https://www.sidewalkballet.com/episodes daily 0.75 2026-08-04 https://www.sidewalkballet.com/episodes/democracy monthly 0.5 2026-08-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6506989bc7034c4c86a8f71d/2037bd06-678f-4cde-a77c-4f0055afeaef/marian.jpg Episodes - Democracy of Public Space - Make it stand out Dr. Christine Brooks Talks with Chip about the science of friendship and the importance of expressive arts in community building. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6506989bc7034c4c86a8f71d/5b409b73-7e91-42d1-8f04-e2da58b64d83/Setha+Low.jpeg Episodes - Democracy of Public Space - Setha Low Distinguished Professor of Environmental Psychology, Anthropology, Geography, and Women's Studies at the Graduate Center, City University of New York. Setha Low Professor Emerita of Environmental Psychology, Anthropology, Geography, and Women's Studies at the Graduate Center, City University of New York Dr. Setha Low is one of the world's leading scholars of public space. For more than four decades, her research has explored the relationship between people, place, culture, and democracy, examining how parks, plazas, streets, and other shared spaces shape civic life. Her work has helped redefine the way cities understand public space—not simply as physical infrastructure, but as a reflection of who belongs, who participates, and who feels welcome. Her books include On the Plaza, Spatializing Culture, and Why Public Space Matters. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6506989bc7034c4c86a8f71d/1519fa80-843b-4171-9ce0-7c8423b1ad00/Judy+Feldman.jpeg Episodes - Democracy of Public Space - Judy Scott Feldman Founder and Chair, National Mall Coalition Judy Feldman https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6506989bc7034c4c86a8f71d/b8e3c89c-13b0-4212-b09b-221446daa06c/Sheila+Foster.jpeg Episodes - Democracy of Public Space - Sheila Foster Professor at Columbia University's Climate School and an affiliated faculty member at Columbia Law School. Sheila Foster https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6506989bc7034c4c86a8f71d/94e463fb-82ec-4b26-bb15-2c9636a4872f/Dr%2BCara%2BCourage_colour%2Bheadshot_01.webp Episodes - Democracy of Public Space - Cara Courage Author, Researcher, and Creative Placemaking Practitioner Dr. Cara Courage https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6506989bc7034c4c86a8f71d/da26d14e-f27b-40b6-af82-1800039f6edb/Marian+and+Abe.jpeg Episodes - Democracy of Public Space - Marian Anderson (1897-1993) Marian Anderson was one of the most celebrated contraltos of the twentieth century, renowned throughout the world for the depth, warmth, and expressive power of her voice. After being denied the opportunity to perform at Washington's Constitution Hall because of her race, Anderson accepted an invitation to sing on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on Easter Sunday, April 9, 1939. Before an integrated public of 75,000 people—and millions more listening by radio—her performance became one of the defining moments of American civic history. More than a concert, it revealed the power of public space to expand the meaning of "We the People." Her voice continues to remind us that democracy is not only written in constitutions and laws, but also expressed in the places where people gather. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6506989bc7034c4c86a8f71d/1773123931649-8YZ90M09D62J2VG7BO1F/Evan+Weisman+%281%29.jpg Episodes - Democracy of Public Space - “None of the Movements, that I know of, that have expanded democracy, and who gets to take part, started at the top. They’s all started Locally and Moved their way up.” Evan Weissman is the Founder of Warm Cookies of the Revolution, the worlds first “civic gym” located in Denver Colorado. Evan was featured in Episode 12 of Sidewalk Ballet https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6506989bc7034c4c86a8f71d/1760560554505-SCNPWCJSRL03X791XMSE/karen-christensen-pod+%282%29.jpg Episodes - Democracy of Public Space - “What I’ve realized is that Third Places really provide a solution to the major problems we face, the things we need cures for, essentially: Loneliness, Climate Change and Political Polarization.” Karen Christensen is an author, publisher, and community leader whose work spans culture, sustainability, and the power of networks. As the founder of Berkshire Publishing Group, she has long championed ideas and institutions that strengthen communities. Her forthcoming book, written in collaboration with Ray Oldenburg, revisits and reimagines the concept of the “third place” for today’s world. Karen was our first guest on Sidewalk Ballet https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6506989bc7034c4c86a8f71d/1774749011089-U8TH3BE31IGG11XH8MYN/jay-pitter-pod+%284%29.jpg Episodes - Democracy of Public Space - “Public Joy is not an emotion or an idea it is a generative civic condition. It is a condition that asks, what kind of systems, spaces, policies and social attitudes would make our collective joy, belonging and thriving, not possible, but inevitable.” Jay Pitter, MES, is an award-winning placemaker and author creating joyful public spaces that foster belonging, prosperity, and cultural memory. She advances this work through cultural planning, policy frameworks, and storytelling—bridging rigor and collective imagination to advance public joy as essential urban infrastructure and a human right. Beyond her professional roles, Jay is passionate about cultivating everyday joy and inspiring communities to be stewards of one another’s joy—nurturing more harmonious and hopeful cities during these divided times. Jay was featured on Episode 5 of Sidewalk Ballet. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6506989bc7034c4c86a8f71d/1776023085150-7RCK8JLY1GKFT3WVUA7P/Tamika+Butler.jpg Episodes - Democracy of Public Space - “How do we figure out what is best for the greater good, and that what we’re still aiming for, and how do we negotiate that, and acknowledge that part of equity is saying, maybe there aren’t any bright line rules, other than, care about individuals, listen to individuals and be responsive in that moment “ tamika l. butler (she/her or they/them) is a doctoral student in Urban Planning at UCLA’s Luskin School of Public Affairs. Her research employs a critical race, historical, legal, and policy-based approach to examine how transportation policy and infrastructure have been used to segregate, isolate, and prevent the mobility of Black and other historically oppressed groups of people. tamika was featured in Episode 14 of Sidewalk Ballet https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6506989bc7034c4c86a8f71d/1781501920683-2X5N4J66ASA12YOIXBQO/CAra.jpg Episodes - Democracy of Public Space - “You know, you can go into a neighborhood and the neighborhood will have the answers to whatever the problems or the questions are of the place, but there will be hundreds of them. And you’ll get people along a journey where they do become… a consensus emerges amongst themselves about what they want and creative means and creative artistic questioning i a really great way to do that.” Dr Cara Courage SFIPM FRSA and URBACT Expert, works with people and organisations who want to make culture, heritage and place matter more, and matter to more people. Dr. Cara Courage joined us for Episode 18 of Sidewalk Ballet. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6506989bc7034c4c86a8f71d/65090477-14e0-4c2f-95e6-0997121e6fc3/Kathleen.jpg Episodes - Democracy of Public Space - “Public Space matters to everyone who enters it - regardless of you socio-economic status, regardless of your position in life - and so for me, Peoples experience as they’re walking their dog or they’re walking to work or they’re leaving their apartment to go to a restaurant around the corner. That matters a lot.” Kathleen Rawson is a place management professional with more than 30 years of experience in nonprofit leadership, public space management, placemaking, and hospitality. Rawson currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer for The Hollywood Partnership, the non-profit organization that manages the Hollywood Entertainment District, including the world-renowned Walk of Fame. Kathleen joined us on Episode 19 for a conversation with Michael Edwards. