Unsung Heroes

The people behind-the-scenes who really make the Strong Towns movement go.

Organizational Updates, Top StoryJohn PattisonDecember 18, 2020

In Memory of Tommy Pacello

Tommy Pacello made me love Memphis. Even more powerfully, he helped me forgive the failures of my own struggling community and to love it even more.

Marohn, Top StoryCharles MarohnDecember 18, 2020Memphis

The Bottom-Up Revolution is... Bridging Divides Between Neighbors and Government

This Strong Towns member is helping her neighbors understand what’s going on in local government and get their voices heard.

Best of 2020: The Local Case for Reparations

There is nothing stopping local leaders from addressing their community’s legacy of racial injustice. Here is a credible plan for getting started.

Kansas City, Marohn, Race, Top Story, Top Story 2Charles MarohnDecember 17, 2020race, Kansas City, kcmo2020, kcmo6

Best of 2020: An Ordinary Intersection

An accidental photo essay courtesy of Street View provides us a look at the appallingly low standard for what we expect people who walk in suburbia to put up with.

Lo mejor de 2020: Una intersección ordinaria

Un ensayo fotográfico accidental, cortesía de Street View, nos proporciona una mirada al nivel espantosamente bajo de lo que esperamos que aguanten las personas que caminan por los suburbios.

"Will Cities Survive 2020?"

In 2020, towns and cities were tested in profound ways by a global pandemic and social unrest. What effect will it have on communities going forward?

Podcast, Upzoned, Coronavirus, Top StoryStrong TownsDecember 16, 2020coronavirus, cities, Podcast, Upzoned

Best of 2020: Edmonton Becomes a Model for Parking Reform

This year, Edmonton, Alberta became Canada’s first major city to end parking minimums. We were inspired not only by what they did but by how they did it.

Best of Blog, Parking, Top Story 2, Top StoryStrong TownsDecember 16, 2020Best of 2020, edmonton, parking minimums, Parking

Best of 2020: We Don't Live in a World of Cartoon Villains

Basically decent people can support or enable things you find self-evidently bad. It’s easy to caricature them—it’s much harder to truly do the work of seeking to understand.

Politics, Herriges, Best of Blog, Top StoryDaniel HerrigesDecember 16, 2020politics, 2020 election, humility, conversation, Best of 2020

Best of 2020: Building Strong Local Economies (without Cheesecake Factory)

If we want a Strong Town, we must stop tilting the playing field against the small businesses, against the local entrepreneur.

Best of 2020: How Sharing Food Can Strengthen Communities

Eating together can subvert partisanship, restore trust, and build stronger cities.

Community, Best of Blog, Top StoryHilary DumitrescuDecember 15, 2020local food, community, Best of 2020

Best of 2020: Our Top 3 Webcasts

How local leaders should respond to the pandemic, the movement to end parking minimums, and the power of incremental development. Here are replays of our top webcasts of 2020.

Best of 2020: Walkable Towns

Rural places can be walkable. But we shouldn’t have to go on vacation to find a walkable town.

Best of Blog, Top StoryDaniel HerrigesDecember 15, 2020rural, walkability, Best of 2020

Best of 2020: A Temporary Street Redesign in Lawrence

This college town took steps to increase outside space for retail and dining. But the work didn’t stop there: Lawrence continued to learn and adapt.

John Pattison: From Slow Food to Slow Church

How churches are pushing back against the “cult of speed” and working with neighbors to weave a fabric of care in their communities.

Faith, Podcast, Top StoryStrong TownsDecember 14, 2020Slow Food, Slow Church, Podcast, faith communities

The Best Books I Read in 2020

I considered breaking a multi-year tradition and not releasing a top book list this year. But then I looked back and realized how many great books I had actually read in this crazy year…

Marohn, Top StoryCharles MarohnDecember 14, 2020books

Best of 2020: Street Vendors Are Vital Local Businesses. Cities Need to Do More to Support Them.

Extend the "open streets" and sidewalk dining revolution to include a fair shake for the smallest of small entrepreneurs.

Herriges, Local Food, Best of Blog, Top StoryDaniel HerrigesDecember 11, 2020Food Week, local food, California, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Best of 2020

Best of 2020: 9 Things Local Government Needs to Do Right Now in Response to the Pandemic

Here are the immediate steps every community should be taking to respond to the pandemic.

Marohn, Best of Blog, Coronavirus, Top StoryCharles MarohnDecember 11, 2020coronavirus, local government, city government, Best of 2020

Best of 2020: Our Favorite Podcasts

The myth of capitalism, social alienation and the rise of populism, a young entrepreneur creating opportunities for other entrepreneurs, and more. Here are 7 of our favorite podcasts of 2020.