversity and epidemic resilience, diversity and inclusion during the COVID-19 crisis, the impact of COVID-19 on different races, the probability of being infected by the coronavirus in different levels of neighborhood homogeneity, etc.