The Bottom-Up Revolution is... a Strong Towns Advocate on her City Council

A passion for food access and community change led Kelly Rae Kirkpatrick to run for city council in her hometown of Rochester, MN.

Podcast, Taking Action, The Bottom-Up Revolution, Success Story, Local Government, Local Food, Top StoryStrong TownsFebruary 25, 2021The Bottom-Up Revolution, local food, local government, Rochester, Minnesota, Farming, taking action

The Bottom-Up Revolution is... Growing Food, Growing Resilience

Alfred Melbourne sees farming as a chance to bring back land into productive use, feed neighbors and help guide young people down a supportive path.

Podcast, Taking Action, The Bottom-Up Revolution, Success Story, Top StoryStrong TownsFebruary 18, 2021The Bottom-Up Revolution, local food, Farming, taking action

The Bottom-Up Revolution is... Moving Past the Two-Party System

To build Strong Towns, our communities will need to push past the Red/Blue dichotomy.

Podcast, Taking Action, The Bottom-Up Revolution, Local Government, Top StoryStrong TownsFebruary 4, 2021The Bottom-Up Revolution, politics, taking action

Why Communities Struggle to Get Things Done: How to Keep the Throttle Down

One of the biggest barriers to implementation—in business, community, and nearly everywhere—is not understanding how to manage change. These strategies will help.

Studer, Taking Action, Top Story 2, Top StoryQuint StuderJanuary 29, 2021Quint Studer, leadership, Pensacola, taking action

The Bottom-Up Revolution is... Stepping Up to Run for Public Office

How do you go from seeing a problem in your city to solving it collectively, and then getting elected to city council? This advocate’s story will show you.

Podcast, Taking Action, The Bottom-Up Revolution, Success Story, Local Government, #SlowtheCars, Top StoryStrong TownsJanuary 28, 2021The Bottom-Up Revolution, California, city council, Safe Routes to Schools, schools, taking action

The Bottom-Up Revolution is... Using Art and Stories to Strengthen Your City

What happens when you open your eyes to the stories around you? How does that change the way you see your community?

Podcast, Taking Action, The Bottom-Up Revolution, Success Story, Public Art, Neighborhoods, Top StoryStrong TownsJanuary 21, 2021The Bottom-Up Revolution, South Bend, photos, arts, taking action

If we want to make things better, we’ll have to do it ourselves.

The only way to fix what is broken is from the bottom up, starting with a covenant between each other.

Marohn, Taking Action, Top StoryCharles MarohnJanuary 18, 20212020 election, #blacklivesmatter, taking action, localism

The Bottom-Up Revolution is... Helping Young People Prepare for the Future

How one Strong Towns member is building a stronger future for youth, and a stronger local economy, all at the same time.

Podcast, Taking Action, The Bottom-Up Revolution, Success Story, Member Post, Top StoryStrong TownsJanuary 14, 2021The Bottom-Up Revolution, education, member story, taking action

Introducing the Strong Towns Action Lab

The next step in our commitment to provide you the tools and resources you need to take action in your community.

Taking Action, Action Lab, Top StoryCharles MarohnJanuary 11, 2021Action Lab, taking action

The Bottom-Up Revolution is... Uniting Advocates to Build Strong Towns

Cary Westerbeck brought his neighbors together to collectively build a stronger town.

Podcast, Taking Action, The Bottom-Up Revolution, Success Story, Neighborhoods, Member Post, Top StoryStrong TownsJanuary 7, 2021The Bottom-Up Revolution, community, local conversations, member story, taking action

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.

Podcast, Taking Action, The Bottom-Up Revolution, Success Story, Local Government, #DotheMath, #StrongCitizens, Top Story, Member PostStrong TownsDecember 17, 2020The Bottom-Up Revolution, member story, taking action

The Bottom-Up Revolution is... Empowering Churches to Connect with Their Neighborhoods

Here’s why everyone benefits when faith communities connect their mission and story to their physical place in the neighborhood.

Podcast, Taking Action, The Bottom-Up Revolution, Success Story, Walkability, Neighborhoods, Top Story, Member Post, FaithStrong TownsDecember 10, 2020The Bottom-Up Revolution, churches, proxi, member story, Faith Featured, taking action

The Bottom-Up Revolution is... Working Together to Make a Street for People

How one urban advocate helped transform a downtown street into a pedestrian-friendly public space— plus tips for how you can do the same in your own city.

Podcast, Taking Action, The Bottom-Up Revolution, Success Story, Walkability, Top Story, Roads and StreetsStrong TownsDecember 3, 2020The Bottom-Up Revolution, streets, open streets, Canada, local business, downtown, taking action

Detroiters Push for Parking Reform in the Heart of Motown

Downtown Detroit has more parking today than any time in the city’s history—despite the city’s population being less than half what it once was. Now, a group of Detroiters are pushing for commonsense parking reform that can help put the Motor City back on the road to recovery.

Parking, Taking Action, Top StoryFrancis GrunowNovember 27, 2020Parking, Parking Reform Network, Detroit, taking action

The Bottom-Up Revolution is... Teaching Young People to Think Resiliently

High school students are learning about Strong Towns concepts at an innovative program in Atlanta.

Top Story, Podcast, Taking Action, The Bottom-Up Revolution, Success Story, SchoolsStrong TownsNovember 19, 2020The Bottom-Up Revolution, education, children, affordable housing, taking action

Who's Subsidizing Who?

In a community dismissed as the “ghetto,” residents are doing the math on public investments — and finding surprises — then empowering residents to build a stronger future.

Success Story, Member Profiles, Taking Action, Top StoryRachel QuednauNovember 17, 2020member drive, neighborhoods first, member story, taking action

A Time for Local Action

In a world of political polarization and paralyzed governance, Strong Towns advocates are out there getting stuff done. And we have the data to prove it.

Membership, Taking Action, Top StoryCharles MarohnNovember 16, 2020member drive, taking action

The Bottom-Up Revolution is... a Dedicated Leader Creating a Community Gathering Space

How one community leader is giving back to his community by creating an indoor market and food hall.

Top Story, Podcast, Taking Action, The Bottom-Up Revolution, Success StoryStrong TownsNovember 12, 2020The Bottom-Up Revolution, small business, taking action

Parking minimums are costing your city. For a way forward, look to Edmonton.

The story of how Edmonton, a sprawling prairie city, became the first major Canadian city to end parking minimums—and what the rest of us can learn from its example.