Jay Pitter
@jaypitter.bsky.social
Award-Winning Placemaker (25+ North American Cities). Author. Speaker. Urban Planning Adjunct Professor. Subdivided Co-Editor. Two Book Deal w/ Penguin Random House Canada. Hip Hop & a lil Punk Rock. Hopeful.
Pinned
Jay Pitter
@jaypitter.bsky.social
· Nov 13
Impossible to select a favourite moment or response from my incredible conversation with Mayor Evans but his point pertaining to public joy and infrastructure was particularly powerful. Lots of people think public joy = festivals but very few think Brownfield development & green space.
February 12, 2026 at 4:42 AM
Impossible to select a favourite moment or response from my incredible conversation with Mayor Evans but his point pertaining to public joy and infrastructure was particularly powerful. Lots of people think public joy = festivals but very few think Brownfield development & green space.
An example—one of many—of why every environmentalist should be an advocate of environmental justice.
People in poor countries often get little or no warning about floods, storms and other deadly weather. Local efforts are changing that, and saving lives. n.pr/46EiP3O
'Please inform your friends': The quest to make weather warnings universal
People in poor countries often get little or no warning about floods, storms and other deadly weather. Local efforts are changing that, and saving lives.
n.pr
February 10, 2026 at 11:36 AM
An example—one of many—of why every environmentalist should be an advocate of environmental justice.
Final reminder that my IG Live series starts tomorrow! If you can, please join Mayor Evans and me tomorrow at 2 PM EST. If you’re teaching, consider integrating our chat into your class, ask colleagues to log on, take a slightly late lunch break. The convo will be 30 minutes!
February 10, 2026 at 2:18 AM
Final reminder that my IG Live series starts tomorrow! If you can, please join Mayor Evans and me tomorrow at 2 PM EST. If you’re teaching, consider integrating our chat into your class, ask colleagues to log on, take a slightly late lunch break. The convo will be 30 minutes!
Beyond privileged to have another major feature for the second weekend in a row. This time in The Walrus, where excerpts from Black Public Joy are summarized—including a snippet of my research & a couple of stories. That kind of editorial engagement is rare for authors, and I’m deeply grateful.
February 8, 2026 at 4:48 PM
Beyond privileged to have another major feature for the second weekend in a row. This time in The Walrus, where excerpts from Black Public Joy are summarized—including a snippet of my research & a couple of stories. That kind of editorial engagement is rare for authors, and I’m deeply grateful.
Reposted by Jay Pitter
Ossoff: "You're seeing what I'm seeing, right? The president posting about the Obamas like a Klansman."
February 7, 2026 at 11:38 PM
Ossoff: "You're seeing what I'm seeing, right? The president posting about the Obamas like a Klansman."
If there were a gold medal for swagger, Haitians would be takin’ it home. A beautiful example of Black people’s public joy expressions. Designer: StellaJean 🔥
#BlackPublicJoy #Haitians #Olympics
#BlackPublicJoy #Haitians #Olympics
February 7, 2026 at 6:01 PM
If there were a gold medal for swagger, Haitians would be takin’ it home. A beautiful example of Black people’s public joy expressions. Designer: StellaJean 🔥
#BlackPublicJoy #Haitians #Olympics
#BlackPublicJoy #Haitians #Olympics
Proud to announce that I will be launching my first episode in an IG Live series featuring conversations with mayors on the topic of public joy. To begin, I have the distinct honour of speaking with Mayor Malik Evans of Rochester, New York this coming Tuesday at 2:00 PM.
February 7, 2026 at 4:12 PM
Proud to announce that I will be launching my first episode in an IG Live series featuring conversations with mayors on the topic of public joy. To begin, I have the distinct honour of speaking with Mayor Malik Evans of Rochester, New York this coming Tuesday at 2:00 PM.
Reposted by Jay Pitter
Picked up my copy of Black Public Joy by colleague, @jaypitter.bsky.social . Looking forward to getting into this unique perspective on public space.
February 7, 2026 at 12:11 AM
Picked up my copy of Black Public Joy by colleague, @jaypitter.bsky.social . Looking forward to getting into this unique perspective on public space.
One week since launching Black Public Joy. So much gratitude for the immense support.
