🗞️ Save Your Small Town With Deb Brown, Community Engagement Placemaking Job, Silverton Compass Master Plan, & more!
December 12, 2024 edition
EngagingCities shares outstanding work by our network of planners and changemakers, who actively involve their communities in creating better places and a brighter future.
💬 Do you have an interesting story, event, plan, or job to share? Interested in being a guest on our podcast? Email us at hello@engagingcities.org
🔥 Fireside Chat with Deb Brown
Grassroots Action: Save Your Small Town
Deb Brown is a self-proclaimed “small town enthusiast” and co-founder of Save Your Town. She emphasizes the importance of community-driven initiatives for change, and introduces her new book, “From Possibilities to Reality: Save Your Small Town” filled practical solutions for small town revitalization. (Make sure to check out the book review down below!)
Discover the “Idea Friendly Method”, developed with her associate Becky McCray, which encourages residents to take practical steps and build connections to accomplish their big ideas. Hear success stories from small towns across the U.S., insights on overcoming obstacles, engaging local governments, and harnessing community spirit to create brighter futures. Whether you're a local official, a community advocate, or just interested in grassroots projects, this episode is packed with valuable advice and real-world examples.
Key Takeaways
🤝 Collaboration: Building connections among residents is vital to implementing successful community projects.
💡 Idea-Friendly Method: Deb’s method encourages starting with a big idea and gathering community support to implement it effectively.
👂 Importance of Listening: City officials should actively listen to community members to understand their needs and ideas, ensuring better alignment with residents’ desires. City officials can also provide supportive resources rather than just funding sources.
🧒 Youth Involvement: Including young people in local governance can bring fresh perspectives and encourage lifelong civic engagement.
🎶 Live Music: Local initiatives, like open mic nights, foster community involvement and excitement.
📧 Communication Channels: Regular newsletters and updates from local governments can bridge the gap between officials and the community, enhancing transparency. Social media and technology can enhance community engagement and storytelling.
🏆 Small Wins Matter: Celebrating small successes in community projects can build momentum and encourage further participation.
📈 Continuous Learning: Communities should learn from each other’s successes and challenges, fostering a culture of collaboration and innovation.
“If you want to save your town, you can. You don't have to wait on somebody else to do it for you. Don't wait for the city to do it.”
Deb Brown
👀 Watch or listen to the Fireside Chat.
📧 Contact Deb Brown at deb@buildingpossibility.com or LinkedIn.
🌐 For more information visit saveyour.town or buildingpossibility.com.
📘 Featured Book
“From Possibilities to Reality: Save Your Small Town” by Deb Brown
As featured in our latest podcast episode, local Iowa author Deb Brown's new book "From Possibilities to Reality: Save Your Small Town" provides 78 uniquely do-able ideas to revitalize rural communities, drawing from Brown's extensive experience working with small towns nationwide.
"Every small town has hidden potential just waiting to be unlocked," says Brown. "This book is all about empowering local leaders and residents to see those possibilities and turn them into reality."
The book covers a wide range of topics crucial for small-town success, including:
Bringing people together through creative community events
Engaging youth and attracting young families
Using art as a driver of economic development
Breathing new life into empty buildings
Supporting local businesses and entrepreneurs
Effective promotion and marketing strategies
Innovative funding solutions
What sets this book apart is its practical, hands-on approach. Each chapter includes real-world examples, step-by-step instructions, and tips for overcoming common obstacles. Brown's writing style is conversational and encouraging, making complex revitalization concepts accessible to readers of all backgrounds.
"I've seen firsthand how even small changes can spark a transformation in a community," Brown adds. "My goal with this book is to give people the tools and confidence they need to take that first step."
"From Possibilities to Reality: Save Your Small Town" is available now at Brown’s website: www.buildingpossibility.com/buythebook.
📚 Plan Showcase
Get inspiration, explore trends, or gain insights by exploring our curated list of community-recommended or award-winning plans. Check out this example:
📒 Silverton Compass Master Plan: The Silverton Compass Master Plan serves as a comprehensive guide for the Town of Silverton’s growth and development over the next decade. Rooted in an extensive community engagement process, this plan articulates a vision for a resilient, year-round economy, responsible land use, expanded housing choices, and strengthened civic health.
Consulting team:
Community Builders, STUDIO SEED, Leggitt Studio, Grand Traverse Production
💻 Take a look at more plans and submit yours here.
💼 Featured Job Opportunity
Explore our list of community-engagement related job postings, such as:
📎 Community Engagement Placemaking Role
Downtown Phoenix Inc.
Downtown Phoenix Inc. (DPI) is a community-building organization that delivers enhanced municipal services to the Downtown Business Core. Community engagement and placemaking are among the myriad ways DPI serves its diverse constituencies. This position would work closely with and support DPI’s Marketing, Events and Community Engagement departments to execute numerous deliverables within in DPI’s work plan, including but not limited to public art, wayfinding, pop-up events, event support and production, and working collaboratively with our stakeholders to ensure our services are contributing to the overall health and vitality of Downtown.
🗃️ Find more jobs and submit yours here.
🙌 Support for APA Interest Group
We believe the practice of Community Engagement should have its own Interest Group within the American Planning Association (APA) as a place to network, find inspiration, and share best practices. Help EngagingCities make the case by filling out this online form to express your support and get updates along the way. You may view the existing Divisions and Interest Groups within APA here for reference.
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