The Bottom-Up Revolution

In this episode of Bottom Up Shorts, Norm is joined by Saeed Vahid, a Local Conversation leader from Richmond Hill, Ontario. They talk about how he started the Local Conversation, how the group is collaborating with city officials, and how the expansion of the Greater Toronto Area has affected Richmond Hill. ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES Strong Richmond Hill (site). Norm Van Eeden Petersman (LinkedIn). Do you know someone who would make for a great Bottom-Up Revolution guest? Let us know here!

Diane Alisa, author and founder of End Car Dependency, advocates for family-friendly urban design. She reveals how car-dependent living impacts families and discusses the importance of creating integrated communities, or 'villages.' Diane shares her journey from performing arts to urban advocacy, highlighting the need for supportive, walkable environments for mothers and children. She critiques suburban isolation and proposes solutions for more connected living spaces, emphasizing how thoughtful design can enhance community ties and empower family life.

Daniel Bloemker is a Strong Towns member and Local Conversation leader from Bellingham, Washington. He’s been instrumental in advancing local efforts on parking reform, housing, and community spaces. He joins Norm in this Bottom-Up Short to discuss these efforts and the progress the city has made. ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES Want to support advocates like Daniel? Become a Strong Towns member today. Bellingham won the “Most Progress in Building Better Budgets” award in the Strongest Town Contest. There are many great lessons that cities of all sizes can learn from their hard work.

Elizabeth Turman-Bryant is a councilmember in Burlington, Washington. She's passionate about community building, revitalizing historical areas, and making Burlington more bicycle and pedestrian friendly. Turman-Bryant joins Tiffany to discuss her journey from nonprofit work to local government. She explains some of the projects she’s working on and the importance of striking a balance between the responsiveness of bottom-up activism and the influence of local government involvement. ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES Local Recommendations: Tacos Tecalitlan Train Wreck Bar Railroads Pizza and  Bar Taste of Thai by Wipa Tiffany Owens Reed (Instagram) Do you know someone who would make for a great The Bottom-Up Revolution guest? Let us know here!

Denyse Trepanier, the President of Bike Walk Alameda, shines a light on innovative strides towards a bike-friendly future in her city. She discusses the creation of low-stress bikeways and greenways aimed at enhancing cycling safety. Highlighting community efforts, Denyse emphasizes grassroots advocacy as key to transforming urban streets. The conversation touches on the challenges of redevelopment, the importance of engaged citizens, and how past experiences shaped a vision for a more bikeable Alameda.

Steven Zittergruen is a city councilor and Strong Towns member from Decorah, Iowa. In this Bottom-Up Short, he joins Norm to discuss the ways he’s making his community stronger. His efforts include revamping Decorah’s budgeting process, helping launch Decorah’s Local Conversation group, and writing about local governance. ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES Dear Decorah (Substack) Learn how to do the math in your own community. Decorah made it to the Elite Eight in this year’s Strongest Town Contest. There are many great lessons that cities of all sizes can learn from their hard work. Click here to read more about their progress. Norm Van Eeden Petersman (LinkedIn) Do you know someone who would make for a great The Bottom-Up Revolution guest? Let us know here!

Will McCollum is a registered architect and the president and co-founder of Citymakers Collective, a nonprofit that teaches aspiring architects and planners how to design resilient, beautiful and prosperous places. He joins Tiffany on this episode of The Bottom-Up Revolution to talk about what it takes to design environments for human flourishing, as well as the importance of educating the next generation of architects and planners. ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES Local Recommendations: Piedmont Park Bold Monk Brewing The Works Food Hall Citymakers Collective (Website) Tiffany Owens Reed (Instagram) Do you know someone who would make for a great The Bottom-Up Revolution guest? Let us know here!

Amy Emery, a community leader dedicated to sustainable growth in Warrenville, Illinois, shares her insights on local initiatives aimed at revitalizing the city. She discusses an incubator program supporting local businesses and a zoning overlay promoting mixed-use development. The conversation dives into community engagement through visual surveys that help shape architectural decisions. Emery also highlights the Merry Market, a successful local market fostering entrepreneurship and community connections—showcasing the immense pride and engagement among Warrenville residents.

Sarah Rose is an artist from Spokane, Washington, who uses her art to raise awareness about street safety and the protection of native insects. She is active in her city’s Local Conversation, Spokane Reimagined, and often speaks with local reporters and at city council meetings. She joins Tiffany on this episode of The Bottom-Up Revolution to talk about how the intersection of advocacy and art is driving change in Spokane. ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES Local Recommendations: Pacific to Palouse Wine Bar Page 42 Bookstore Zola “One Block Revolution” by Summer Hess Connect with Sarah Rose: Instagram Website Spokane Reimagined (Website) Tiffany Owens Reed (Instagram) Do you know someone who would make for a great The Bottom-Up Revolution guest? Let us know here!

Hannah Rechtschaffen, Director of the Greenfield Business Association, shares her insights on fostering community pride in Greenfield, Massachusetts. She discusses the town’s initiatives to enhance local engagement and proudly compete in the Strongest Town contest. The conversation highlights the balancing act between preserving local culture and embracing economic growth, alongside the vital role of local businesses in community success. Rechtschaffen emphasizes the importance of celebrating local history and events to strengthen connections within the town.