Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Ethan Kent @ethankent.bsky.social · 1d

“Ultimately, a place is more than the physical environment. It’s about creating a virtuous cycle, where people and places build each other up, generating infinite potential for connection, wisdom, and joy.”

PlacemakingX @placemakingx.bsky.social · 1d

“#PublicSpace and #placemaking are tools to break down silos, foster collaboration, and drive innovation at the intersections of movements.” @ethankent.bsky.social
interviewed by Päivi Raivio of #PlacemakingFinland, #NordicPlacemaking and #PlacemakingEurope: parkly.city/interview_et...

"Shared public spaces can bridge divides, unite communities, and serve as platforms for a more inclusive future." - Parkly

Step into the world of placemaking and inclusive cities with Ethan Kent, one of the leading voices shaping the movement.

parkly.city

3 3

Reposted by Ethan Kent

PlacemakingX @placemakingx.bsky.social · 1d

“#PublicSpace and #placemaking are tools to break down silos, foster collaboration, and drive innovation at the intersections of movements.” @ethankent.bsky.social
interviewed by Päivi Raivio of #PlacemakingFinland, #NordicPlacemaking and #PlacemakingEurope: parkly.city/interview_et...

"Shared public spaces can bridge divides, unite communities, and serve as platforms for a more inclusive future." - Parkly

Step into the world of placemaking and inclusive cities with Ethan Kent, one of the leading voices shaping the movement.

parkly.city

4 5

Ethan Kent @ethankent.bsky.social · 3d

Got to visit the Bronx #NewRootsCommunityFarm for their Harvest Festival. Part of Aley Kent’s national #NewRootsIRC program at International Rescue Committee.

An inspiring example of connecting #RefugeePlacemaking, #UrbanAgriculture & #PublicMarkets.

#RefugeesWelcome #LocalFood #PlacemakingNYC

2 5

Ethan Kent @ethankent.bsky.social · 5d

It was awful, and has not actually stopped. Constant low flying helicopters would make anyone’s neighborhood unlivable, with people unable to work or go about their lives. That is what
@flyblade.bsky.social is doing to millions in the NYC area.

1

Reposted by Ethan Kent

Social Life Project @sociallifeproject.bsky.social · 8d

Some background on how Whyte formed the foundation of our work and the recent restoring of his classic film: www.sociallifeproject.org/the-social-l...

The Social Life of Small Urban Spaces

Revisiting the newly restored classic film by William H. Whyte

www.sociallifeproject.org

3 6

Reposted by Ethan Kent

Streetfilms/Clarence Eckerson Jr. @streetfilms.bsky.social · 8d

Very exciting! The seminal 1980 documentary "The Social Life of Small Urban Spaces" by William H. "Holly" Whyte has been RESTORED and screening in NYC this week!

I wanted to honor his work and used his words in the companion book and produced this 11 years ago.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=sU2v...

William “Holly” Whyte in His Own Words, “The Social Life of Small Urban Spaces” (1980)

YouTube video by Streetfilms®

www.youtube.com

2 10 41

Reposted by Ethan Kent

Social Life Project @sociallifeproject.bsky.social · 11d

How Vienna’s Rathaus, and other public buildings, often do well in contributing to public space: www.sociallifeproject.org/why-turning-...

Let's Turn Buildings Inside-Out

Bringing the inside out onto the sidewalk blurs the lines between public and private space, creating one dynamic, thriving urban ecosystem.

www.sociallifeproject.org

1 4

Ethan Kent @ethankent.bsky.social · 11d

#TheWarOnCars needs to help get car advertising to stop taking over our best public spaces!

@thewaroncars.bsky.social

4

Ethan Kent @ethankent.bsky.social · 11d

Car companies have used this kind of #Placetaking to be extractive of #publicspaces and maintain their dominance in cities.

20 years ago I wrote about this trend of car advertising as part of a spoof April Fools article: www.pps.org/article/cars... @ppsplacemaking.bsky.social

Cars, Trucks Protest Against Placemaking

Fearful of losing their long dominance of the streets, millions of autos stage massive park-ins in public spaces around the nation to protest pedestrians and alternative modes of transportation.

www.pps.org

1 4

Ethan Kent @ethankent.bsky.social · 11d

Usually Vienna’s City Hall Plaza is wonderfully programmed. Currently it is a car show!

Cars are effectively privatizing and protesting the civic and pedestrian use of public space. This should be protested!

#PlacemakingAustria #PlacemakingEurope

2 2 8

Reposted by Ethan Kent

PlacemakingX @placemakingx.bsky.social · 16d

#PlacemakingWeekEurope is this week! In the spirit of co-creation, collaboration and inspiration, over 600 placemakers from all over the world will meet to share, test, question and connect.

The #PlacemakingWeek program:
placemaking-europe.eu/pwe/reggio-e...

#Placemaking #PlacemakingEurope

Reggio Emilia 2025 – Placemaking Europe

Reggio Emilia stands as a dynamic intersection of history, innovation, and inclusivity, where the historical legacy of resistance continues to shape today’s strong culture of social cooperatives, comm...

placemaking-europe.eu

1 4

Ethan Kent @ethankent.bsky.social · 17d

Articles to help us learn how to make great squares from @sociallifeproject.bsky.social:
www.sociallifeproject.org/tag/squares/

2 5

Ethan Kent @ethankent.bsky.social · 17d

Squares can be small, and still include many layers of purpose and meaning.

