The Bottom-Up Revolution Is...Using Communicative Planning

Shelley Denison is a city planner in Sandy, OR, who views planning as a relationship between residents and leaders.

Podcast, The Bottom-Up Revolution, Success Story, Planning Profession, Top StoryStrong TownsMarch 3, 2022taking action, The Bottom-Up Revolution, missing middle, urban planning

"We Require WAY Too Much Parking"

This Strong Towns member saw a huge problem with the parking minimums in his city—and decided to do something about it.

The Bottom-Up Revolution Is...Building Bus Stop Benches

The Asheville Bench Project is a grassroots, “small-bet” approach to making Asheville a little more people-friendly.

Podcast, The Bottom-Up Revolution, Success Story, Top StoryStrong TownsFebruary 24, 2022taking action, The Bottom-Up Revolution, public transit, seating, bus

Building Your Engagement Ladder: Five Practices to Start Advocating for Resilience

Becoming an advocate for creating stronger towns can be a tall order, but thankfully we can build ladders. Here’s your guide on how to do so.

Member Post, Taking Action, Top Story, OwensTiffany Owens ReedFebruary 22, 2022taking action, advocacy, how to, strong towns approach

The Bottom-Up Revolution Is...Forming a Community Land Trust

Rebecca McQuillen and Rodger Kube are helping stabilize a neighborhood and create homeownership opportunities.

Podcast, The Bottom-Up Revolution, Success Story, Housing, Neighborhoods, Top StoryStrong TownsFebruary 17, 2022taking action, The Bottom-Up Revolution, Kansas City, neighborhood revitalization, housing affordability

The Bottom-Up Revolution Is...Turning a Historic Synagogue into a Community Cultural Center

Rabbi Donna Berman leads a community center serving neighbors in Hartford, CT.

Podcast, The Bottom-Up Revolution, Success Story, Faith, Neighborhoods, Top StoryStrong TownsFebruary 10, 2022taking action, The Bottom-Up Revolution, education, children, homelessness, revitalization

The Bottom-Up Revolution Is...Community Power Through Co-Ops

Strong Towns member De’Nita Wright is part of a cooperative organizing effort in Louisville, KY.

Podcast, The Bottom-Up Revolution, Success Story, Housing, Top StoryStrong TownsFebruary 3, 2022taking action, The Bottom-Up Revolution, cooperatives

Bake Sales for Crosswalks

Idahoan advocates had to get desperate to fund basic pedestrian safety features—all while the state DOT is budgeting $100 million to overhaul a single freeway interchange.

There’s No Parking Like Snow Parking

This Rhode Island community came together to advocate for parking improvements in their neighborhood—and it worked.

The Bottom-Up Revolution Is...a Neighborhood Person

Gracen Johnson is a dedicated Strong Towns member who’s connecting with her neighbors and working on housing issues in Canada.

Podcast, The Bottom-Up Revolution, Success Story, Housing, Neighborhoods, Top StoryStrong TownsJanuary 27, 2022taking action, The Bottom-Up Revolution, Canada, neighborhood revitalization

Little Worlds

What do fractals have to do with building strong towns? A lot more than you might assume.

Community, Pattison, Taking Action, Top StoryJohn PattisonJanuary 26, 2022small bets, strong towns approach, taking action, local conversations, community, Community

The Bottom-Up Revolution Is...Collaborating for Neighborhood Revitalization

Gregg Lombardi is helping unite resources, organizations, and legal strategies to support a Kansas City neighborhood.

Podcast, The Bottom-Up Revolution, Success Story, Housing, Neighborhoods, Top StoryStrong TownsJanuary 20, 2022The Bottom-Up Revolution, taking action, Kansas City, crime, neighborhood revitalization

Start With What You Know. Build on What You Have.

This simple, fun workshop will help your community discover just how many assets it has to work with.

Community, Pattison, Taking Action, Top StoryJohn PattisonJanuary 19, 2022community, Community, community building, bottom-up, how to, taking action

The Bottom-Up Revolution Is...an Interdisciplinary and Incremental Leader

Andrea Marr is an engineer, a Strong Towns member, and the mayor pro tem for Costa Mesa, CA.

Podcast, The Bottom-Up Revolution, Success Story, Engineering Profession, Local Government, Top StoryStrong TownsJanuary 13, 2022The Bottom-Up Revolution, taking action, California, engineering profession, city council

The Bottom-Up Revolution Is... Helping Rural Residents with Disabilities to Thrive

Billy Altom is an advocate and leader for rural residents with disabilities across the nation.

Podcast, The Bottom-Up Revolution, Success Story, Rural, Top StoryStrong TownsJanuary 6, 2022The Bottom-Up Revolution, taking action, disability, rural, success, success stories

Hartford Land Bank Invests in Human Infrastructure

Connecticut’s Hartford Land Bank isn’t just stewarding the rehabilitation of its community—it’s also bringing up the next generation of local small-scale developers.