The History of Community Development

Sarah Susanka is an architect, prolific author, and visionary thinker credited with starting the tiny house movement. She’s changed the way huge amounts of people see the world, but she insists the way to create change is by thinking small and attending to the everyday challenges you see in front of you. 

I talked to Sarah with a co-host, returning podcast guest Ross Chaplin—creator of “pocket neighborhoods.” This was an incredible opportunity to speak with two highly influential figures in architecture and design who both see their work as being in service to humanity and wellbeing. We spoke about how they were both deeply influenced by the work of Christopher Alexander and his book A Pattern Language, the importance of building with love, the authenticity of designing for human well-being, and how to create change that truly shifts culture. To learn more about Sarah's ideas and work, visit susanka.com and watch her TEDx talk. 

———————-
This podcast isn’t just about ideas—it’s about action. From these conversations, two organizations have emerged to bring regenerative real estate to life:

Latitude Regenerative Real Estate is the world’s first regenerative-focused real estate brokerage, dedicated to aligning values-driven buyers and sellers. With a strong presence in the Pacific Northwest and Great Lakes regions, Latitude also supports purpose-driven developments across North America through strategic marketing and branding services. If you're looking to buy, sell, or amplify a regenerative project, Latitude is your trusted partner.

Hamlet Capital is an investment and development firm committed to building resilient communities rooted in working farms. If you’re developing an agrihood or conservation community, we’d love to hear from you. Together, we can turn visionary ideas into thriving, place-based investments.