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.
On the Plaza
In On the Plaza, anthropologist Setha Low explores how culture, politics, history, and everyday social life shape public plazas—and how plazas, in turn, shape the life of cities. Her research centers on Costa Rica while drawing comparisons with public spaces around the world.
Cara Courage
Cara Courage is a researcher, writer, curator, and practitioner whose work explores placemaking, public space, arts and culture, and community participation. A leading voice in the international placemaking field, she has written and edited extensively on how creative practice and citizen-led approaches can shape more inclusive, connected, and meaningful places.
Minnesota Justice Research Center
The Minnesota Justice Research Center (MNJRC) is an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to driving meaningful change to Minnesota’s criminal legal system through rigorous and community-centered research, education, and policy development.
Compton’s x Coalition
Compton’s x Coalition is working to reclaim 111 Taylor Street, the former site of Gene Compton’s Cafeteria and the historic 1966 transgender uprising. The campaign seeks community stewardship of the property and a future centered on culture, care, belonging, and the site’s living legacy of resistance.