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6506989bc7034c4c86a8f71d/b2789de3-bc0e-4a00-b5f9-83f74bb12abb/Leva.jpg Episodes - Democracy of Public Space - “When you see different images, different colors different symbols, all of those things, when you are an immigrant for example… when I’m walking in the street and I suddenly see something written in Farsi, it takes me, because belonging is not just the people, it is the space, it is the smell ,it is the visual images that you see around you. Are we really creating a space of belonging for the folks we want to welcome, I think that’s the constant question and quest for all of us.” Leva Zand is the founder and former Director of Artogether, a resource center for the refugee community, providing free creative arts instruction and supplies within a setting that supports social gathering, human connection, and community-building. She, and Artogether were featured in Episode 9 of Sidewalk Ballet https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6506989bc7034c4c86a8f71d/711ee8f9-6b12-419e-8b32-871c83ee817b/Susan.jpg Episodes - Democracy of Public Space - “At places like Comptons Cafeteria which used to be at the corner at Turk and Taylor Streets in the Tenderloin - It was a racially mixed and integrated space, and what some of the trans women who were there would say, you know the white girls would be with the white girls, the brown girls would be with the brown girls, the asian girls would be with the asian girls, the black girls would be with the black gils, but when the police came in we were all trans. Sometimes there’s differences within a community, but in the face of external oppression, peple know what they’re banding together as.” Susan Stryker is an American professor, historian, author, filmmaker, and theorist whose work focuses on gender and human sexuality. She is a professor of Gender and Women's Studies, former director of the Institute for LGBT Studies, and founder of the Transgender Studies Initiative at the University of Arizona. Stryker is the author of several books and a founding figure of transgender studies as well as a scholar of transgender history. Susan was featured in Episode 11 of Sidewalk Ballet https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6506989bc7034c4c86a8f71d/1759907302278-WPTBF4C65QXXU3UG3W1M/Majora-Carter-pod+%282%29.jpg Episodes - Democracy of Public Space - “By building those places, and we know that throughout history, having those spaces whether its the Civil Rights history, where there churches, there were the blacks only places where there were either hotels or restaurants where people would gather to build what became the civil rights movement. But it’s also just the kind of places where people go to build community so they feel like their neighborhood is worth living in. Straight up.” Majora Carter is one of the most visionary voices in urban revitalization today. A real estate developer, strategist, and Peabody Award–winning broadcaster, she has redefined what it means for communities to shape their own futures. From her groundbreaking work in the South Bronx to her national platform as an advocate for environmental justice and economic empowerment, Majora has spent her career challenging the idea that low-status neighborhoods are destined to remain so. MAjora was featured in Episode 2 of Sidewalk Ballet https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6506989bc7034c4c86a8f71d/a57a38a9-feaa-4912-a492-da928405ad1a/why+psm.jpeg Episodes - Democracy of Public Space - Make it stand out Why Public Space Matters - Setha Low https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6506989bc7034c4c86a8f71d/83d2ac1a-7c89-49e8-a413-8efd881af97f/on+the+plaza.jpg Episodes - Democracy of Public Space - Make it stand out On the Plaza - Setha Low https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6506989bc7034c4c86a8f71d/a2173a10-29ee-4bd6-91a3-4d1fb0334d1f/co-cities.jpg Episodes - Democracy of Public Space - Make it stand out Co-Cities - Sheila Foster https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6506989bc7034c4c86a8f71d/45f074cf-2581-45ff-bc85-5877ba57b29f/placemaking+handbook.jpg Episodes - Democracy of Public Space - Make it stand out Placemaking Handbook - Dr. Cara Courage https://www.sidewalkballet.com/episodes/ice-cream monthly 0.5 2026-07-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6506989bc7034c4c86a8f71d/fb0879e7-8bcd-4b89-a04c-b061ec36787d/Ice+Cream+SB+%282%29.jpg Episodes - Small Block - The Ice Cream Mayor - Make it stand out Dr. Christine Brooks Talks with Chip about the science of friendship and the importance of expressive arts in community building. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6506989bc7034c4c86a8f71d/1ec20199-d786-49ef-9150-9834ff8627a9/Don+Museum.jpg Episodes - Small Block - The Ice Cream Mayor - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.sidewalkballet.com/episodes/democracypt1 monthly 0.5 2026-07-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6506989bc7034c4c86a8f71d/26ddf411-7b48-4a13-9e94-5c77ed3e9843/Copy+of+marian.jpg Episodes - Democracy of Public Space - Part One - Make it stand out Dr. Christine Brooks Talks with Chip about the science of friendship and the importance of expressive arts in community building. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6506989bc7034c4c86a8f71d/5b409b73-7e91-42d1-8f04-e2da58b64d83/Setha+Low.jpeg Episodes - Democracy of Public Space - Part One - Setha Low Distinguished Professor of Environmental Psychology, Anthropology, Geography, and Women's Studies at the Graduate Center, City University of New York Setha Low Professor Emerita of Environmental Psychology, Anthropology, Geography, and Women's Studies at the Graduate Center, City University of New York Dr. Setha Low is one of the world's leading scholars of public space. For more than four decades, her research has explored the relationship between people, place, culture, and democracy, examining how parks, plazas, streets, and other shared spaces shape civic life. Her work has helped redefine the way cities understand public space—not simply as physical infrastructure, but as a reflection of who belongs, who participates, and who feels welcome. Her books include On the Plaza, Spatializing Culture, and Why Public Space Matters. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6506989bc7034c4c86a8f71d/1519fa80-843b-4171-9ce0-7c8423b1ad00/Judy+Feldman.jpeg Episodes - Democracy of Public Space - Part One - Judy Scott Feldman Founder and Chair, National Mall Coalition Judy Feldman https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6506989bc7034c4c86a8f71d/b8e3c89c-13b0-4212-b09b-221446daa06c/Sheila+Foster.jpeg Episodes - Democracy of Public Space - Part One - Sheila Foster Professor at Columbia University's Climate School and an affiliated faculty member at Columbia Law School. Sheila Foster https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6506989bc7034c4c86a8f71d/94e463fb-82ec-4b26-bb15-2c9636a4872f/Dr%2BCara%2BCourage_colour%2Bheadshot_01.webp Episodes - Democracy of Public Space - Part One - Cara Courage Author, Researcher, and Creative Placemaking Practitioner Dr. Cara Courage https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6506989bc7034c4c86a8f71d/da26d14e-f27b-40b6-af82-1800039f6edb/Marian+and+Abe.jpeg Episodes - Democracy of Public Space - Part One - Marian Anderson (1897-1993) - Marian Anderson was one of the most celebrated contraltos of the twentieth century, renowned throughout the world for the depth, warmth, and expressive power of her voice. After being denied the opportunity to perform at Washington's Constitution Hall because of her race, Anderson accepted an invitation to sing on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on Easter Sunday, April 9, 1939. Before an integrated public of 75,000 people—and millions more listening by radio—her performance became one of the defining moments of American civic history. More than a concert, it revealed the power of public space to expand the meaning of "We the People." Her voice continues to remind us that democracy is not only written in constitutions and laws, but also expressed in the places where people gather. