In this episode of Nat's Sidewalk Stories, I explore the intersection of poetry and native plants with Ann Wallace, Jersey City's former poet laureate, and Kim Correro, a passionate advocate for native plants. Together, they host The Wild Story podcast, connecting ecological awareness with artistic expression. We discuss finding nature in urban landscapes, how slowing down leads to remarkable discoveries, and why both poetry and native gardening offer paths to hope in challenging times.

For the full shownotes and photos and more information etc. check out https://natkalbach.substack.com/

Meet the Guests

Ann Wallace is a poet, professor of English at New Jersey City University, and Jersey City's 2023-2024 poet laureate. Her most recent book, "These Days of Grace and Silence, A Chronicle of Covid Long Haul," documents her experience with Long Covid through poetry. Ann is the co-host of The Wild Story podcast and a dedicated gardener.

Instagram: @annwallace409

Website: annwallacepoet.com

Kim Correro is the volunteer program director for the Native Plant Society of New Jersey and a professional publicist with 25 years of experience in the entertainment industry. A passionate advocate for biodiversity, Kim leads various restoration projects throughout Jersey City and co-hosts The Wild Story podcast.

Instagram: @kimcorrero

About This Episode

We explore how a century-old religious statue workshop transformed into one of Jersey City's most intimate jazz venues while maintaining its creative spirit. Ted Chubb shares how The Statuary brings world-class musicians and neighbors together in a unique home setting.

Meet Ted Chubb

Ted Chubb is a trumpeter, educator, and co-owner of The Statuary with his wife Rachel. A Jersey City resident for 17 years, Ted teaches at Princeton University and has performed with jazz luminaries across the globe. His passion for making jazz accessible led him to transform their historic Heights home into a venue where audiences and musicians connect without barriers.

more info, show notes, links and pictures at https://natkalbach.substack.com/

About This Episode

In this conversation, we explore the creative journey of Jersey City native Irene Christodoulakis, whose work spans from grassroots art initiatives to major HBO productions, and how deep roots in a place can inspire authentic storytelling.

Meet Irene Christodoulakis

Irene is a screenwriter, gallery assistant at Art House Gallery, and film industry professional who grew up in Greenville, Jersey City. Her award-winning screenplay about underground women's boxing set in 1930s Jersey City reflects her interest in telling stories of people who attempted to be trailblazers but didn't succeed, drawing inspiration from historical context while setting stories in familiar places, while her work on sets of shows like The Penguin and The Gilded Age showcases her success in the broader creative world.
For shownotes, videos and photos connected to the conversation and more information please visit https://natkalbach.substack.com/

In this episode, Colin Egan shares the remarkable 30-year journey of saving Jersey City's historic Loew's Jersey Theatre from demolition. Built as one of five Wonder Theatres in 1929, this grand movie palace was slated for demolition in 1987 until Colin and a dedicated group of volunteers stepped in. From chopping ice on the roof to rebuilding the grand pipe organ piece by piece, Colin reveals how persistence and thousands of volunteer hours transformed an abandoned building into a beloved cultural center that is now undergoing major restoration. Discover how preservation isn't just about saving architectural treasures, but about protecting the democratic spirit of spaces built for everyone to enjoy beauty and art. For show notes, photos, and additional articles related to this episode, visit Nat's Sidewalk Stories on Substack https://natkalbach.substack.com/podcast

Meet Thaler Pekar

Thaler Pekar is the founder of Thaler Pekar & Partners, a consultancy celebrating its 20th anniversary helping organizations build cultures of excellent communication. Her work spans executive coaching, institutional story collections, oral histories, and high-end content creation. As both a Hoboken resident of nearly four decades and a former Jersey City professional who worked in McGinley Square for 10 years, Thaler brings a unique perspective on how stories shape our connections to place.

Connect with Thaler Pekar:

Website: thalerpekar.com

Threads: https://www.threads.net/@ThalerPekarPartners

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thaler-pekar-partners/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThalerPekar

Key Insights

Stories are containers for information that hold facts, values, and emotions simultaneously, allowing us to express things we couldn't say in other ways

Values like "integrity" or "community" are subjective - stories demonstrate what these values look like in action

People are drawn to solutions, not problems - showing stories of solutions in action is more effective than focusing on what's wrong

The "Narrative Garden®" approach examines which stories are being told, which are missing, and which need more room to grow

Stories at the borders and edges of organizations or communities often contain the most innovation and untapped potential

Universal across cultures: everyone has stories to tell, and everyone wants to be genuinely heard

Historic preservation isn't just about individual buildings, but about preserving streetscapes, neighborhood character, and the aesthetics of community

Buildings uniquely "bring the past into the present so we can hold both at the same time"

More details, visual documentation, full transcript and related resources on my substack.

Explore Further

In next week's Substack article, I'll be sharing my own story map of Jersey City, featuring paintings of the locations that have shaped my personal connection to this community. I'll explore how finding these meaningful places helps us build deeper relationships with the cities we call home.

Coming Up Next

Join us for the next episode when I'll be speaking with Colin Egan of the Friends of the Loew's Theater about saving and revitalizing one of Jersey City's most magnificent historic buildings.

Connect with Nat

Website: natkalbach.com

Substack: Nat's Sidewalk Stories Substack

Instagram: @natkalbach

Email: podcast@natkalbach.com

Music: Our theme music is "How You Amaze Me," composed by Jim Kalbach and performed by Jim Kalbach, Bryan Beninghove, Charlie Siegler, and Pat Van Dyke.

