In contemporary planning practice, much attention gravitates toward large institution-led initiatives, major events, and high-profile urban transformations. Yet UQ|UP’s Dorina Pojani also emphasises the importance of grassroots engagement — the domain where citizens’ creativity, agency, and lived experience most visibly shape urban life. This commitment was evident during her recent participation in an event hosted by the Third Space Collective, an emerging group of young urban enthusiasts dedicated to building a grassroots movement for public space activation in Tirana. Dorina was invited as the evening’s guest speaker and delivered a talk on one of her long-standing research interests: the gendered use of public and private space and sphere. The event drew a lively and engaged audience. Participants contributed personal experiences, raised critical questions, and reflected collectively on how Tirana’s rapidly transforming urban landscape can become more inclusive. Among the attendees was Michele Ribotta from United Nations Women, whose presence underscored the growing alignment between grassroots activism and international gender-equity agendas.