Thank you, Alabama

I had a good pair of events this week in Birmingham with some people very enthused to help their communities become Strong Towns. It was really nice to be back in Alabama and I'm hoping for an opportunity to go back soon. In the meantime, here's what the schedule for sharing the Strong Towns message in person looks like for the next couple of months.

April 24-25 - Stevens Point, WI  - Half day training session, AICP Credits will be offered - Register Here
April 28 - Dallas, TX - Curbside Chat
April 30 - Dallas, TX - Member Appreciation Event (Strong Towns members should have received an email this week.)
May 13 - Fargo, ND - Curbside Chat
May 14 - Grand Forks, ND - Curbside Chat
May 19 - Hays, KS - Curbside Chat
May 21 - Lewiston, ME - Conference Keynote
June 17 - Boston, MA - Conference Keynote
June 18 - Denver, CO - Strong Towns on Tap
June 23 - Detroit, MI - Conference Panel
June 30 - Des Moines, IA - Conference Keynote

In case you missed it....

Featured
Burned Out and Backlogged: The Real Blockade in LA’s Post-Fire Recovery
Strong Towns
Burned Out and Backlogged: The Real Blockade in LA’s Post-Fire Recovery
Strong Towns

Los Angeles is desperate to rebuild after the wildfires that destroyed nearly 60,000 acres back in January. So why is it that 6 months later, not much has changed?

Strong Towns
This Is Local Leadership Without the Ego
Strong Towns
This Is Local Leadership Without the Ego
Strong Towns

Mark Hoppen is a former city manager who’s been strengthening communities for decades. He talks about why someone should pursue city management, what real priorities look like in that role, and how to lead with care and practicality.

Strong Towns
Building Strength and Connections in Pensacola, With Quint Studer
Strong Towns
Building Strength and Connections in Pensacola, With Quint Studer
Strong Towns

Chuck is joined by Quint Studer, the founder of the Center for Civic Engagement in Pensacola, Florida. They discuss Strong Towns’ involvement in Pensacola’s renewal and the Civic Leader Summit that will be held there in September.

Strong Towns
Is the City the Problem or the Solution?
Charles Marohn
Is the City the Problem or the Solution?
Charles Marohn

State preemption can remove obstacles, but it can’t build the local capacity that's required for lasting reform.

Charles Marohn
How To Make Your City Stronger With 4 Hours and a Shovel
Mya Riley
How To Make Your City Stronger With 4 Hours and a Shovel
Mya Riley

Advocates in Lynchburg, Virginia, are proving that you don't need an official task force to make your city stronger. You just need to care enough to show up.

Mya Riley
Are Walking Tours the Missing Piece in Local Planning?
Asia Mieleszko
Are Walking Tours the Missing Piece in Local Planning?
Asia Mieleszko

Charlottesville’s political wounds ran deep. Now, the city is turning to bikes, sidewalks, and street-level trust to chart a new course.

Asia Mieleszko
Beating the Loneliness Epidemic, One Step at a Time
Strong Towns
Beating the Loneliness Epidemic, One Step at a Time
Strong Towns

Adult friendships are difficult. A big part of that is our built environment, which often stifles social connection instead of supporting it. Kat Vellos is an author, facilitator, and connection coach who's working to change that.

Strong Towns
Chop or Adapt? 6 Ways To Fix Sidewalks Without Losing Urban Trees
Norm Van Eeden Petersman
Chop or Adapt? 6 Ways To Fix Sidewalks Without Losing Urban Trees
Norm Van Eeden Petersman

Here are six proven techniques that allow communities to preserve mature trees while restoring sidewalks to safe, walkable condition.

Norm Van Eeden Petersman
Why LA Is Still Struggling To Rebuild 6 Months After Wildfires
Strong Towns
Why LA Is Still Struggling To Rebuild 6 Months After Wildfires
Strong Towns

Six months after wildfires destroyed record-breaking swathes of LA, only a fraction of homeowners have received permits to rebuild, let alone started construction. Chuck and Edward talk about why state attempts to encourage quick rebuilding failed.

Strong Towns
15 Years Later, the Bottom-Up Approach Is Still Active on Broad Avenue
Strong Towns
15 Years Later, the Bottom-Up Approach Is Still Active on Broad Avenue
Strong Towns

In 2010, this community in Memphis, Tennessee, showed how resident-led, city-backed change can transform a place. That pattern is still playing out today.

Strong Towns
Charles Marohn