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Sidewalk Ballet

Sidewalk Ballet

By: Downtown Chip
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The Sidewalk Ballet is an ongoing conversation about cities and the people who shape them.

Inspired by Jane Jacobs' phrase, the show explores urbanism, placemaking, public space, civic life, downtowns, and community building through conversations with city leaders, designers, organizers, artists, researchers, and residents.

Together we examine how communities foster belonging, wellness, sustainability, democracy, and justice—and how people navigate the challenges of coexistence in shared spaces.

From neighborhood parks to main streets, from housing and transportation to art and culture, The Sidewalk Ballet is about the places we share and the people who help shape them.

Copyright 2025 All rights reserved. Art Political Science Politics & Government Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Democracy of Public Space - Part One - Do We Mean It?

    Democracy of Public Space - Part One - Do We Mean It?
    Jul 4 2026
    Part One of a Two Part Documentary The Constitution begins with "We the People." The rest of the American story is, in many ways, the unfolding of who becomes "We." The Democracy of Public Space – Part One: Do We Mean It? traces the evolution of the National Mall from an unfinished vision into one of the world's great civic stages, culminating in Marian Anderson's historic 1939 concert at the Lincoln Memorial. This is the story of an unfinished vision, a civic stage, and the generations of people who continue the work of becoming "We." ----more---- Voices in the Episode Setha Low Professor Emerita of Environmental Psychology, Anthropology, Geography, and Women's Studies at the Graduate Center, City University of New York 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. Judy Scott Feldman Founder and Chair, National Mall Coalition Judy Scott Feldman has spent more than two decades championing the National Mall as America's premier civic gathering place. As founder of the National Mall Coalition, she has worked to protect the Mall's historic legacy while advocating for its continued evolution as a place where future generations can gather, commemorate, celebrate, and participate in American democracy. Her work reminds us that preserving great public spaces isn't about freezing them in time—it's about ensuring they remain meaningful, accessible, and relevant for the publics still to come. Sheila Foster Professor of Climate, Columbia University Sheila Foster is a leading scholar of cities, democracy, and the urban commons. Her work explores how communities share responsibility for the public spaces, institutions, and resources that shape everyday life. Through her research on governance, equity, and collective stewardship, she challenges conventional ideas about who creates, cares for, and benefits from the places we share. Her work invites us to see democracy not simply as a system of government, but as a practice rooted in the stewardship of our common spaces. Cara Courage Author, Researcher, and Creative Placemaking Practitioner Dr. Cara Courage is an internationally recognized researcher, writer, and practitioner whose work explores the relationship between place, creativity, belonging, and civic life. Her research spans community engagement, cultural development, and trauma-informed placemaking, helping communities create places where people feel safe, connected, and empowered to participate. Cara previously joined The Sidewalk Ballet in Episode 18, where we explored the emerging field of trauma-informed placemaking and asked a simple question: What does a place feel like when your nervous system trusts it? In this documentary, her reflections on ancient Greece help frame the enduring relationship between public space and democracy. ----more---- 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. ----more---- Continue the Conversation The National Mall & American Democracy The National Mall Coalition The Third Century Action Plan (National Mall Coalition) The National Mall - National Park Service L'Enfant Plan - National Park Service McMillan Plan - US Senate Marian Anderson PBS American Masters: Marian Anderson – The Whole World in Her Hands Marian Anderson Collection - Internet Archive Marian Anderson Easter Concert - US National Archives Explore More Episodes Episode 18 — Cara Courage: Trauma-Informed Placemaking Episode 12 — Evan Weissman: Warm Cookies of the Revolution Episode 5 — Jay Pitter: Black Public Joy Reading Why Public Space Matters - Setha Low On the Plaza - Setha Low Co-Cities - Sheila Foster Placemaking Handbook - Dr. Cara Courage
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    26 mins
  • The Evolution of Business Improvement Districts - Michael Edwards in Conversation with Kathleen Rawson

    The Evolution of Business Improvement Districts - Michael Edwards in Conversation with Kathleen Rawson
    Jun 30 2026

    For most people, the work of managing a downtown is invisible. We notice the festivals, the flower baskets, the clean sidewalks, the thriving restaurants, and the public spaces—but rarely the people whose job is to help all of those things work together.

    In this episode features a conversation with two pioneers of the downtown management profession: Michael Edwards and Kathleen Rawson. They've each spent decades helping shape Business Improvement Districts and the broader field of place management, watching it evolve from an emerging experiment into a profession that now influences communities across North America and the world.

    Their conversation explores that evolution—from the early days of downtown revitalization to the increasingly complex role these organizations play today. They discuss how the work has changed, what effective leadership looks like in places where authority is often limited but expectations are endless, and why success depends less on controlling outcomes than on building relationships.

    If you work in downtown management, this conversation will probably feel familiar. If you don't, it's a rare behind-the-scenes look at one of those professions that quietly shapes the places where we live, work, gather, and celebrate.

    Whether you're interested in cities, leadership, collaboration, or simply how great places come to life, I think you'll come away with a deeper appreciation for the people who spend their careers caring for the spaces we all share.

    Episode Links

    Chicago Loop Alliance

    Hollywood Partnership

    Mainstreet America

    International Downtown Association (IDA)

    James Rouse

    The Magnificent Mile

    World Business Chicago

    Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership

    Pittsburgh Lights up for the Draft

    Global Business District Innovation Club

    Jamestown Renaissance Corporation
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    49 mins
  • Cara Courage - Placemaking, Trauma, Healing and Soup

    Cara Courage - Placemaking, Trauma, Healing and Soup
    Jun 16 2026

    What does a place feel like when your nervous system trusts it?

    In this episode of The Sidewalk Ballet, Chip talks with placemaking researcher, author, and practitioner Cara Courage for a conversation about the evolving field of placemaking, how it is understood, misunderstood, and why it matters.

    Together they explore the relationship between people and place, the stories our environments carry, and the growing understanding of trauma-informed placemaking. From questions of belonging and care to memory, healing, arts, language and creative participation

    What happens when places help us feel safe? What happens when they don't? And what responsibility do placemakers have in shaping those experiences?

    Also in this episode, Chip reflects on the enduring fable of Stone Soup and the surprising role that soup has played throughout history as a tool for gathering, nourishment, connection, and care. The exploration of Soup leads to conversations with Amy Kaherl former Founder Director of Detroit Soup and Cristin Cooper from Coop’s Soup.

    Episode Links

    Dr. Cara Courage

    The Routledge Handbook of Placemaking

    Trauma Informed Placemaking

    Long Live Placemaking, Placemaking is Dead Max Musicant and Shina Shayesteh Creative Placemaking Ann Markusen and Anne Gadwa

    Coop’s Soup

    Warm Cookies of the Revolution
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    1 hr and 6 mins
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