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6506989bc7034c4c86a8f71d/a57a38a9-feaa-4912-a492-da928405ad1a/why+psm.jpeg Episodes - Democracy of Public Space - Part One - Make it stand out Why Public Space Matters - Setha Low https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6506989bc7034c4c86a8f71d/83d2ac1a-7c89-49e8-a413-8efd881af97f/on+the+plaza.jpg Episodes - Democracy of Public Space - Part One - Make it stand out On the Plaza - Setha Low https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6506989bc7034c4c86a8f71d/a2173a10-29ee-4bd6-91a3-4d1fb0334d1f/co-cities.jpg Episodes - Democracy of Public Space - Part One - Make it stand out Co-Cities - Sheila Foster https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6506989bc7034c4c86a8f71d/45f074cf-2581-45ff-bc85-5877ba57b29f/placemaking+handbook.jpg Episodes - Democracy of Public Space - Part One - Make it stand out Placemaking Handbook - Dr. Cara Courage https://www.sidewalkballet.com/episodes/evolution-of-bids monthly 0.5 2026-07-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6506989bc7034c4c86a8f71d/3e9d8e79-9f23-4e33-973d-619493f6aee5/Michael+and+Kathleen.jpg Episodes - The Evolution of B.I.D.’s - Make it stand out Dr. Christine Brooks Talks with Chip about the science of friendship and the importance of expressive arts in community building. https://www.sidewalkballet.com/episodes/cara monthly 0.5 2026-06-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6506989bc7034c4c86a8f71d/d0b85068-0f98-4906-92d3-d3f74ad62168/CAra.jpg Episodes - Cara Courage - Trauma-Based Placemaking - Make it stand out Dr. Christine Brooks Talks with Chip about the science of friendship and the importance of expressive arts in community building. https://www.sidewalkballet.com/episodes/chamber monthly 0.5 2026-07-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6506989bc7034c4c86a8f71d/420fdef4-02e5-4fe1-aee7-a7dfc82dd8fb/SB-+Chamber.jpg Episodes - Small Block - US Chamber of Connection - Make it stand out Dr. Christine Brooks Talks with Chip about the science of friendship and the importance of expressive arts in community building. https://www.sidewalkballet.com/episodes/molly monthly 0.5 2026-06-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6506989bc7034c4c86a8f71d/b8fcf0ed-42c2-4681-826e-e593aa652cdb/Molly.jpg Episodes - The Emotion of Place - Molly Alexander - Make it stand out Dr. Christine Brooks Talks with Chip about the science of friendship and the importance of expressive arts in community building. https://www.sidewalkballet.com/episodes/pico monthly 0.5 2026-05-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6506989bc7034c4c86a8f71d/d03f3232-8292-4279-8ebe-efd70a502169/SB+-Pico.jpg Episodes - Small Block - PICO - The District Dog - Make it stand out Dr. Christine Brooks Talks with Chip about the science of friendship and the importance of expressive arts in community building. https://www.sidewalkballet.com/episodes/shane monthly 0.5 2026-05-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6506989bc7034c4c86a8f71d/4ceecdbc-e376-4461-aff3-0762b62033e7/Shane.jpg Episodes - Community Safety - with Shane Zahn - Make it stand out Dr. Christine Brooks Talks with Chip about the science of friendship and the importance of expressive arts in community building. https://www.sidewalkballet.com/episodes/susan-hughes monthly 0.5 2026-05-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6506989bc7034c4c86a8f71d/1777852205717-1XVYTFCZVUNQXVJJZV5X/SB+-walking+w+J+%281%29.jpg Episodes - Small Block - Jane Jacobs for the Young Reader - Make it stand out Dr. Christine Brooks Talks with Chip about the science of friendship and the importance of expressive arts in community building. https://www.sidewalkballet.com/episodes/anastasia monthly 0.5 2026-05-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6506989bc7034c4c86a8f71d/1777232770056-PQYZOO512XO48HINQEV2/Anastasia.jpg Episodes - Anastasia Sukhoroslova - Make it stand out Dr. Christine Brooks Talks with Chip about the science of friendship and the importance of expressive arts in community building. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6506989bc7034c4c86a8f71d/967a7c24-665d-4b72-86ab-3757e715f521/Slow+%28600+x+400+px%29.jpg Episodes - Anastasia Sukhoroslova - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.sidewalkballet.com/episodes/tamika-butler monthly 0.5 2026-05-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6506989bc7034c4c86a8f71d/26bf8784-7b1b-4c9d-98c7-37bb61d94fd0/Tamika+Butler.jpg Episodes - tamika l. butler - Make it stand out Dr. Christine Brooks Talks with Chip about the science of friendship and the importance of expressive arts in community building. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6506989bc7034c4c86a8f71d/1776023895518-7MS4YAZFDHVXEB65S2BY/PHOTO-2026-04-04-21-37-15+2.jpg Episodes - tamika l. butler - Roderick's family sits in the front of his jeepney https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6506989bc7034c4c86a8f71d/1776023895105-ILYYGKNWRCMVBN775415/PHOTO-2026-04-04-21-37-15.jpg Episodes - tamika l. butler https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6506989bc7034c4c86a8f71d/1776023902629-YTHXVKD2Q32VMIYMRUTY/PHOTO-2026-04-04-21-37-19.jpg Episodes - tamika l. butler - Every Jeepney has a unique design Jeepney drivers use their vehicles as an expression of parts of their own identity. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6506989bc7034c4c86a8f71d/1776023901515-JQ0DLJ0AD9W8KY529XAP/PHOTO-2026-04-04-21-37-21.jpg Episodes - tamika l. butler - Abra Talks with Roderick Abra and her ‘translator’ Jovan, interview Roderick, a jeepney driver in Dumaguete https://www.sidewalkballet.com/episodes/retail-roundup monthly 0.5 2026-05-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6506989bc7034c4c86a8f71d/952b25c5-0fd9-4ceb-bbe6-c5a570c7b88d/Retail+Round+up+%281%29.gif Episodes - Retail Round up - Make it stand out Dr. Christine Brooks Talks with Chip about the science of friendship and the importance of expressive arts in community building. https://www.sidewalkballet.com/episodes/evan-weissman monthly 0.5 2026-05-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6506989bc7034c4c86a8f71d/27b77f29-40fb-446c-a6b4-25cb6c1e8069/Evan+Weisman+%281%29.jpg Episodes - Evan Weissman - Make it stand out Dr. Christine Brooks Talks with Chip about the science of friendship and the importance of expressive arts in community building. https://www.sidewalkballet.com/episodes/breonna monthly 0.5 2026-05-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6506989bc7034c4c86a8f71d/beecbfbd-9344-41eb-8983-07d12519c3a0/Breonna+McCree+%282%29.jpg Episodes - Breonna McCree - Make it stand out Dr. Christine Brooks Talks with Chip about the science of friendship and the importance of expressive arts in community building. