Black Public Joy: A Living Case Study

One of North America’s most influential public space experts, Jay Pitter, brings the Black Public Joy Framework to Ethọ́s Lab and all of us on a placemaking journey.

Using the narratives and cases explored in her new book Black Public Joy (Penguin Random House Canada, 2026), Jay translates key insights into design guidelines that served as prompts for an Urbanarium Studio the night before. The resulting sketches and ideas will be presented in a rare living case study that looks at how Black Public Joy and the broader Public Joy Framework, is translated into tangible site design.

Join us for this unique hybrid keynote to learn more about a community-engaged design methodology that bridges research, culture and Black spatial intelligence.

Performance by Ndidi Cascade: music & cultural curator for Sagittarius Soirée, Queendom Rise, Black Music Month Vancouver & Ethos Lab.

About the Book
Black Public Joy explores Black people’s public joy histories, sacred rituals, movements, and contemporary expressions—while positioning public joy as civic, cultural, and spatial infrastructure.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

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Host or Publisher Urbanarium