The Bottom-Up Revolution

What 50 Interviews Taught Me About Community Action

Nov 11, 2025
Discover how everyday people are transforming their communities with small, impactful actions. Learn about practical, low-effort projects like DIY bike parking and street stickers that spark change. Norm shares crucial advice, emphasizing that you don’t need permission to start making a difference. Curious about local activism? Hear how membership fosters civic engagement and drives larger movements, plus Norm's personal journey from spectator to participant. Get inspired to take action in your own neighborhood!
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INSIGHT

Change Happens Through Ordinary Actions

  • Community change is driven by ordinary people seizing low-hanging opportunities close to them.
  • Norm Petersman emphasizes that these small acts, not magic abilities, produce measurable local improvements.
ADVICE

Start Smaller When Governments Stall

  • If your city won't listen, take action at the neighborhood or block level instead.
  • Start with the next smallest thing you can do and build upward from small wins.
ANECDOTE

Street Stickers To Question Public Space

  • Manav Sharma created stickers to provoke questions about public space allocation.
  • His simple street-level action raised awareness without needing official permission.
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