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6506989bc7034c4c86a8f71d/24860814-6760-4142-a909-c80817ce131d/tgd.png Episodes - Breonna McCree - Make it stand out Transgender District https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6506989bc7034c4c86a8f71d/5566f079-5286-4dad-9861-b01531b38d93/katie+TLM.webp Episodes - Breonna McCree - Make it stand out Katie Conry at the Tenderloin Musem https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6506989bc7034c4c86a8f71d/c20146af-c170-4e32-95c6-e4833754be41/Screenshot+2026-02-23+at+10.56.32+AM.png Episodes - Breonna McCree - Make it stand out Compton’s Cafeteria Riot https://www.sidewalkballet.com/episodes/lezlielowe monthly 0.5 2026-05-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6506989bc7034c4c86a8f71d/fbc97616-18b9-430f-9e67-b6450f554d17/lezlie-lowe+%282%29.jpg Episodes - Lezlie Lowe - Make it stand out Dr. Christine Brooks Talks with Chip about the science of friendship and the importance of expressive arts in community building. https://www.sidewalkballet.com/episodes/christine-brooks monthly 0.5 2026-05-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6506989bc7034c4c86a8f71d/1769490850749-HDOZPCB9Y3E3A5I6R9AT/christine-brooks-pod+%284%29.jpg Episodes - Dr. Christine Brooks - Make it stand out Dr. Christine Brooks Talks with Chip about the science of friendship and the importance of expressive arts in community building. https://www.sidewalkballet.com/episodes/jt-mudge monthly 0.5 2026-05-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6506989bc7034c4c86a8f71d/883dafdb-57c3-4904-9032-c087b1ac9980/JT-Mudge-pod+%287%29.jpg Episodes - JT Mudge - Make it stand out Hollie Beaumont https://www.sidewalkballet.com/episodes/josh-yeager monthly 0.5 2026-05-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6506989bc7034c4c86a8f71d/2614149d-767e-40c7-8c76-27fec2d03f8f/first+four+%282%29.jpg Episodes - Josh Yeager - Make it stand out Hollie Beaumont https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6506989bc7034c4c86a8f71d/cf0841e9-28ff-42e1-a3c5-42302f4c9c7e/sb+resolutions.jpg Episodes - Josh Yeager - Make it stand out Sidewalk Ballet 2026 Resolutions for a more connected city https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6506989bc7034c4c86a8f71d/351dc15e-8128-47ef-8d1e-a28f4a1e2c0c/sb+resolutions+back.jpg Episodes - Josh Yeager - Make it stand out Sidewalk Ballet Resolutions for a more connected city https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6506989bc7034c4c86a8f71d/2cad1e88-7246-4ee2-9b55-015e08747168/Clean+and+Safe.jpg Episodes - Josh Yeager - Make it stand out Illustrations similar to this, based on Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs, sets prioritizes for the needs of a district. Read Chip’s Take on Dismantling Maslow’s Pyramid https://www.sidewalkballet.com/episodes/mara-mintzer monthly 0.5 2026-06-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6506989bc7034c4c86a8f71d/729b7c07-f84f-4ef0-ab62-93e5962634f3/mara-mintzer-pod+%284%29.jpg Episodes - Mara Mintzer - Make it stand out Mara Mintzer - Growing Up Boulder https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6506989bc7034c4c86a8f71d/5fcc2f31-c5ea-441b-8b06-9660e4a33794/Screenshot+2025-12-14+at+1.18.40+PM.png Episodes - Mara Mintzer - Make it stand out Placemaking with Children and Youth https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6506989bc7034c4c86a8f71d/4d739e85-3067-4e1c-9b7e-7cc372050537/Design-Guidelines-Poster-1-1365x2048.png Episodes - Mara Mintzer - Make it stand out Teens’ Library of the Future https://www.sidewalkballet.com/episodes/jay-pitter monthly 0.5 2026-05-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6506989bc7034c4c86a8f71d/55e60cef-d364-4824-a3f9-260d8e980b61/jay-pitter-pod+%284%29.jpg Episodes - Jay Pitter - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6506989bc7034c4c86a8f71d/e0414381-eccb-49c0-bc5a-4d875a039741/BPJ.jpeg Episodes - Jay Pitter - Make it stand out Black Public Joy - No Permit or Permission required https://www.sidewalkballet.com/episodes/kady-yellow monthly 0.5 2026-08-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6506989bc7034c4c86a8f71d/1763435819486-03BPT5TM2BB2H4XCEYE9/kady-yellow-pod+%283%29.jpg Episodes - Kady Yellow - Kady Yellow is an international Placemaking expert who has been activating public spaces since 2010, when she first discovered the power of collaboration among governments, communities, and the cultural sector to create vibrant, people-centered cities. In this Episode, Chip and Kady discuss her path, teachers and lessons that brought her to the work she is doing in Jacksonville, Florida, as the Vice President of Placemaking and Events for Downtown Jax. Kady shares her strategies for connecting citizens to civic life and reducing barriers, both for residents and municipalities, allowing for a greater sense of ownership and belonging in the places she - and fellow Florida residents work. https://www.placemaking.life Downtown Vision How to bring your city to life | Kady Yellow | TEDxJacksonville Cara Courage DJ Larry Love Eric Liu - Citizen University Submersible Embankment Project Zarni deVette https://www.sidewalkballet.com/episodes/nate-storring monthly 0.5 2026-08-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6506989bc7034c4c86a8f71d/1761331386401-AMG2O1ZU87WF5QLGFH17/nate_storring_pod.jpg Episodes - Nate Storring - Nate Storring is the Co-Executive Director of Project for Public Spaces, where he helps shape the organization’s strategy and leads its work in placemaking, communications, and development. Over the years, he’s been a driving force behind PPS’s publishing and research—including How to Turn a Place Around and new explorations of inclusive placemaking that expand how we think about belonging in public life. In 2025, Nate is helping steer PPS through its 50th anniversary—a milestone that invites both reflection and re-imagination: fifty years of creating people-centered places, and a future that centers justice, connection, and resilience. In this conversation, Nate talks with Chip about his own path into placemaking, the legacy and evolution of PPS, and the passing of co-founder and placemaking pioneer Kathy Madden—just days before the interview. Together they explore how our understanding of public space has changed over five decades, what still holds true, and how the next era of place will be defined by the complex realities of place governance and the ever-shifting boundaries between public and private space. Also in this episode, Abra Allan revisits an innovative exploration into coexistence in public spaces developed in 2020 by SPUR and Gehl. Episode Links https://www.pps.org/people/nathan-storring http://www.nathanstorring.com/ https://www.placemakingweek.org/ https://www.urbanspacegallery.ca/ https://www.spur.org/publications/spur-report/2021-01-25/coexistence-public-space https://www.sidewalkballet.com/episodes/majora-carter monthly 0.5 2026-08-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6506989bc7034c4c86a8f71d/1759907302278-WPTBF4C65QXXU3UG3W1M/Majora-Carter-pod+%282%29.jpg Episodes - Majora Carter - Majora Carter is one of the most visionary voices in urban revitalization today. A real estate developer, strategist, and Peabody Award–winning broadcaster, she has redefined what it means for communities to shape their own futures. From her groundbreaking work in the South Bronx to her national platform as an advocate for environmental justice and economic empowerment, Majora has spent her career challenging the idea that low-status neighborhoods are destined to remain so. She is the author of Reclaiming Your Community: You Don’t Have to Move Out of Your Neighborhood to Live in a Better One, a book that reframes neighborhood development as a pathway for residents to build prosperity where they already live. On The Sidewalk Ballet, Majora brings her trademark insight and candor to questions of community, resilience, and ownership. Our conversation explores how places—and the people who steward them—can unlock dignity, opportunity, and power in the face of daunting challenges. This episode is a compelling look at what it takes to not only reimagine our neighborhoods, but to reclaim them. Also in this episode, Abra Allan sits down with the Tinicsh Hollins and Gwen Brown of SF Black Wall Street, a