Introducing a New Resource: The Not Just Bikes + Strong Towns Discussion Guides

Do you want the Strong Towns movement to go viral in your community? Not Just Bikes can help.

Top Story, TrendingJohn PattisonApril 6, 2023Not Just Bikes, local conversations, how to, advocacy

History Teacher Steps Up and Starts the Conversation for Change in Bloomington, Illinois

Local Conversation leader Noah Tang appeared on the radio to talk about how his group, the Bloomington Revivalists, are making positive changes for housing in their community.

Incremental Housing, Success Story, Top Story, Community StoriesSeairra SheppardFebruary 21, 2023community, local conversations, Illinois, success, success stories, accessory dwelling units, ADUs, Incremental Housing, advocacy

Vermont Activists Help Abolish Parking Minimums in Burlington

The group Vermonters for People-Oriented Places just launched this year, but they’re already off to a fast start in Burlington, VT, where they’re supporting important changes for the community.

End Parking Mandates, Success Story, Top Story, Community StoriesJohn PattisonFebruary 13, 2023Parking, parking minimums, parking, End Parking Mandates and Subsidies, Vermont, community, local conversations, Community, success, success stories

Top of the Bottom-Up: Building Gentle Density and a Grassroots Campaign for City Council

Ashley Salvador is a housing advocate and city councilor in Edmonton, Alberta.

Podcast, The Bottom-Up Revolution, Planning Profession, Housing, Success Story, Top Story, Incremental HousingStrong TownsDecember 1, 2022The Bottom-Up Revolution, local conversations, taking action, city council, accessory dwelling units, ADUs, Incremental Housing, success, success stories

A Flowering Movement in Rose City

Strong Towns member Victoria Via talks about how advocates of many different personal and professional backgrounds are coming together in Portland, OR.

Membership, Pattison, Top Story, Community StoriesJohn PattisonNovember 17, 2022member drive, membership, local conversations

This Is How the Strong Towns Movement Becomes “Unignorable”

Chuck Marohn and Strong Towns Community Builder John Pattison chat about the Local Conversations program and how it’s helping members of this movement come together to do great things.

Membership, Podcast, Top StoryJohn PattisonNovember 16, 2022membership, member drive, Podcast, podcast, local conversations

From Fired to Fired Up: How One Strong Towns Member Turned Losing His Job Into Community Success

When Strong Towns member John Holmes was fired for speaking against harmful development practices, he didn’t let that stop him. Working with other advocates, he’s paving the way to success for Charlotte, NC!

Pattison, Membership, Success Story, Top Story, Community StoriesJohn PattisonNovember 16, 2022North Carolina, local conversations, membership, member drive, success, success stories

A Million Local Heroes and a Thousand Local Conversations

The people in our Local Conversations are doing amazing work in their communities—and it’s all thanks to the support of Strong Towns members.

Membership, Pattison, Top StoryJohn PattisonNovember 15, 2022membership, member drive, local conversations

The Bottom-Up Revolution Is…Speaking Up to Build Strong Towns

Norm Van Eeden Petersman is the new member advocate at Strong Towns, as well as the leader of a Local Conversation group in Delta, BC.

Podcast, The Bottom-Up Revolution, Top Story, Success Story, Membership, Member Profiles, Van Eeden PetersmanStrong TownsSeptember 15, 2022Podcast, local conversations, Canada

6 Tips for Hosting Your First Local Conversation

Want to get together with your neighbors to talk about Strong Towns ideas? Here’s some tips on getting started.

Community, Pattison, Top StoryJohn PattisonSeptember 7, 2022local conversations, community, Community

Local Leaders, Come Join Us on Discord

Strong Towns Local Conversation leaders are hanging out on Discord!

Announcement, Pattison, Top StoryJohn PattisonAugust 24, 2022announcement, local conversations

Strong Towns Coast to Coast

Being a Strong Towns advocate is less intimidating, more effective, and, frankly, more fun when you’re not doing the work alone. Find a Local Conversation near you!

Pattison, Top StoryJohn PattisonAugust 17, 2022local conversations, advocacy, community building

Why I Started Reading the Local Newspaper

Sometimes, it’s worth it to take a step back from national news and pay attention to the things that are happening in your own community.

Community, Pattison, Top StoryJohn PattisonJuly 20, 2022local conversations, politics, localism, local government, Small Towns, small towns, Oregon, community, Community

New Strong Towns Groups Are Popping Up Everywhere

Five local Strong Towns groups launched last week. Is one of them near you?

Pattison, Community, Top StoryJohn PattisonJune 29, 2022community, community building, community engagement, local conversations, advocacy

How to Use Facebook to Connect with Strong Towns Allies Near You

Many people have a love-hate relationship with Facebook, but we can’t deny that it’s an effective place to connect with fellow advocates.

Community, Pattison, Top StoryJohn PattisonJune 15, 2022community, community building, advocacy, local conversations

Local Conversations Are Putting Strong Towns Ideas into Action

There are over 100 Local Conversations (i.e., local Strong Towns advocates working together) around North America. And we want to grow that number tenfold.

Community, Membership, Pattison, Top StoryJohn PattisonJune 8, 2022local conversations, advocacy, member drive, membership, community building

Want To Make Your Town Stronger? Look for the Amateurs.

We live in a culture that exalts the people who say, “I know.” But sometimes what our places need are people willing to say, “I don’t know,” and, “What do you think?” and, “Let’s figure that out together.”