February 4, 2026 at 2:03 AM
One week since launching Black Public Joy. So much gratitude for the immense support.
Thanks so much for your kind feedback. I’m really pleased that the book’s narrative and themes have broad resonance.
@jaypitter.bsky.social in my studies on programming computers and the programming of culture it seems I'm reading the right stuff after listening to you speak on Canada talks this morning
February 3, 2026 at 3:26 PM
Thanks so much for your kind feedback. I’m really pleased that the book’s narrative and themes have broad resonance.
My editor just brought this to my attention—I’m featured in Indigo’s newsletter this month. I especially appreciate the extra descriptive call-out they included for my book. It feels both accurate and expansive, aligned with the book’s vision.
February 1, 2026 at 5:42 PM
My editor just brought this to my attention—I’m featured in Indigo’s newsletter this month. I especially appreciate the extra descriptive call-out they included for my book. It feels both accurate and expansive, aligned with the book’s vision.
Reposted by Jay Pitter
Attention #UrbanismBookClub lovers! My friend @jaypitter.bsky.social’s really important new book “Black Public Joy” is out there for purchasing! Congratulations Jay! I encourage everyone seeing this to check the book out and help spread the word. It frankly couldn’t be more timely. #BlackPublicJoy
January 28, 2026 at 1:22 AM
Attention #UrbanismBookClub lovers! My friend @jaypitter.bsky.social’s really important new book “Black Public Joy” is out there for purchasing! Congratulations Jay! I encourage everyone seeing this to check the book out and help spread the word. It frankly couldn’t be more timely. #BlackPublicJoy
Media kicked off the moment Black Public Joy hit shelves. I did two, in-studio radio interviews the day of the launch, the next day I did a pre-interview for an amazing television show, and thanks to my Canadian publicist Curtis Samuel, I have several other upcoming interviews/profiles.
January 31, 2026 at 3:56 PM
Media kicked off the moment Black Public Joy hit shelves. I did two, in-studio radio interviews the day of the launch, the next day I did a pre-interview for an amazing television show, and thanks to my Canadian publicist Curtis Samuel, I have several other upcoming interviews/profiles.
Black Public Joy is on shelves in large and local bookstores across Canada & the U.S. Through practice stories across many cities & research, I assert that Black public joy, and public joy of all kinds is civic, cultural & spatial infrastructure. DM for book talk & public joy mapping engagements.
January 29, 2026 at 4:00 PM
Black Public Joy is on shelves in large and local bookstores across Canada & the U.S. Through practice stories across many cities & research, I assert that Black public joy, and public joy of all kinds is civic, cultural & spatial infrastructure. DM for book talk & public joy mapping engagements.
Reposted by Jay Pitter
Black Public Joy by my colleague, @jaypitter.bsky.social, is out this week— an uplifting narrative amid the strain of civic systems & public spaces.
Toronto Life calls it an “instruction manual for joy.”
The book frames public joy as civic, cultural and spatial infrastructure. (link)
Toronto Life calls it an “instruction manual for joy.”
The book frames public joy as civic, cultural and spatial infrastructure. (link)
January 27, 2026 at 10:34 PM
Black Public Joy by my colleague, @jaypitter.bsky.social, is out this week— an uplifting narrative amid the strain of civic systems & public spaces.
Toronto Life calls it an “instruction manual for joy.”
The book frames public joy as civic, cultural and spatial infrastructure. (link)
Toronto Life calls it an “instruction manual for joy.”
The book frames public joy as civic, cultural and spatial infrastructure. (link)
Thank you, friend.x
Picked up a copy of @jaypitter.bsky.social’s Black Public Joy on this snowy Toronto day. Excited to learn more about how public joy acts as civic, cultural and spatial infrastructure - an welcome framing for designers and architects.
Get your’s here: www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/672022...
Get your’s here: www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/672022...
January 28, 2026 at 1:08 AM
Thank you, friend.x
Reposted by Jay Pitter
#HearThis
‘Black Public Joy’
by @jaypitter.bsky.social is out this week— an uplifting narrative amid the strain of civic systems & public spaces.
The book frames public joy as civic, cultural and spatial infrastructure. www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/672022... 1/
‘Black Public Joy’
by @jaypitter.bsky.social is out this week— an uplifting narrative amid the strain of civic systems & public spaces.
