One of the most powerful things you can do as a strong citizen is to participate in public comment and share appreciation for the things you love about your city. Here’s why.
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Advocacy work means a lot of waiting and hoping for a better future. That makes it a lot like Advent (the weeks before Christmas on the Christian calendar). But waiting during Advent isn’t discouraging or boring: It’s hopeful, active and joyful. Here are a few ways to bring that approach to your community, whether you celebrate Christmas or not.
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Children need the option to participate in the outside world, not just to fear it. Here's how Tiffany Owens Reed is carving out space for her son.
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Starbucks built its brand on being a third place — a communal hangout that fosters communication and conversation — but in recent years, its priorities have shifted to speed of service. Now, instead of returning to its roots, the corporation is trying to redefine what a third place is.
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When residents ask why they should allow more housing in their neighborhood, advocates often default to altruism, suggesting that an influx of people will have negative effects but that giving them a place to live is still the right thing to do. But there are a myriad of ways that an increased population can improve your quality of life. Here are some of them.
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North America is facing two widespread crises at the same time: housing and loneliness. This group is proving that cohousing might be the solution to both.
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Social media tells us that snarky, callous remarks get the most attention and have the biggest impact. But when Tristan Cleveland sat down for a real conversation with his opponents, he realized that urbanists must approach people with empathy and understanding. That's the only way to change minds and create real change.
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It’s natural to feel grief when local officials ignore calls to make your city a stronger and safer place. But while the grief is real, the changes your advocacy inspires are real too.
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With regular repetition, community cleanups build something that’s lasting: a sense of commitment, pride, and place attachment.
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This Netflix documentary about regions of the world with higher-than-average life expectancies holds some key insights for anyone who wants to see North American cities become thriving, healthy places for people.
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Winter can be an isolating time, but here’s one easy, fun way to keep your community together during the year’s colder months!
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Teenagers are a sadly overlooked asset group in our communities. Reimagining the future of our communities with them in mind is a simple but powerful way to position our cities for long-term success.
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Dustin LaFont is the executive director of Front Yard Bikes, a youth workforce development program providing safe spaces for youth in Baton Rogue, LA, to learn bike mechanics and other skills.
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Our cities need more housing, but perhaps even more urgently, our neighborhoods need more neighbors.
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Halloween is about more than just candy and costumes: it can also represent something more about a neighborhood’s sense of community.
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Becoming resilient isn’t magic. It’s hard work that starts with knowing our neighbors.
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Cities should rethink how they do public engagement if it doesn’t come with a strong educational component.
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Have you ever joined a Jane’s Walk? Named for renowned urban thinker Jane Jacobs, this annual festival of free, citizen-led walking conversations takes place around the world every May. Here’s one Walk from Winnipeg, MB.
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For 45 years, this Denver organization has been seeding community, one garden at a time.
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Connecting with your neighbors is an important part of building a stronger town. Here are nine ways you can start forging those relationships, for free (or next to free)!
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