Burned Into Memory: Community Building in a Remote Fire Tower?

This week, our Neighborhood Storyteller gets an unexpected—and delighted—visitor at her fire lookout tower.

Neighborhood Storyteller, Theilen, Community, Top StoryKarla TheilenJuly 26, 2022neighborhood storyteller, community, children, montana

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

Community Is Important. But “The Community” Is an Illusion.

You should be wary of anyone who claims to speak for “the community” or “the public,” especially when it’s in lieu of telling you who will benefit from the actions they support.

Local Government, Herriges, Top StoryDaniel HerrigesJuly 20, 2022community, politics, local government, city government, state government, localism, NIMBY, YIMBY, local politics

Our Year Without a Car (With Kids)

It’s not easy to live without a car when you have young children, but it’s certainly possible. Plus, having to walk can help you build unexpected connections with your community.

Public Transit, Walkability, Community, Top StoryGrace OlmsteadJuly 19, 2022walkability, Europe, Gracy Olmstead, children, bus, buses, public transit, community, Community

Keeping Tabs on the Community Bulletin Board

This week, our Neighborhood Storyteller reflects on ways she stays connected—at least in spirit—with her community, even when she’s physically far away.

Neighborhood Storyteller, Theilen, Community, Top StoryKarla TheilenJuly 19, 2022neighborhood storyteller, community, neighborhood, children, pets, radio

A Different Kind of Neighborhood

This week, our Neighborhood Storyteller has set out to rejoin an old community of hers—one suspended in towers 8,000 feet above sea level.

Neighborhood Storyteller, Theilen, Community, Top StoryKarla TheilenJuly 5, 2022neighborhood storyteller, community, wildfires, montana, neighborhood

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

Inside Eden Center: What a Strip Mall Can Be

We’ve explored the outside of Fairfax County’s Eden Center before, but what does the inside of this surprisingly fine-grained strip mall look like?

#ChaoticButSmart, Public Space, Top StoryAddison Del MastroJune 27, 2022fine-grained, urbanism, strip malls, Virginia, immigrants, community, Community, shared space, business, small business, local business, Chaotic but Smart, Addison Del Mastro

Walking America: Bridgeport to New Haven

From Housatonic Community College to Yale: The story of a 20-mile walk along I-95.

Walkability, Top StoryChris ArnadeJune 24, 2022walkability, Connecticut, community, Community, neighborhood, Neighborhoods, poor neighborhoods, poverty, Poverty, suburban poverty, schools

A Flooded River Versus a Flood of Volunteers

This week, our Neighborhood Storyteller reminisces about how her community came together during a time of impending disaster.

Neighborhood Storyteller, Theilen, Community, Top StoryKarla TheilenJune 21, 2022neighborhood storyteller, community, neighborliness, neighborhood, Iowa, flooding, disasters, natural disasters

Majora Carter: Reclaiming Your Community

In this interview with author Majora Carter, she explains an empowering truth: that you don’t have to move out of your neighborhood to live in a better one.

Podcast, Marohn, ST Podcast, Top Story, NeighborhoodsStrong TownsJune 20, 2022Podcast, podcast, books, neighborhood, Neighborhoods, neighborhood change, neighborhood revitalization, New York, community, Community

The Bottom-Up Revolution Is...Community Design for Stronger Towns

Ann Zadeh is a Strong Towns member, former city councilwoman, and community design leader in Fort Worth, TX.

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

A Return to the Old Country

This week, our Neighborhood Storyteller turns to friends for support during a canine emergency.

Neighborhood Storyteller, Theilen, Community, Top StoryKarla TheilenJune 14, 2022neighborhood storyteller, community, neighborliness, neighborhood, pets

Laundromat Urbanism

A simple laundromat offers an unexpected reminder of the role urban design has to play in making us feel more connected with the people around us.

Community, Top StoryArian HorbovetzJune 13, 2022Social Isolation, urbanism, community, community site, public space, local business, New York State

Same Story, Different Eyes to See It

Of course, history has a way of repeating itself, but what’s always changing are the eyes we look through and the way our neighbors see us.

Neighborhood Storyteller, Theilen, Top StoryKarla TheilenMay 31, 2022neighborhood storyteller, community, walkability, neighborliness, retail

“I Want To Make a Change in My Community…but Where Do I Start?”

Sometimes it can be daunting for advocates to begin…well, actually advocating. Here’s a simple, 4-step process that can help you overcome that first hurdle toward making your place stronger.

Pattison, Top StoryJohn PattisonMay 26, 2022taking action, how to, community, Community, advocacy, Strong Towns Academy, Local-Motive Tour

Strong Towns Need Strong Downtowns

A crucial part of making your city or town stronger lies in revitalizing your downtown. Here’s how one Local Conversation organizer is doing that work in her place.

#StrongCitizens, Community, Pattison, Top StoryJohn PattisonMay 18, 2022advocacy, main street, Traditional Main Street, Small Towns, small towns, Louisiana, community, Community, local economy, downtown

Let’s Roll Up Our Sleeves To Rebuild Our Social Fabric

Civic culture needs innovating, and it might just take some hard work. Literally.

Community, Top Story, OwensTiffany Owens ReedMay 10, 2022community, community building, neighborliness, Social Isolation, social change

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.”

Community, Pattison, Top StoryJohn PattisonMay 4, 2022community, Community, local conversations, localism, community building

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