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Let’s Talk Newspapers, Rural Small Town Ones
Hometown newspapers are small businesses, just like the hardware store, the café, and the auto repair shop. Erin in El Reno pointed out that I mentioned newspapers four times in my book, which tells you how important I think they are. They are not just “media.” They are employers, sponsors, storytellers, and neighbors. Press Releases…
Read MoreWhat is a local neighborhood revolution and why do you want one?
The Local Revolution: How You Can Save Your Small Town Natchez is kicking off a Neighborhood Revolution, and you’re invited to be part of it—and to imagine bringing this same energy back home to your town On Saturday, February 21, I’ll be in Natchez, Mississippi, for a full day of hands-on, street-level community building hosted…
Read MoreWorking with SaveYour.Town: Resources and support for your small town journey
My co-founder Becky McCray and I are streamlining our work this year, so this feels like a good time to share how you can work with us at SaveYour.Town. Start by exploring what’s possible in your community. Becky and I have been doing this work together for 10 years now. We’ve learned what works and…
Read MoreThe Burney Book Club
The poster said: The Chamber has partnered with Shasta EDC, Intermountain community members, and business owners to initiate positive action in our community. If you are invested in the Intermountain community and want to be part of the solution, please join us. You don’t need a lot of money. You don’t need to be an…
Read MoreConnect people to people for innovation
Connecting people to each other to find more innovation is a great idea to develop sustainable entrepreneurship in our rural communities. Why do we need innovation? Innovation matters for entrepreneurs because it’s the spark that sets their business apart and keeps it moving forward. Innovation helps entrepreneurs spot gaps and unmet needs in their community or…
Read MoreI love a good tour – Indie Bookshops, Paper Trail, empty buildings and more
Stacy Moore, Tourism Director, in Shawnee, Oklahoma, told me about three of her Iowa friends and the tour they took. They participated in the Iowa Indie Bookshop Tour! Three Iowa Friends out on a magnificent road trip! Becky, Kayla, and Tammie visited all 45 shops. Becky said, “(We) completed the 45 stops on the Iowa Indie Bookshop Tour!!…
Read More2024 – an absolute whirlwind of adventures, ideas, and community building goodness
Phew! What a year it’s been. From small towns to big ideas, 2024 has shown me once again that the heart of community development lies in the passion and creativity of people like you. Chatsworth, Georgia: Where Empty Buildings Come to Life We kicked off the year in Chatsworth, Georgia, where the Chamber of Commerce…
Read MoreUse Your Empty Lots
Porterdale, Georgia had a huge community center and gymnasium that was 12,000 square feet. It was built in 1939, and designed by Ellamae Ellis League That’s right, a woman designed the original building. Almost unheard of. It burned down in 2005, and the cause of the fire was never found. It was located downtown and…
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