Piazzetta Capri, Italy

@placemakingx.bsky.social @sociallifeproject.bsky.social

1 3 24

Reposted by Ethan Kent

PlacemakingX @placemakingx.bsky.social · 19d

Highlights from the Bienalle of Public Space in Rome today, with #publicapace and #Placemaking leaders gathering from around the world.

Our @ethankent.bsky.social led the session for UN Habitat’s Global Public Space Network.

1 2

Reposted by Ethan Kent

PlacemakingX @placemakingx.bsky.social · 21d

Join us in Rome, or virtually, the next few days, for the Biennial of #PublicSpace.
www.cityspacearchitecture.org?e=78

City Space Architecture meets the VIII Biennial of Public Space in Rome - City Space Architecture

www.cityspacearchitecture.org

1 1

Reposted by Ethan Kent

Zohran Kwame Mamdani @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social · 23d

50 days to victory.

Pledge to vote: zohranfornyc.com/pledge

Sign up to canvass: zohranfornyc.com/events

Let’s turn the page on the broken politics of the past and win a city we can actually afford.

A montage of photos of volunteer events and Zohran. It says: “50 Days To Win A New York We Can Afford.”

27 210 1.4K

Ethan Kent @ethankent.bsky.social · 23d

Block parties always bring out the best in Brooklyn.

@sociallifeproject.bsky.social @stoopstories.bsky.social

2 9

Ethan Kent @ethankent.bsky.social · 26d

Voices from the #GlobalPlacemakingSummit. Great conversation from @spacing.bsky.social's podcast @spacingradio.bsky.social.

With @placemaking-canada.bsky.social, @tjhfx.bsky.social, @andrew-pask.bsky.social
#PlacemakingCanada #Placemaking

Glyn Bowerman @glynbowerman.bsky.social · Aug 21

On th latest @spacingradio.bsky.social, we bring you the highlights from the Global Placemaking Summit held at @evergreencanada.bsky.social. We speak to experts from around the world: spacing.ca/toronto/2025...

PODCAST: Spacing Radio 089, Global ideas for local placemaking - Spacing Toronto

In this episode we bring you the highlights from Global Placemaking Summit which took place in March at Evergreen in Toronto. First, we drill down into the meaning to the term with some of the event o...

spacing.ca

2 3

Ethan Kent @ethankent.bsky.social · 26d

Thanks so much Glyn for coming to the #GlobalPlacemakingSummit by @placemaking-canada.bsky.social & @placemakingx.bsky.social, and for masterfully conducting this podcast with @tjhfx.bsky.social @andrew-pask.bsky.social, myself and others. We're very grateful to @spacing.bsky.social.

1 1 2

Reposted by Ethan Kent

Social Life Project @sociallifeproject.bsky.social · 26d

“The best way to handle the problem of ‘undesirables’ is to make a place attractive to everyone else" #WilliamHWhyte

1 1 16

Reposted by Ethan Kent

PlacemakingX @placemakingx.bsky.social · 28d

Global Ideas for Local #Placemaking by @spacingradio.bsky.social's @glynbowerman.bsky.social: soundcloud.com/spacingradio...

@spacing.bsky.social @placemaking-canada.bsky.social @tjhfx.bsky.social @andrew-pask.bsky.social @ethankent.bsky.social @evergreencanada.bsky.social
#GlobalPlacemakingSummit

Episode 89: Global Ideas for Local Placemaking

In this episode we bring you the highlights from Global Placemaking Summit which took place in March at Evergreen in Toronto. First, we drill down into the meaning to the term with some of the event

soundcloud.com

1 3 6

Reposted by Ethan Kent

Glyn Bowerman @glynbowerman.bsky.social · Aug 21

On th latest @spacingradio.bsky.social, we bring you the highlights from the Global Placemaking Summit held at @evergreencanada.bsky.social. We speak to experts from around the world: spacing.ca/toronto/2025...

PODCAST: Spacing Radio 089, Global ideas for local placemaking - Spacing Toronto

In this episode we bring you the highlights from Global Placemaking Summit which took place in March at Evergreen in Toronto. First, we drill down into the meaning to the term with some of the event o...

spacing.ca

1 5 7

Reposted by Ethan Kent

Social Life Project @sociallifeproject.bsky.social · 29d

📽️ 🍿 October 1st Screening: The Social Life of Small Urban Spaces

Please join us for a Special Screening of #WilliamHWhyte's newly restored film–The Social Life of Small Urban Spaces–with the Founders of @ppsplacemaking.bsky.social & The Social Life Project:
www.sociallifeproject.org/the-social-l...

October 1st Screening: The Social Life of Small Urban Spaces

Please join us for a Special Screening of William H. (“Holly”) Whyte's newly restored film–The Social Life of Small Urban Spaces–with the Founders of Project for Public Spaces and The Social Life Proj...

www.sociallifeproject.org

1 3 5

Reposted by Ethan Kent

Social Life Project @sociallifeproject.bsky.social · 29d

The Social Life of Small Urban Spaces

Revisiting the newly restored classic film by William H. Whyte
www.sociallifeproject.org/the-social-l...

@anthologyfilm.bsky.social @placemakingx.bsky.social @ppsplacemaking.bsky.social

#Placemaking #PublicSpace #Urbanism #WilliamHWhyte

2 7 14

Ethan Kent @ethankent.bsky.social · Sep 4

Loved Kingston, NY’s walkable, dynamic, compact and all-scale #downtown.

@sociallifeproject.bsky.social
@kingstonny.bsky.social #StreetsAsPlaces

1 1 6