Oftentimes, people in rural settings drive long distances to bigger towns to find community engagement. This renovated soda fountain shop shows why it’s worth looking for that sense of community a little closer to home.

Public Space, Community, Top Story, Community StoriesSeairra SheppardMarch 30, 2023Wyoming, rural, Small Towns, small towns, community, Third Places, restaurants, coffee shops, public space

Advocates Across The State Convene to Un-stroad Louisiana

Strong Towns advocates in Shreveport, New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and Lafayette are coming together to work for safer streets.

Community, Safe & Productive Streets, Top Story, Community StoriesAsia MieleszkoMarch 13, 2023transportation, Louisiana, Shreveport, STROADS

Houstonians Deceived and Displaced

TxDOT is pushing a controversial highway expansion that would displace thousands of residents and destroy hundreds of businesses, churches and homes.

End Highway Expansion, Community, Top StoryAsia MieleszkoMarch 8, 2023transportation, DOT, Houston, Texas, highways

Beware the Impersonal City

The increasing presence of technology in our third places poses a challenge to collective life and collective action.

Community, Owens, Top StoryTiffany Owens ReedJanuary 31, 2023Third Places, community, Community

Top of the Bottom-Up: Building Family and Community Resilience

On a homestead in rural Wisconsin, Lauren Fisher is dedicated to growing her own food and connecting with her neighbors.

Podcast, Taking Action, The Bottom-Up Revolution, Local Food, Community, Fisher, Top StoryStrong TownsDecember 15, 2022The Bottom-Up Revolution, local food, taking action

Not a Stranger, Not a Friend: The Second-Ring Relationships Our Cities Need More Of

Relationships with neighbors once made up an important part of our social fabric, forming the basis for civic collaboration and local problem solving. Here’s how we can get those relationships back.

Community, Owens, Top StoryTiffany Owens ReedDecember 6, 2022community, Community, public space, neighborliness, Texas, coffee shops

Mere's Magic Universe and Tea

This week, our Neighborhood Storyteller connects with a new community and its residents through exploring downtown and some local businesses.

Neighborhood Storyteller, Theilen, Community, Top StoryKarla TheilenNovember 13, 2022neighborhood storyteller, downtown, local business, community, localism, montana

Fortunes and Found Things

This week, our Neighborhood Storyteller reflects on the joy of finding pleasant surprises in unexpected places—including in one’s community.

Neighborhood Storyteller, Theilen, Top Story, CommunityKarla TheilenNovember 6, 2022neighborhood storyteller, community

The Block Party

This Sunday, a Strong Towns member invites our Neighborhood Storyteller to see how his neighborhood alliance is building community…with a block party!

Neighborhood Storyteller, Theilen, Community, Neighborhoods, Top StoryKarla TheilenSeptember 11, 2022neighborhood storyteller, montana, neighborhood, neighborhood association, community, community development, community engagement

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

Want to Build Community on Your Street? Just Hit "Print"!

Sometimes, building connections with your neighbors is as simple as hosting a block party.

Community, Neighborhoods, Van Eeden Petersman, Top StoryNorman Van Eeden PetersmanAugust 22, 2022neighborliness, neighborhood, community, Community, community building

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

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.