The Sidewalk Ballet Field Guide

The Sidewalk Ballet Field Guide is a growing collection of people, organizations, projects, books, ideas and ongoing conversations about cities and the people who shape them. It grows out of the podcast, but extends well beyond it—connecting the people doing the work, the places where it’s happening, and the ideas, experiments and resources worth carrying forward. Think of it as part reference library, part trail of breadcrumbs: a way to follow the conversation wherever it leads.

Explore by type, browse alphabetically or by date, or search for something specific. Follow the tags to discover connections—or explore the map to see where the people, projects and ideas in the Field Guide take us.

IDA Toronto Chip Chip IDA Toronto Chip Chip

Tampa Soul Walk

Tampa Soulwalk is a public art and cultural heritage trail celebrating the stories, people, and places that have shaped Tampa’s Black communities. Connecting murals, historic sites, landmarks, and public spaces across several neighborhoods, the project invites residents and visitors to experience Tampa’s history through art, storytelling, and place.

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Episode 021, Episode 020 Chip Chip Episode 021, Episode 020 Chip Chip

Marian Anderson

Marian Anderson’s 1939 concert on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial drew an integrated crowd of 75,000 after she was denied Constitution Hall because of her race. The performance became a defining example of public space expanding who could gather, belong, and be seen as part of “We the People.”

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Episode 005, Episode 007 Chip Chip Episode 005, Episode 007 Chip Chip

Jay Pitter

Jay Pitter is an award-winning placemaker and author whose work explores belonging, cultural memory, equity, and public joy. Through planning, policy, teaching, and storytelling, she advances the idea that joyful public space is not a luxury, but essential urban infrastructure and a human right.

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