Place and Community in the Twin Ports
PlacemakingUS | 6PM | 90 Bohannon Hall | April 16, 2026
Ryan Smolar is the Director of PlacemakingUS, a national network advancing community-driven approaches to public space, local economies, and cultural activation. His work focuses on how streets, markets, and shared spaces can become engines for identity, connection, and neighborhood vitality.
Through extensive travel and on-the-ground collaboration with cities, cultural workers, and grassroots leaders, Ryan studies and shares best practices from communities reimagining the public realm — from NYC Open Streets to Portland in the Streets and beyond. His work explores how residents and local leaders are reclaiming roadways not just for mobility, but for culture, community, and localism.
Drawing from real-world examples across North America and internationally, Ryan helps cities and organizations translate big ideas into practical, people-centered strategies that embed story, talent, and tradition into the design of everyday places.
Lili Razi is a dynamic professional with two Master's degrees. One is in Public Affairs, specializing in Community Development, and the other is in Urban Design. Leveraging her extensive expertise in architecture, urban design, and community development, she is driven by a profound commitment to cultivating vibrant communities through innovative approaches. Her professional interests are diverse, from integrating public art to her dedication to capacity-building techniques, including graphic recording and community facilitation.
Currently, Lili holds the position of Project Manager at Mural Arts Philadelphia
Funding for this event was provided by the University of Minnesota Duluth College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences and the
Imagine Fund Special Events Grant Program which
seeks to support new and ongoing activities that promote profound understanding of the human condition, excellence, innovation, collaboration, interdisciplinary dialogue, and greater public engagement with the University.