The Bottom-Up Revolution

McKenzie Ortiz, founder of Pedestrian Pride and a transportation advocate, discusses the challenges facing nondrivers in America. She shares her personal journey to advocacy, fueled by economic hardships and a preference for walking. McKenzie highlights the importance of storytelling in advocating for safe pedestrian spaces and calls for equitable infrastructure investments. With tales of isolation and local interactions, she emphasizes empowering communities to improve their streets and the need for land-use changes to enhance walkability.

Sam Foster, a 24-year-old engineer and mayoral candidate in Marietta, Georgia, shares his journey into politics, emphasizing the power of social media to educate and engage the community. He critiques Marietta's focus on large growth projects, advocating instead for incremental, achievable improvements. Sam highlights the importance of building local coalitions through his initiative, A Better Cobb, and offers advice for aspiring candidates to be bold and authentic. His vision for Marietta focuses on leveraging its unique layout for fast, impactful change.

Zoe Tishaev and Dylan DelliSanti, advocates from the Institute for Justice, delve into how cities can simplify the process of starting small businesses. They share their personal journeys from local advocacy to urbanist policy work. The duo reveals frustrations with the startup permitting landscape and discusses innovative reforms to make it cheaper and faster. They emphasize the value of micro-retail in revitalizing downtowns and advocate for a 'do no harm' approach in policymaking for more vibrant local economies.

Tyler Moldovan, a bus driver and community organizer from Port Huron, Michigan, shares his inspiring journey in urban advocacy. He discusses the creation of DDD Fest, aimed at showcasing international filmmakers while building local culture. Tyler emphasizes the need for traffic calming and highlights the critical role public transit plays in ensuring equity and mobility for residents. He also sheds light on missing sidewalks and how residents can mobilize for local improvement, fostering hope through community conversation and coalition-building.

Kyle and Beverly Greenwood are passionate activists from Brazos County who co-led the successful No East Loop campaign to stop a proposed highway project. They discuss the grassroots tactics that rallied nearly 2,000 residents, from social media to town halls. The Greenwoods share their enlightening journey of demanding transparency, unveiling funding issues, and mobilizing public participation. They highlight the emotional stakes behind property rights and community connections, ultimately leading to a courtroom victory that reshaped their views on local governance.

Mary Coddington, founder of Twelve Inc. and a member of the Denver Planning Board, discusses her mission to improve affordable housing in Colorado. She highlights local initiatives like Denver's Neighborhood Planning Initiative and addresses challenges such as language barriers and community engagement. Mary shares insights on balancing new housing with displacement prevention, drawing connections between resilient site design and permaculture principles. She also emphasizes the importance of local involvement and views current disruptions as an opportunity for building stronger communities.

Linda Appel Lipsius, the executive director of Denver Urban Gardens, returns to discuss how permaculture principles can radically transform urban living. She explores the importance of community gardens in fostering social resilience and a greener city. Linda emphasizes the power of observation in urban planning and the necessity of integrating diverse voices. They also dissect concepts like composting as resource management and empowering communities to foster local solutions rather than waiting for top-down interventions.

Erick Aune, Director of the Santa Fe Metropolitan Planning Organization, shares insights on transforming transportation in his region. He discusses the radical shift from outdated speed and safety assumptions to policies that prioritize community needs. Erick emphasizes engaging residents in decision-making and the importance of rethinking traditional planning criteria. He also connects transportation reforms to housing affordability, illustrating how small changes can have big impacts. His strategic boldness aims to foster safer streets and revitalized communities.

Donna Boelen, a former city council member from Bloomington, Illinois, shares her inspiring journey from a concerned resident to a self-taught advocate focused on fiscal sustainability and infrastructure. She discusses the challenges of campaigning as an independent, emphasizing the importance of door-to-door outreach. Donna also highlights her dedication to constituent service and consensus building, plus practical tips for aspiring candidates, including learning municipal history and budgeting wisely. Her insights shine a light on making local governance more accessible and effective.

Judith Rognli, program director for Conserve Southwest Utah and leader of Strong Towns WashCo, explores living wisely in the desert of St. George. She tackles pressing issues like water scarcity and rapid growth while advocating for smart, sustainable growth. Judith shares practical tips for creating water-wise communities and emphasizes the importance of civic engagement. Her unique journey from social scientist to musician illuminates her passion for promoting local action and environmental stewardship.