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.
Don Lane
Don Lane is a longtime Santa Cruz civic leader, educator, and advocate whose work spans downtown recovery, housing and homelessness, local government, and community development. A three-time mayor, his decades of public service reflect the unusually interconnected nature of civic life in Santa Cruz.
Eva’s
Eva’s Initiatives for Homeless Youth is a Toronto-based organization working to end youth homelessness through shelter, housing support, employment and life-skills programs, and long-term pathways to independence. Across three shelter sites, Eva’s combines immediate safety with culturally responsive care and practical support designed to help young people build stability, community, and lasting housing.
Coexistence in Public Space
Developed by SPUR and Gehl through work at San José’s Guadalupe River Park, Coexistence in Public Space asks how parks and public spaces can provide joy, belonging, and safety for everyone—including people experiencing homelessness. Its central proposition is simple but powerful: What if we designed public space for coexistence rather than exclusion?