Support the Show: Subscribe to the podcast and sign up for Nat's Substack to receive additional stories and visuals that complement each conversation.

Share Your Story: What sidewalk stories have you discovered in your neighborhood? Share them with Nat through email or social media.

Nat's Sidewalk Stories explores the intersection of place, community, and storytelling through conversations with practitioners, community leaders, and local changemakers. New episodes release on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month through August, with a break in September before Season 2 begins in October.

Meet Jin Jung

Jin Jung is a visual artist, educator at NJCU, and creator of the WERE HERE project. Born in Seoul, Korea and having moved to the US at age 11, Jin uses public art to explore community history and create connections to place. Her handmade ceramic markers throughout Jersey City honor forgotten histories while creating what she calls "shelters for stories that might otherwise fade away."

Connect with Jin Jung:

Instagram: @constructed_ephemera

Website: jinjung.com

WERE HERE Instagram: @wereherejc

WERE HERE Website: https://www.wereherejc.info/home

Key Insights

Jin began the WERE HERE project with photographer Duquann Sweeney to commemorate forgotten figures in Jersey City history

The handmade ceramic plaques serve as temporary markers that invite official recognition of these important stories

As an immigrant, Jin uses art and historical research to build her own relationship with Jersey City

The WERE HERE plaques honor figures including Cliff Joseph (founder of the Black Emergency Cultural Coalition), Betty Shabazz (Malcolm X's widow who studied at NJCU), and the site of the African Burial Ground

The project's title intentionally functions as both "we are here" and "were here," connecting past and present

Community reactions have been largely positive, with residents often helping maintain the markers

Jin views the changing city as inevitable but believes understanding its history helps us better understand who we are and our responsibilities as residents

more resources and visual documentation as well as articles on my Substack

Explore Further

Visit my Substack for the show notes with photos and an upcoming article that dives even deeper in the markers and what they mean for the community.

Coming Up Next

Join me for a conversation with Jersey City music legend and cultural chronicler Tris McCall as we explore how songwriting, journalism, and deep local knowledge combine to document a city's changing identity. Tris brings unique insights into Jersey City's cultural landscape through his decades of artistic and journalistic work.

Connect with Nat

Website: natkalbach.com

Substack: https://natkalbach.substack.com/

Instagram: @natkalbach

Email: podcast@natkalbach.com

Music: Our theme music is "How You Amaze Me," composed by Jim Kalbach and performed by Jim Kalbach, Bryan Beninghove, Charlie Siegler, and Pat Van Dyke.

Support the Show: Subscribe to the podcast and sign up for Nat's Substack to receive additional stories and visuals that complement each conversation.

Share Your Story: What sidewalk stories have you discovered in your neighborhood? Share them with Nat through email or social media.

Nat's Sidewalk Stories explores the intersection of place, community, and storytelling through conversations with practitioners, community leaders, and local changemakers. New episodes release on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month through August, with a break in September before Season 2 begins in October.

In this episode, Nat speaks with preservation expert Kelly Carroll about the power of community-driven historic preservation. Kelly shares how neighborhoods across New York City have successfully advocated for their historic districts and why even unsuccessful preservation campaigns can strengthen community bonds and build civic engagement.

Kelly Carroll is a preservationist whose career has focused on empowering communities to protect their historic resources. A Buffalo native with a deep appreciation for industrial heritage, Kelly has worked with diverse neighborhoods across New York City through preservation advocacy and education. She currently serves at the Atlantic Avenue Business Improvement District in Brooklyn, where she champions legacy businesses and historic storefronts while balancing preservation with progress.

Key Insights

True preservation comes from the ground up – from residents who want to protect their neighborhoods, not from top-down government mandates

Communities of color have been at the forefront of preservation efforts in Brooklyn, seeking self-determination for their neighborhoods

Historic neighborhoods provide what many people want today: human scale, mature trees, walkable streets, and community connection

Even unsuccessful preservation campaigns create lasting community connections and teach people about civic engagement

Legacy businesses are crucial to neighborhood identity and deserve recognition through programs like the NY State Historic Business Preservation Registry

Successful preservation examples include the Crown Heights North Historic Districts and East 25th Street in East Flatbush

The Waldorf Astoria's interior landmark designation shows how public engagement can influence preservation outcomes

Connections to Jersey City

Kelly draws parallels between Jersey City and Brooklyn through their:

Industrial waterfront history

Immigration patterns

Mom-and-pop businesses

Historic infrastructure

Religious and ethnic institutions

Abandoned railroad infrastructure

Hand-painted street signs and other "hidden treasures"

Related Resources

Historic Districts Council (NYC): historicdistricts.org

Crown Heights North Association: crownheightsnorth.org

Preserving East New York: preservingeastnewyork.org

NY State Historic Business Preservation Registry: parks.ny.gov/historic-preservation/business-registry

Atlantic Avenue BID: atlanticavebid.org

Explore Further

On my Substack, I'll be sharing articles on "Jersey City's Historic Businesses" and "Hidden Art Deco Treasures of Jersey City" inspired by my conversation with Kelly. I've already begun exploring this theme through a painting of a local historic storefront, connecting our conversation about preservation to the visual documentation of Jersey City's commercial heritage.

Coming Up Next

Join me for a conversation with artist and activist Jin Jung, whose ceramic plaques throughout Jersey City honor forgotten histories and tell powerful stories of people and places that shaped our community.

Music: Our theme music is "How You Amaze Me," composed by Jim Kalbach and performed by Jim Kalbach, Bryan Beninghove, Charlie Siegler, and Pat Van Dyke.