grassroots organization working to preserve and strengthen San Francisco’s Black community through three powerful tenets — home ownership, business ownership, and Black spaces. Together they talk about the rebuilding of 1921, a “third place” for creativity, entrepreneurship, and dialogue that embodies both resilience and hope. The conversation explores what it means to reclaim place in a city where belonging itself can feel endangered—and how economic empowerment can become a foundation for cultural survival. https://majoracartergroup.com/ https://www.sfbwsfoundation.org/ https://boogiedowngrind.com/ https://lahainacommunitylandtrust.org/ https://ebprec.org/ https://homeboyindustries.org/ https://www.sfaaacd.org/ https://www.sidewalkballet.com/episodes/karen-christensen monthly 0.5 2026-08-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6506989bc7034c4c86a8f71d/8677e84a-ad4f-4b48-8930-d8df0e488105/karen-christensen-pod+%282%29.jpg Episodes - Karen Christensen - As we kick off the sidewalk ballet - a project dedicated to understanding cities and strengthening community - There is really no better place to start than at the neighborhood cafe, or the corner pub. Karen Christensen is an author, publisher, and community leader whose work spans culture, sustainability, and the power of networks. As the founder of Berkshire Publishing Group, she has long championed ideas and institutions that strengthen communities. Her forthcoming book, written in collaboration with Ray Oldenburg, revisits and reimagines the concept of the “third place” for today’s world. On The Sidewalk Ballet, Karen shares her perspective on why third places matter now more than ever. Our conversation explored themes of loneliness and isolation, the distinction between third places and public spaces, and the importance of creating space for conversation, plus her work on the encyclopedia of community. This episode will open the series with both depth and urgency, offering fresh insight from one of the voices carrying the legacy of The Great Good Place into a new century. Karen’s Links https://karenchristensen.org/ https://greatgoodplace.org/ https://www.berkshirepublishing.com/title/great-good-place-kc-ro/ https://www.berkshirepublishing.com/title/encyclopedia-of-community-from-the-village-to-the-virtual-world/ Some of my third places https://caffetrieste.com/ https://www.trellis.social/ https://www.therumpusroomsf.com/ https://tempest.pourguys.com/ https://www.sidewalkballet.com/episodes/category/Season+1 monthly 0.5 https://www.sidewalkballet.com/episodes/category/Small+Blocks monthly 0.5 https://www.sidewalkballet.com/episodes/category/Chip monthly 0.5 https://www.sidewalkballet.com/episodes/category/Current monthly 0.5 https://www.sidewalkballet.com/episodes/category/season+2 monthly 0.5 https://www.sidewalkballet.com/episodes/tag/access monthly 0.5 https://www.sidewalkballet.com/episodes/tag/Futures monthly 0.5 https://www.sidewalkballet.com/episodes/tag/urbanism monthly 0.5 https://www.sidewalkballet.com/episodes/tag/Placemaking monthly 0.5 https://www.sidewalkballet.com/episodes/tag/IDA monthly 0.5 https://www.sidewalkballet.com/episodes/tag/districts monthly 0.5 https://www.sidewalkballet.com/episodes/tag/equity monthly 0.5 https://www.sidewalkballet.com/episodes/tag/restrooms monthly 0.5 https://www.sidewalkballet.com/episodes/tag/public+space monthly 0.5 https://www.sidewalkballet.com/episodes/tag/children+and+teens monthly 0.5 https://www.sidewalkballet.com/episodes/tag/retail monthly 0.5 https://www.sidewalkballet.com/episodes/tag/civic monthly 0.5 https://www.sidewalkballet.com/episodes/tag/network monthly 0.5 https://www.sidewalkballet.com/episodes/tag/Resolutions monthly 0.5 https://www.sidewalkballet.com/episodes/tag/belonging monthly 0.5 https://www.sidewalkballet.com/episodes/tag/inclusion monthly 0.5 https://www.sidewalkballet.com/episodes/tag/Third+Place monthly 0.5 https://www.sidewalkballet.com/episodes/tag/ice+cream monthly 0.5 https://www.sidewalkballet.com/episodes/tag/safety monthly 0.5 https://www.sidewalkballet.com/episodes/tag/placemaking monthly 0.5 https://www.sidewalkballet.com/episodes/tag/justice monthly 0.5 https://www.sidewalkballet.com/episodes/tag/expressive+arts monthly 0.5 https://www.sidewalkballet.com/episodes/tag/transgender monthly 0.5 https://www.sidewalkballet.com/episodes/tag/Public+Joy monthly 0.5 https://www.sidewalkballet.com/episodes/tag/Pico monthly 0.5 https://www.sidewalkballet.com/episodes/tag/art monthly 0.5 https://www.sidewalkballet.com/episodes/tag/cities monthly 0.5 https://www.sidewalkballet.com/episodes/tag/ida monthly 0.5 https://www.sidewalkballet.com/episodes/tag/Jane+Jacobs monthly 0.5 https://www.sidewalkballet.com/episodes/tag/Citys monthly 0.5 https://www.sidewalkballet.com/episodes/tag/downtown monthly 0.5 https://www.sidewalkballet.com/episodes/tag/history monthly 0.5 https://www.sidewalkballet.com/episodes/tag/Downtown monthly 0.5 https://www.sidewalkballet.com/episodes/tag/democracy monthly 0.5 https://www.sidewalkballet.com/episodes/tag/transportation monthly 0.5 https://www.sidewalkballet.com/episodes/tag/New+Years monthly 0.5 https://www.sidewalkballet.com/episodes/tag/LA monthly 0.5 https://www.sidewalkballet.com/episodes/tag/culture monthly 0.5 https://www.sidewalkballet.com/episodes/tag/infrastructure monthly 0.5 https://www.sidewalkballet.com/episodes/tag/third+place monthly 0.5 https://www.sidewalkballet.com/episodes/tag/Community monthly 0.5 https://www.sidewalkballet.com/episodes/tag/Foresight monthly 0.5 https://www.sidewalkballet.com/field-guide daily 0.75 2026-08-04 https://www.sidewalkballet.com/field-guide/molly-alexander-wh2ga-8halc-tcn2s monthly 0.5 2026-08-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6506989bc7034c4c86a8f71d/970d1a0c-b93d-414d-bcb8-6d90b04fd230/feliks+banel.jpeg Field Guide - Feliks Banel - I had interviewed JT Mudge, a futurist, who had recently worked with planners from some of the worlds largest cities on a forcasting workshop, exploring futures of cities. I wanted to do a companion story looking at how we thought about the future of cities in the past. That inquiry led me to the Worlds Fair, and ultimately to my friends at the Downtown Seatle Partnership. They introduced me to Feliks. We had an incredible conversation about the Fair, the space race and Seattle. In actuality, we had two conversations. I had some technical difficulties at the beginning of our call. Once I finally got them worked out, I forgot to start recording again. Fortunately he was gracious enough to give me a do over and it was even better the second time. It turned out to be a great companion for episode 8, plus I posted the full conversation as well. https://www.space101fm.org/program/cascade-of-history/ Molly Alexander https://www.sidewalkballet.com/field-guide/molly-alexander-wh2ga-8halc monthly 0.5 2026-08-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6506989bc7034c4c86a8f71d/2fc6c2e9-ce88-42af-8d0a-1d689843b08d/MJB.jpeg Field Guide - Michael Berne - What can I say about Michael Berne. If you ever get a chance to see Michael Present, it’s always extremly informative, insightful and entertaining. His “Retail Contrarian” blog is a must read for anyone interested in the world of retail. He joined us on Episode 13 “Retail Round-up” with Jaime Izurieta, guest hosted by Josh Yeager Consulting Website: www.consultmjb.com Speaking / Writing Website: www.michaeljberne.com Retail Contrarian Blog: https://michaeljberne.com/articles-essays/ Molly Alexander https://www.sidewalkballet.com/field-guide/molly-alexander-by2l8 monthly 0.5 2026-08-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6506989bc7034c4c86a8f71d/ec4c932d-784b-4f5d-93e2-13588d828e1c/molly+Alexander.jpeg Field Guide - Molly Alexander - Molly Alexander was featured on Episode 17 in a conversation about what she calls R.O.E., or Return on Emotion. I first heard Molly speak on this topic at the California