The book frames public joy as civic, cultural and spatial infrastructure. www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/672022... 1/
January 27, 2026 at 2:20 PM
#HearThis
‘Black Public Joy’
by @jaypitter.bsky.social is out this week— an uplifting narrative amid the strain of civic systems & public spaces.
The book frames public joy as civic, cultural and spatial infrastructure. www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/672022... 1/
‘Black Public Joy’
by @jaypitter.bsky.social is out this week— an uplifting narrative amid the strain of civic systems & public spaces.
The book frames public joy as civic, cultural and spatial infrastructure. www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/672022... 1/
Reposted by Jay Pitter
Happy publication day @jaypitter.bsky.social. I can’t wait to read this.
January 27, 2026 at 2:28 PM
Happy publication day @jaypitter.bsky.social. I can’t wait to read this.
Reposted by Jay Pitter
Alex Pretti was an American hero. He saved lives. He protected people. He cared deeply about his community, unlike the murderous thugs who killed him.
The very last thing he did was try to help a woman who had been pepper-sprayed and violently shoved to the ground by ICE. 1/
The very last thing he did was try to help a woman who had been pepper-sprayed and violently shoved to the ground by ICE. 1/
January 25, 2026 at 1:31 PM
Alex Pretti was an American hero. He saved lives. He protected people. He cared deeply about his community, unlike the murderous thugs who killed him.
The very last thing he did was try to help a woman who had been pepper-sprayed and violently shoved to the ground by ICE. 1/
The very last thing he did was try to help a woman who had been pepper-sprayed and violently shoved to the ground by ICE. 1/
When I wrote these words—and so many of the ideas in my book—I didn’t realize they would be tested so immediately & intensely. Still, here we are. Still, these words.
#restinpeace #alexpretti #reneegood
#restinpeace #alexpretti #reneegood
January 25, 2026 at 2:50 AM
When I wrote these words—and so many of the ideas in my book—I didn’t realize they would be tested so immediately & intensely. Still, here we are. Still, these words.
#restinpeace #alexpretti #reneegood
#restinpeace #alexpretti #reneegood
Three days before Black Public Joy hits shelves, I’m grateful for a full-page Globe and Mail spread featuring my essay on Black laughter. Laughter was the soundtrack of the book—so I started there, and expanded out to how it can light the way for us all amid crumbling civic systems + spaces.
January 24, 2026 at 6:17 PM
Three days before Black Public Joy hits shelves, I’m grateful for a full-page Globe and Mail spread featuring my essay on Black laughter. Laughter was the soundtrack of the book—so I started there, and expanded out to how it can light the way for us all amid crumbling civic systems + spaces.
I appreciate @mayor.nyc.gov’s simple but powerful gesture of handing out free theater tickets. The idea that New Yorkers, and people in all cities, deserve lives that include joy, art, rest, & expression is deeply aligned with the values of Black Public Joy & my broader public joy framework.
January 10, 2026 at 3:11 PM
I appreciate @mayor.nyc.gov’s simple but powerful gesture of handing out free theater tickets. The idea that New Yorkers, and people in all cities, deserve lives that include joy, art, rest, & expression is deeply aligned with the values of Black Public Joy & my broader public joy framework.
Reposted by Jay Pitter
100% agreed. It’s important for individuals with progressive viewpoints to resist the urge to compare or “out-progressive” each other. To build a coalition resilient & compassionate enough to create change, we must align values AND create more space for divergent approaches, voices & capabilities.
January 6, 2026 at 3:17 AM
100% agreed. It’s important for individuals with progressive viewpoints to resist the urge to compare or “out-progressive” each other. To build a coalition resilient & compassionate enough to create change, we must align values AND create more space for divergent approaches, voices & capabilities.
Grateful to see Black Public Joy included in Toronto Life’s “The best things to see, do, read and hear this month in Toronto” section. The book won’t be on shelves for another few weeks, so this early nod, which arrived on my birthday, felt especially hopeful.
January 6, 2026 at 2:45 AM
Grateful to see Black Public Joy included in Toronto Life’s “The best things to see, do, read and hear this month in Toronto” section. The book won’t be on shelves for another few weeks, so this early nod, which arrived on my birthday, felt especially hopeful.