Closer with Carol Coletta and Mark Wallace

Two radical ideas: everyone is an artist and making art together can bring us together.  In this episode of Closer, Carol Coletta and Mark Wallace talk with Josephine Ramirez, a veteran arts funder and nonprofit leader whose career includes senior roles at The Music Center and the James Irvine Foundation. Why has the arts world drawn such sharp lines between “artists” and everyone else? And what if creativity is less about excellence, and more about connection? Josephine shares her provocative vision for flipping the traditional arts model: shifting focus away from elite performance and toward mass participation. She explores how art can function as a core human practice, why nonprofit funding structures may be reinforcing exclusion, and how everyday creativity—from community choirs to public practice—can build stronger, more connected communities. Closer is a conversation hosted by Carol Coletta and Mark Wallace about the strategies that make cities more social—and why that is the smartest investment in the urban toolkit.

What does it take to unlock creativity in communities that already have deep social bonds? And why it a good strategy to leave a park unfinished? In this episode of Closer, Carol Coletta and Mark Wallace talk with Leah Houston, founder and executive director of Mabelle Arts in Toronto’s Mabelle Park, where artists and residents collaborate to design, build, and program public space together. Her work has transformed a neglected park into a vibrant hub for connection, creativity, and community life, earning her the inaugural Tim Jones Creative Placemaking Award. Leah shares how participation can be more powerful than discussion, why artistic vision is essential to getting things done, and how embracing the unfinished nature of public space creates room for ongoing connection and evolution. We explore the tension between grassroots work and institutional systems, the role of parks in building relationships, and why making things together may be the most effective way to bring people closer. Closer is a conversation hosted by Carol Coletta and Mark Wallace about the strategies that make cities more social—and why that is the smartest investment in the urban toolkit.

What does it take to turn forgotten infrastructure into places people love? And how are parks and public space leaders growing a movement to truly bring people together?   In this episode of Closer, Carol Coletta and Mark Wallace talk with Bridget Marquis and Kira Strong, two national leaders shaping the future of public space.   Kira Strong is Executive Director of the Highline Network, a coalition of 46 of the best parks and trails in the country that together attract almost 50 million visitors a year. Bridget Marquis leads Reimagining the Civic Commons, a remarkable coalition of 11 communities working to make public assets work harder and produce more for cities.   Bridget and Kira share how investing in parks, trails, and civic assets can unlock social connection, economic opportunity, and environmental impact. We explore why “hosting” matters as much as design, how small interventions can build trust in communities, and why the public realm may be the most overlooked tool cities have to bring people together.   Closer is a conversation hosted by Carol Coletta and Mark Wallace about the strategies that make cities more social—and why that is the smartest investment in the urban toolkit.  

What happens when art leaves the theater and shows up on the street? Why are some planners afraid of the public? And what can cities learn from the way artists see the world? In this episode of Closer, Carol Coletta and Mark Wallace talk with Ryan Meyers Johnson, Executive Director of Sidewalk Detroit, about how art, choreography, and small experiments in public space can transform the way people experience their city—and each other. Ryan shares how site-specific performance invites people to become part of the work, why artists can see possibility where others see problems, and how humility and curiosity are essential to building trust in communities. This conversation explores how creativity can unlock the hidden magic in neighborhoods and help cities feel more connected, alive, and human. Closer is a conversation hosted by Carol Coletta and Mark Wallace about the strategies that make cities more social—and why that is the smartest investment in the urban toolkit.  

What does it take to turn a city’s overlooked assets into its greatest strengths? In this episode of Closer, Carol Coletta and Mark Wallace talk with Daniel Rice, President & CEO of the Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition. Dan shares how Akron shifted moved away from “whale hunting” for big corporate wins to investing in parks, trails, and public spaces as core economic strategy. He reflects on three decades defined by more than 150 partnerships.  And Dan offers a practical playbook for cities: start with community, test ideas, stay consistent, and let success build momentum. Closer is a conversation hosted by Carol Coletta and Mark Wallace about the strategies that make cities more social—and why that is the smartest investment in the urban toolkit.

How much can a community learn from a one-day project, and can a short-term experiment change the trajectory of a city? In this episode of Closer, Carol Coletta and Mark Wallace talk with Krista Nightengale, Executive Director of Better Block. Krista shares how to lower the barriers to participation, why experimentation beats perfection, and how creating moments of shared experience can transform the way people see their neighborhoods and each other. If cities are strongest when people feel connected, Better Block offers a playbook rooted in action, creativity, and a willingness to invite everyone to the table. Closer is a conversation hosted by Carol Coletta and Mark Wallace about the strategies that make cities more social—and why that is the smartest investment in the urban toolkit.

What if the key to building community in a city is throwing a great party? In this episode of Closer, Carol Coletta and Mark Wallace talk with Detroit’s self-described “garbage man,” Matt Naimi, whose recycling center unexpectedly became one of the city’s most vibrant civic spaces. What began as Recycle Here!evolved into the Lincoln Street Art Park and eventually Dreamtroit, a mixed-use community for artists, makers, and neighbors. Matt shares how saying yes to artists, removing money from gatherings, and keeping the doors open to everyone can transform overlooked spaces into places where people connect. Sometimes the most powerful urban strategy is also the simplest: create a place where people want to show up. Closer is a conversation hosted by Carol Coletta and Mark Wallace about the strategies that make cities more social—and why that may be the smartest investment in the urban toolkit.

Omar Blaik, CEO of U3 Advisors and recipient of the Edmund Bacon Urban Design Award, has spent his career helping anchor institutions transform struggling neighborhoods into thriving urban districts. In this episode, Carol Coletta and Mark Wallace explore why markets rarely fix distressed neighborhoods on their own, how strategies like “buy local, hire local, live local” can create new urban vitality, and why anchor institutions should care deeply about the communities that surround them. Along the way, Omar reflects on why the best cities deliver joy not just in private spaces, but in the public realm we all share. Closer is a conversation hosted by Carol Coletta and Mark Wallace about the strategies that make cities more social—and why that may be the smartest investment in the urban toolkit.

Josh McManus, co-founder of M|B|P|, is a driving force behind transformational work in misunderstood cities from Jackson to Chattanooga to Detroit and beyond. How can organizations on-the-ground achieve transformational impact at scale?  Carol Coletta and Mark Wallace talk about weaving together big corporate bets with grassroots leadership. Josh shares lessons on leadership, regeneration, and why the future of cities may lie in “a thousand little things.” Closer is a conversation hosted by Carol Coletta and Mark Wallace about the strategies that make cities social – and why that’s the smartest investment in the urban toolkit.

Coffee shop as social glue?  That’s what co-owner and managing partner Betsy Murdoch has created at The Congregation in Detroit. And its popularity keeps growing. Closer is a conversation hosted by Carol Coletta and Mark Wallace about the strategies that make cities social – and why that’s the smartest investment in the urban toolkit.  

Social connections cure a lot of ills. Aaron Hurst, founder of the U.S. Chamber of Connection, aims to power a movement with his six points of connection. Closer is a conversation hosted by Carol Coletta and Mark Wallace about the strategies that make cities social – and why that’s the smartest investment in the urban toolkit.

Miami’s Bakehouse Art Complex is getting a makeover and so is its Wynwood Norte neighborhood. It’s a remarkable collaboration led by Cathy Leff, long-time community developer, arts executive, and innovator.   Closer is a conversation hosted by Carol Coletta and Mark Wallace about the strategies that make cities social – and why that’s the smartest investment in the urban toolkit.