Downtown Association Conference in Long Beach in March 2026 and immediately knew I wanted to continue the conversation on Sidewalk Ballet. Our experience of the world is deeply emotional, yet many of the metrics we use to evaluate places have little to do with how those places make us feel. Does a block bring you joy? Does a bookstore or café create a sense of belonging? Does a neighborhood inspire trust? Molly argues that if we want to understand the true value of a place, we need to pay more attention to the emotional outcomes it creates. The conversation expands beyond placemaking and into civic life through a companion interview with Chris Murphy of the Santa Cruz Warriors, exploring the role local sports play in creating shared identity, collective memory, and civic emotion. The episode concludes with a retelling of "The Catch" from the 1982 NFC Championship Game, inspired by David Talbot's writing and brought to life by original music from Peter Koht. Together, these stories ask a simple question: How does our experience of places make us feel—and why does that matter? https://www.sidewalkballet.com/episodes/molly https://molly-alexander.com/about-molly/ Molly Alexander https://www.sidewalkballet.com/field-guide/hiroshima-peace-memorial monthly 0.5 2026-08-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6506989bc7034c4c86a8f71d/a3fe7609-f40e-4b57-97f5-6d65b0dbc7e0/Hiroshima+.webp Field Guide - Hiroshima Peace Memorial - The Hiroshima Peace Memorial (Genbaku Dome) was the only structure left standing in the area where the first atomic bomb exploded on 6 August 1945. Through the efforts of many people, including those of the city of Hiroshima, it has been preserved in the same state as immediately after the bombing. Not only is it a stark and powerful symbol of the most destructive force ever created by humankind; it also expresses the hope for world peace and the ultimate elimination of all nuclear weapons. https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/775/ https://www.sidewalkballet.com/field-guide/black-public-joy monthly 0.5 2026-08-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6506989bc7034c4c86a8f71d/378f23bf-cd08-48fd-8a27-5ab3ae8730a8/Black+Public+Joy.jpeg Field Guide - Black Public Joy - Black Public Joy is an urgent, deeply researched, and imaginative work from one of North America’s leading public-space experts. Jay Pitter celebrates the audacious, complex, and enduring expressions of Black joy — joy so powerful that even the auction block could not extinguish it — while showing how public space can be designed to foster safety, belonging, and delight for everyone. Drawing from more than a decade of practice creating spaces where joy, justice, and belonging come alive, Pitter situates Black Public Joy within both historical rituals and contemporary movements like #BlackJoy and #BlackOutdoors. She blends storytelling, research, and vulnerable personal narrative to reveal how culture, planning, and memory shape our access to joy in parks, streets, transit, and neighbourhoods. Far more than a book, Black Public Joy is a powerful call to become stewards of one another’s joy and to claim our own — a blueprint for cultivating collective delight and transforming public space into essential urban infrastructure. https://www.jaypitter.com/publishedwork https://www.sidewalkballet.com/field-guide/jay-pitter monthly 0.5 2026-08-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6506989bc7034c4c86a8f71d/5987c9f8-c373-4a70-a532-7fa0e986bfc4/jay.jpeg Field Guide - Jay Pitter - Jay Pitter, MES, is an award-winning placemaker and author creating joyful public spaces that foster belonging, prosperity, and cultural memory. She advances this work through cultural planning, policy frameworks, and storytelling—bridging rigor and collective imagination to advance public joy as essential urban infrastructure and a human right. As an adjunct urban planning professor, she has engaged students at Cornell, Princeton, and MIT, advancing new theories of public joy that connect practice, policy, and pedagogy. Her two forthcoming books will be published by Penguin Random House, including Black Public Joy. Beyond her professional roles, Jay is passionate about cultivating everyday joy and inspiring communities to be stewards of one another’s joy—nurturing more harmonious and hopeful cities during these divided times. https://www.jaypitter.com/ https://www.sidewalkballet.com/field-guide/submersible-embankment monthly 0.5 2026-08-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6506989bc7034c4c86a8f71d/6ac29ca7-29f8-493d-9719-13581d89cfe9/Sunamganj.png Field Guide - Submersible Embankment Project - Submersible Embankment Project: Community Participation and Placemaking in Sunamganj, Bangladesh https://sites.utexas.edu/internationalplanning/submersible-embankment-project-community-participation-and-placemaking-in-sunamganj-bangladesh/ Molly Alexander https://www.sidewalkballet.com/field-guide/placemaking-jax monthly 0.5 2026-08-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6506989bc7034c4c86a8f71d/97cea914-175f-483c-8cd8-e7f88bd9d7cc/PlacemakingJax-Sponsored-by-VyStar_RGB_white_white.png Field Guide - Placemaking Jax - PlacemakingJax is Downtown Vision’s award-winning activations initiative, nationally recognized for its collaborative approach to reimagining underutilized spaces in Downtown Jacksonville. Through an open call for ideas and a hands-on placemaking school, the program empowers citizens to participate directly in shaping their downtown. Led by Downtown Vision, this community-driven effort combines top-down funding with grassroots creativity, partnering with local community champions to bring projects to life. By providing permits, funding, and technical support, PlacemakingJax enables pop-up activations in parks, installations in vacant lots, and transformations of empty storefronts. These dynamic projects attract foot traffic, strengthen community connections, and foster a deeper sense of belonging—while also building social capital and creating pathways for self-employment. Supported in part by the annual DTJax Gala each February, PlacemakingJax is helping shape a more connected and engaging urban experience—one public space at a time. More on the principles of placemaking. https://dtjax.com/placemaking-jax/ https://www.sidewalkballet.com/field-guide/iffatbakibushra monthly 0.5 2026-08-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6506989bc7034c4c86a8f71d/6b35c23d-73cb-4d51-9c0f-c66ac3027164/Iffat+Baki+Bushra.jpeg Field Guide - Iffat Baki Bushra - Iffat joined us for Episode 4 to discuss a community Based infrastructure project in Sunamganj, Bangladesh. As a Master’s student in Community and Regional Planning at The University of Texas at Austin, Iffat presented a case study of the community’s role in rebuilding a submersible embankment, crucial to the social and economic health of the region. https://www.linkedin.com/in/iffat-baki-bushra-11a43a208/ Molly Alexander https://www.sidewalkballet.com/field-guide/kady monthly 0.5 2026-08-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6506989bc7034c4c86a8f71d/d4795b4a-3f3c-4755-a972-e502c7c087eb/Kady.jpeg Field Guide - Kady Yellow - The episode with Kady ends with a song. If you know Kady and you have seen the impact she has made on the communities she calls home and the people she calls neighbors, it’s not even a little bit surprising that someone had a song written for her (Pre AI songs, mind you, this was an artist). Kady is the Vice President of Placemaking for Downtown Vision Inc, in Jacksonville Florida where she runs Placemaking Jax and continues to expand access for community members to shape the way they experience places. It was such a pleasure to have her on the show, and to continue to follow the great work she is doing, not just in Jacksonville but advancing the feild of Placemaking. Kady is featured on Eposide 3 