Student Journalist Goes "All Out" to Spotlight Car Dependency and Spark Change
When student journalist William Donofrio set out to write about car dependency for his high school publication, he didn’t just explore the topic casually. As he put it himself, he “went all out on this.” And it shows.
In his article, “Narrow Path to Safety: Car Dependency Threatens Individuals,” William explores the wide-ranging impact of car dependency on individuals and communities. He shares stories, includes data, and raises powerful questions about the kinds of places we have built and how we might begin to build better ones. The work is thoughtful, determined, and filled with urgency.
What William has done matters. There is so much value in simply noticing what is happening in our communities. It matters to identify where the system is failing, who is being left out, and what dangers have become routine. There is even more value in documenting these things with care and clarity and then sharing them with others in hopes of creating change. That is the kind of journalism that serves the public good. That is citizen leadership in action.
William’s work brings to mind others across the Strong Towns movement who are doing the same thing. They are noticing, documenting, and sharing.
It reminds me of Danny Wind (they/them), a slightly older and more seasoned community advocate who used Google My Maps to chart unsafe pedestrian environments in their city. Their story is featured in this Bottom-Up Shorts interview. Danny did not wait for permission or a formal title. They simply started mapping and created clarity for others.
William's story also recalls the remarkable students at Del Campo High School in California. They formed a club to conduct a Crash Analysis Studio near their campus. These students gathered data on dangerous intersections, created detailed presentations, and then invited their mayor, a city council member, a traffic engineer, and the police chief to attend. These young people were not just making noise. They were leading real conversations about the safety of their community. Because they were students and not just another adult voice at the microphone, people listened. And what they said mattered.
This work also echoes the efforts of Zach Staggs in El Paso, Texas. Zach documented the lack of long-term results from short-term, high-profile speed traps. His research showed that flashy enforcement campaigns might get attention but rarely deliver meaningful change. That kind of focused local observation helps shift the narrative and creates room for better solutions.
William is part of a growing group of changemakers.
These stories remind us that you do not need a degree or a formal position to make a difference. What you need is to pay attention, be willing to dig in, and speak the truth. Journalism like William’s is a public service. It is the kind of action that helps us build Strong Towns. Not someday, but starting now and right where we are.
As we head into summer, there is no better time to take a walk through your neighborhood, see your community with fresh eyes, and ask the questions that matter. And if you believe in the kind of bottom-up leadership that William and so many others are modeling, we invite you to become a Strong Towns member today. Your support strengthens a movement of people taking action, and we would love to welcome you into it.
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