Join Rachel Quednau and John Reuter in this pre-recorded tour stop, available only to roundtrip ticket holders.

We all know at least one NIMBY (Not in my Backyard people): It’s the lady who jumps into a local facebook group when a small apartment building is being proposed and insists that such a development will “harm the character of our neighborhood.” It’s the guy who complains that bike lanes have eliminated crucial parking spots and now he’s forced to walk an extra block when he visits his favorite sandwich shop.

It might feel easier to just dismiss these folks and hope they pipe down, but if we’re going to build strong towns, we need everyone on board! In this presentation, you’ll learn about how to find common ground and push through challenging barriers to get stuff done. And you’ll hear from a local leader who has experience bringing together all sorts of people to accomplish important community goals.

Note: This event is pre-recorded and only available to roundtrip ticket holders.

Rachel Quednau serves as Program Director managing the content team at Strong Towns, as well as hosting our Bottom-Up Revolution Podcast. Trained in dialogue facilitation and mediation, she is devoted to building understanding across lines of difference. Previously, Rachel worked for several organizations fighting to end homelessness and promote safe, affordable housing at the federal and local levels. Rachel also served as Content Manager for Strong Towns from 2015-2018. A native Minnesotan and honorary Wisconsinite, Rachel received a Masters in Religion, Ethics and Politics from Harvard Divinity School and a Certificate in Conflict Transformation from the Boston Theological Interreligious Consortium, both in 2020. She currently lives in Cambridge, MA with her husband Jack and two pet rabbits. One of her favorite ways to get to know a new city is by going for a run in it.

John Reuter has spent his life working and living in the West. Born into a Greek sheep ranching family, he grew up in a small logging town in Oregon, went to school at the College of Idaho, and now lives in Seattle. While in college, he co-founded the Sandpoint Reader, a weekly arts and entertainment newspaper and later freelanced for regional and national publications, including the Washington Post. He continues to write a monthly column for the Spokane Inlander.

In 2007, he was appointed and then elected to be the youngest city council member in Sandpoint, Idaho’s history and then selected by his peers to be Council President. John currently serves on the Board of Strong Towns and is a Strong Towns Fellow. He's particularly drawn to the notion that economic development is a community endeavor not just belonging to the planners.