Molly Alexander https://www.sidewalkballet.com/field-guide/coexistence-in-public-space monthly 0.5 2026-08-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6506989bc7034c4c86a8f71d/90f07347-dd92-4343-a00a-c9fe5c1cfd00/coexsistance.png Field Guide - Coexistence in Public Space - As more and more Bay Area residents find themselves without homes, many have defaulted to living in public parks, plazas and squares. These spaces were not designed to be homes, however, and housed users often voice concerns that the presence of unhoused residents renders spaces unwelcoming or even unsafe. SPUR has heard these concerns frequently during our long-term research project on Guadalupe River Park, San José’s largest urban green space. Through a partnership with the urban design firm Gehl and a number of local stakeholders, we began exploring how to best facilitate community dialogue about the challenges that Guadalupe River Park faces around homelessness and safety. Together we established a goal to begin shifting the narrative from: “The park will only be great if there are no homeless people in it” to: “The park will only be great if we design for coexistence.” With this goal in mind, we asked: How might we design and manage public space to allow people of all backgrounds to find joy, belonging and safety there? Out of this work, SPUR and Gehl created the Coexistence Toolkit, a set of public engagement exercises for city agencies, nonprofit organizations and other park stewards to use in public meetings that inform public space projects and master planning efforts. The toolkit consists of a slide presentation and a series of worksheets, both available below. While we developed them for Guadalupe River Park, these tools can be used for any public space. Our report Coexistence in Public Space introduces the toolkit and the thinking behind it. We hope this research provides the foundation for a new way of thinking about park equity and helps facilitate a new type of conversation about access, safety and design within shared public space. https://www.spur.org/publications/spur-report/2021-01-25/coexistence-public-space https://www.sidewalkballet.com/field-guide/hyperlocal monthly 0.5 2026-08-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6506989bc7034c4c86a8f71d/5d12a76d-c65f-444f-b966-956dca49a9e6/hyperlocal.webp Field Guide - Hyperlocal - Many of America’s downtowns, waterfronts, and innovation districts have experienced significant revitalization and reinvestment in recent years, but concentrated poverty and racial segregation remain persistent across thousands of urban, suburban, and rural neighborhoods. The coronavirus pandemic magnified this sustained and growing landscape of inequality. Uneven patterns of economic growth and investment require a shift in how communities are governed and managed. This shift must take into account the changing socioeconomic realities of regions and the pressing need to bring inclusive economic growth and prosperity to more people and places. In this context, place-based (“hyperlocal”) governance structures in the United States and around the globe have been both part of the problem and part of the solution. These organizations range from community land trusts to business improvement districts to neighborhood councils. However, very little systematic research has documented the full diversity and evolution of these organizations as part of one interrelated field. Hyperlocal helps fill that gap by describing the challenges and opportunities of “place governance.” https://www.brookings.edu/books/hyperlocal/ https://www.sidewalkballet.com/field-guide/the-great-good-place monthly 0.5 2026-08-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6506989bc7034c4c86a8f71d/7463d6f3-7994-4e78-9d5c-a8eba15e9b8b/great+good+place.png Field Guide - The Great Good Place - In the forthcoming The Great Good Place II, Karen Christensen and Ray Oldenburg show how third places have a vital role to play in solving climate change, loneliness, and political polarization – and make us healthier to boot! Explore real-life examples from around the world: bars and bistros, taquerias and teahouses, stoops and saunas, and much more. The authors delve into practical design and economic issues, encouraging readers to create and nurture the special places where, as the song goes, everyone knows your name. This new book is a completely new version of the late Ray Oldenburg’s influential 1989 book that introduced the concept of the third place, written by his long-time correspondent and collaborator Karen Christensen, senior editor of the 4-volume SAGE Encyclopedia of Community. The authors tackle questions like these: Supported by a grant from Mass Cultural Council What is the difference between third places and public spaces? Does a third place have to be free or cheap? Can third places require membership? Do third places need public funding? What design elements help third places thrive? How do you find (or create) a third place? https://greatgoodplace.org/ https://www.sidewalkballet.com/field-guide/kathy-madden monthly 0.5 2026-08-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6506989bc7034c4c86a8f71d/d6efdb78-1071-4674-b2be-abdd5c9ab62d/Kathy+Madden.jpeg Field Guide - Kathy Madden - Co-Founder Project for Public Spaces. 1947-2025 Kathy Madden was a prominent urban public spaces expert, placemaking leader, and an environmental designer who began working with PPS, helping to found the organization, in 1975. During this time, Kathy was involved in all aspects of the organization’s work, directing over 300 research and urban design projects and training programs throughout the U.S and abroad. Until 2018, she also served as director of PPS’s Placemaking Training and Public Space Research and Publications programs. Kathy co-authored and wrote both books and articles, including the PPS best-selling publication How to Turn a Place Around, which has now been translated into over 10 languages. She lectured extensively and conducted, in conjunction with other PPS staff, PPS’s How to Turn a Place Around training program in New York. While at PPS, she taught for six years at the Pratt School of Architecture Graduate Program in Urban Design. In 1995, Kathy started the Urban Parks Institute with a $2.2 million grant from the Lila Wallace-Reader’s Digest Fund. The Institute brought together over 2,000 parks leaders from both the private and public sectors in eight national conferences and four regional workshops. The Institute produced a volume of research and publications related to urban parks, and created a major online resource center for urban parks best practices and research, Urban Parks Online, which attracts over one million page views annually. Chip spoke with Nate Storring of Project for Public Spaces about Kathy’s Legacy, shortly after he passing in Fall of 2025. Episode 3 https://www.pps.org/people/kmadden https://www.sidewalkballet.com/field-guide/tinicsh monthly 0.5 2026-08-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6506989bc7034c4c86a8f71d/c93ad171-cf18-4c00-810b-df3f40f67c84/Tinicsh+Hollins+.jpeg Field Guide - Tinicsh Hollins - Bio Molly Alexander https://www.sidewalkballet.com/field-guide/reclaimingcommunity monthly 0.5 2026-08-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6506989bc7034c4c86a8f71d/35003ba4-3566-41b2-a63c-83ffed287869/reclaiming.webp Field Guide - Reclaiming your Community - "You Don't Have to Move Out of Your Neighborhood to Live in a Better One" Majora is quoted on the walls of the Smithsonian Museum of African American History and Culture — which is also the subtitle of her book. The book explores how we can address the problem of persistent poverty in low-status communities differently, and slow down the brain-drain that cripples local economic progress. Just like successful companies have talent-retention strategies, Majora Carter argues that these communities need to do the