Ryan Myers-Johnson is a compassionate city-builder whose roots in site-specific performance inform her practice of producing and curating creative spatial justice initiatives. Myers-Johnson is an experienced facilitator, public speaker, and curator of public art and performance. Her passion for community led her to found Sidewalk Detroit in 2012 to celebrate Detroit landscape and culture through the lens of creativity while bringing resident perspectives to the forefront of experience design and city planning. As the Founder, Director, and lead Curator at Sidewalk Detroit, she leads program advancement, vision, and strategy.

Myers-Johnson has extensive experience in event planning, arts administration, management, and leadership, stemming from her many years working as a production manager in the film industry, choreographer, and movement educator. She is a board member of the Detroit Parks Coalition, Detroit Greenways Coalition, and Detroit Public Company, and she is a participating member of Community Development Advocates of Detroit. Myers-Johnson is particularly passionate about utilizing the power of site-specific performance and installation to draw closer connections with community and nature and to bring greater awareness to issues of spatial equity, with a particular emphasis on urban greenspace and environmental justice.

Sidewalk Detroit practices an inclusive approach to creative city, neighborhood and greenspace building that combines vision of residents, strategy, and artistic ideation to create engaging spaces, programs and experiences that improve communities across metro-Detroit. We seek to improve livability for residents through the promotion of spatial equity and strong social infrastructure. Our emphasis is on public art, cultural programming and deep engagement with community members. We facilitate processes in which residents are empowered to reclaim their spaces and envision their future.