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Local Conversations

Local Conversations

The latest ideas, insights and action from Strong Towns Local Conversations.

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Local Advocates Just Drove Bloomington's Biggest Housing Breakthrough in 10 Years

Bloomington, Illinois, just passed major housing reforms. Here's how local advocates made it happen.

Housing
Local Conversations
Local Advocates Just Drove Bloomington's Biggest Housing Breakthrough in 10 Years
Want Healthy Kids and Supportive Communities? Start With a Block Party.

Kids need free play, parents need support, and communities need connection. Expert Vanessa Elias explains how a simple block party can deliver all three.

Local Conversations
Want Healthy Kids and Supportive Communities? Start With a Block Party.
Texas Advocates Use Data to Win Street Safety Upgrades for Students

Advocates in Cedar Park, Texas, used publicly available crash data to drive major safety improvements near their schools.

Streets
Local Conversations
Texas Advocates Use Data to Win Street Safety Upgrades for Students
How One California City Teamed Up With Residents To Stop Speeding

The city of Artesia, California, has been struggling with a speeding problem. Instead of just blaming drivers, city staff teamed up with local advocates to address the root problem: the street design.

Streets
Local Conversations
How One California City Teamed Up With Residents To Stop Speeding
Portland Advocates Defend Life-Saving Street Design — and Win a Pause

A 66% decrease in crashes wasn’t enough to protect these traffic diverters, but the unified efforts of local advocacy groups and city officials might be.

Streets
Local Conversations
Portland Advocates Defend Life-Saving Street Design — and Win a Pause
Why This Canadian City Said Goodbye to Parking Mandates (And How It Really Happened)

How a passionate group of locals cracked Nanaimo’s stubborn parking rules—and unlocked new possibilities for housing and community.

Parking
Local Conversations
Why This Canadian City Said Goodbye to Parking Mandates (And How It Really Happened)
Forget Megaprojects—This Teacher Has a Better Way to Fix Cities

What if fixing your city didn’t require a billion-dollar plan—just a neighbor with a shovel and a bold idea? In Bloomington, a high school teacher is quietly leading a local revolution, one small step at a time.

Local Conversations
Forget Megaprojects—This Teacher Has a Better Way to Fix Cities