The Bottom-Up Revolution How to Turn Small Community Actions Into a Big Impact
Nov 4, 2025
In this discussion, Dr. Shakeel Dalal, a PhD chemist and aerospace engineer turned community organizer from Longmont, Colorado, shares his unexpected journey toward a mayoral candidacy. He emphasizes the power of small actions in building community capacity and highlights Longmont's challenges with housing affordability. Through personal anecdotes, he discusses walkability lessons learned from his dog walks and advises advocates to connect policy changes to local values. Shakeel inspires listeners to engage locally and take practical steps toward civic involvement.
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Small Steps Led To A Mayoral Run
- Shakeel ran for mayor after a series of small community actions unexpectedly escalated into a campaign.
- He traced that path from writing about council meetings to moderating debates and founding local organizations.
Next Actions Build Networks
- Doing the next sensible action creates unexpected opportunities and networks.
- Incremental civic engagement connects diverse people and problems into cooperative solutions.
Greenbelt Shapes Housing Options
- Longmont's fixed greenbelt prevents sprawl and forces inward growth choices.
- Preserving the greenbelt makes housing affordability hinge on building denser, pre-car urban form.