same. She shows how brain drain cripples low-status communities and maps out a development strategy focused on talent retention to help them break out of economic stagnation. Molly Alexander https://www.sidewalkballet.com/field-guide/spur monthly 0.5 2026-08-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6506989bc7034c4c86a8f71d/924f35a1-1ba6-4c92-b7b9-fc98c4184da3/spur.png Field Guide - SPUR - SPUR — the San Francisco Bay Area Planning and Urban Research Association — is a nonprofit public policy organization. We bring people together from across the political spectrum to develop solutions to the big problems cities face. Based in San Francisco, San José, and Oakland, we are recognized as a leading civic planning organization and respected for our independent and holistic approach to urban issues. A project of SPUR was featured in Episode 3 Molly Alexander https://www.sidewalkballet.com/field-guide/pps monthly 0.5 2026-08-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6506989bc7034c4c86a8f71d/67284f63-d877-4ea2-8ec3-93808e040f9e/pps.png Field Guide - Project for Public Spaces - Project For Public Spaces is the original Public Space Organization. For over 50 years PPS has been a tremendous resource for communities and organizations working to improve spaces for people. Vision We imagine a future where all communities can unlock the power of public space to spark civic and social life, build resilience, and expand economic opportunity. Our Mission Project for Public Spaces co-creates outstanding gathering places with the people who use them every day, and supports public space champions through convening, learning opportunities, and advocacy. Molly Alexander https://www.sidewalkballet.com/field-guide/molly-alexander-4bnm4 monthly 0.5 2026-08-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6506989bc7034c4c86a8f71d/185c0b4f-ecce-4776-83f2-27a9dc353257/nate.jpeg Field Guide - Nate Storring - Nate is Great Molly Alexander https://www.sidewalkballet.com/field-guide/sfbws monthly 0.5 2026-08-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6506989bc7034c4c86a8f71d/41ad2d36-4250-4aec-8742-b6e96ed5a79c/SFBWS+Foundation Field Guide - SF Black Wall Street - SF Black Wall Street (San Francisco Black Wall Street Foundation) is a non-profit organization co-founded by Tinisch Hollins, Gwyn Brown, and Kenya Bod Austin in 2020 to preserve Black culture, build economic power, and support Black-owned businesses. Mission and Overview Founding: Established during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 by local community organizers responding to displacement and the shrinking Black population in San Francisco. Core Goal: Dedicated to the preservation of Black business, ownership, and cultural spaces, offering advocacy and the Black Millionaire Development Program. Geographic Scope: Headquartered in San Francisco's historic Bayview district, expanding into the broader Bay Area as Bay Area Black Wallstreet (BABWS). [1, 2] Key Projects and Spaces Nineteen-21 Lounge (1921 Lounge): Opened in February 2025 at 1701 Yosemite Ave. in the Bayview. Named in homage to the 1921 Tulsa race massacre, the private members-only social club featured a restaurant, bar, co-working space, and live music. Current Status: After suffering fire damage in June 2025, the lounge temporarily closed, with ongoing permitting and rebuilding efforts underway to restore the community hub. Molly Alexander https://www.sidewalkballet.com/field-guide/bronxlandia monthly 0.5 2026-08-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6506989bc7034c4c86a8f71d/0a7f0c71-e43d-49d0-8c19-03c705fb7f2a/bronxlandia.jpg Field Guide - Bronxlandia - Bronxlandia is a cultural hub and multi-purpose live events venue located at 910 Hunts Point Avenue in the South Bronx, New York City. Created by community developers Majora Carter and James Chase, the space serves as a creative local venue addressing the borough's shortage of dedicated performance spaces. Molly Alexander https://www.sidewalkballet.com/field-guide/gwen-brown monthly 0.5 2026-08-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6506989bc7034c4c86a8f71d/0b8967d5-57e7-4c72-99cb-ea771fcaedab/Gwen+Brown.jpeg Field Guide - Gwen Brown - Bio Molly Alexander https://www.sidewalkballet.com/field-guide/majoracarter monthly 0.5 2026-08-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6506989bc7034c4c86a8f71d/808a44a2-86b3-47cf-98ec-7a7253834110/majora-carter-pod.jpg Field Guide - Majora Carter - Majora Carter is a real estate developer, urban revitalization strategy consultant, MacArthur Fellow, Peabody Award winning broadcaster, and teaches at Princeton University. She is responsible for the creation of numerous economic developments, technology inclusion projects, green-infrastructure developments & policies, and job training & placement systems. Majora is quoted on the walls of the Smithsonian Museum of African-American History and Culture in DC — which is also the subtitle of her 2022 book, Reclaiming Your Community: "Nobody should have to move out of their neighborhood to live in a better one." Carter applies corporate talent-retention consulting practice to reduce Brain Drain in American low-status communities. She has firsthand experience pioneering sustainable economic development in one of America's most storied low-status communities: the South Bronx, as well as cities across North America and abroad. She and her teams develop vision, strategies and the type of development that transforms low-status communities into thriving mixed-use local economies. In 2017, she launched the Boogie Down Grind, a Hip Hop themed specialty coffee & craft beer spot, and the first commercial "3rd Space" in the Hunts Point section of the South Bronx since the mid-1980s. Majora was born, raised and continues to live in the South Bronx. She is a graduate of the Bronx High School of Science (1984), Wesleyan University (1988 BA, Distinguished Alum) and New York University (MFA). After establishing Sustainable South Bronx (2001) and Green For All (2007), among other organizations, she opened this private consulting firm (2008) — which was named Best for the World by B-Corp in 2014. Molly Alexander https://www.sidewalkballet.com/field-guide/karen-christensen monthly 0.5 2026-08-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6506989bc7034c4c86a8f71d/1759820085892-Q1PX2378KQZ03ZEAPOUL/Karen-Christiansen-pod.jpg Field Guide - Karen Christensen - Karen Christensen is an author, publisher, and community leader whose work spans culture, sustainability, and the power of networks. As the founder of Berkshire Publishing Group, she has long championed ideas and institutions that strengthen communities. Her forthcoming book, written in collaboration with Ray Oldenburg, revisits and reimagines the concept of the “third place” for today’s world. Molly Alexander https://www.sidewalkballet.com/field-guide/rob-ready monthly 0.5 2026-08-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6506989bc7034c4c86a8f71d/376d9bbd-23d8-446f-a162-9ca9a516f75c/Rob+Ready.jpeg Field Guide - Rob Ready - Rob is that guy. He knows everyone in the city, and everyone knows him. And it seems, everyone likes him. I like him. When I was putting together the first episode of the Sidewalk Ballet A couple of themes were emerging. I was interviewing Karen Christensen about Third Places, and her forthcoming sequel to Ray Oldneburg’s The Great Good Place. So, as part of the episode I shared my own journey to find my own Third Place in San Francisco. There’s no one better to take as your spirit guide to the neighborhood bars than Rob Ready. The audio was a little rough, but honestly, he gave some great advice, and we had a fine time. Rob is a former owner operator of the legendary Piano Fight Venue in San Francisco, and current Director of Business Engagement for the Mid Market Business Association. 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