Event Schedule

May 4

Morning | 2nd Biennial Jane Jacobs Day & Flag Raising

Location: Scranton City Hall, 340 N Washington Ave, Scranton, PA 18503

Jane Jacobs Day in Scranton- a day of community conversations and gatherings, and the Jane Jacobs flag raising on what would have been her 107th birthday.

1:00 PM - 1:30 PM | Living City Lab Ribbon Cutting

Location: Insalaco Studio Arts Building at Marywood University

2300 Adams Avenue, Scranton, PA 18509

Join the Center for the Living City and Marywood University for a ribbon cutting for the new Living City Lab. The Living City Lab at Marywood University is a co-created space for experiential learning, where students address global challenges on a local scale. It consists of three key components: education, projects, and networking. Through integrated coursework rooted in urban ecology and sustainability, students across all disciplines create action-oriented local impact, work on real-life public design projects, connect with and learn from community leaders and mentors, and develop strong interdisciplinary career-connected pathways and local relationships.

1:30 PM - 2 PM | Presentation of Inaugural Jane Jacobs Leadership Award, Honoree Kimberly Dowdell

Location: Insalaco Studio Arts Building at Marywood University

2300 Adams Avenue, Scranton, PA 18509

The Center for the Living City presents the inaugural Jane Jacobs Leadership Award to Kimberly Dowdell, AIA. Join the celebration and tree planting at Marywood University!

4 PM - 5 PM | The Placemaking of the City of St. Pete: from a bench, to home, to home plate | Jane Jacobs Lecture with Everald Colas

Location: Marywood School of Architecture, Shields Building, Marywood University + Virtual.

201 Morgan Road, Dunmore, PA 18509

Virtual Zoom registration link

Place-making is a process that creates areas where all demographics want to eat, work, rest, play, and learn.  If the best interests of all demographics are not considered in this process, then it is not actual place-making. Saint Petersburg differs from any other Florida City because, in the 1920s, urban planners designed wide streets connecting the gulf and bay waters edges, enabling walkability. These wide sidewalks were activated with street-level stores and beautiful arcades, providing an excellent porosity to move north and south. These were intentional ingredients of urban design that were added to enable people to enjoy the city; however, not all were allowed. The lecture reflects on Saint Petersburg's historical placemaking strategies and social structures to describe a City’s identity. While also reflecting on the future growth opportunities of the 86-acre Historic Gas Plant Redevelopment as a potential strategy for equitable growth.