reports
Civic Life
Steven Ascher, Jeanne Jordan, and James and Deborah Fallows discuss taking the “Our Towns” story from a bestselling book to a hit HBO documentary
The filmmakers and writers discuss the story of "Our Towns" at JES Global Summit.
Civic Life
In 1933, a new president found a new way of unifying a public in time of crisis.
What the presidential addresses of 1933 tell us about the America of 2021.
Journalism & Civic News
Geo-Journalism Illustrates & Expands the Story
An interactive map of the Columbus, Ohio Library system illustrates the power of maps in reporting.
Civic Life
A New Foundation
What is the idea behind this site and the Our Towns Civic Foundation? And what are the goals? Here’s a brief summary.
PREVIOUS REPORTS
Read previous articles and posts from Our Towns Civic Foundation authors as well as our "Voices from America." You can also search for articles by Topic and Town on the menu tabs above.
Voices From America
ARTS
Creating and Reimagining Community through a Crisis
A look at the impact of Covid-19 on the culture sector in Erie, Pennsylvania.
ECONOMIC & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
Tighe Bullock is working to building a vibrant, attractive downtown in West Virginia’s capital city.
Revitalizing Charleston, West Virginia Brick by Brick
TRANSPORTATION
Reviving the economy, restoring community, and helping sustainability: a plan.
Two Republican presidents -- Abraham Lincoln, and Dwight Eisenhower -- offered bold new approaches to transportation as part of their national strategy. A proposal
HIGH SCHOOLS
2021 Eighth of May Emancipation Celebration now available on YouTube
Eighth of May Emancipation Celebration in Columbus, Mississippi now available on YouTube.
PANDEMIC
Small-business owners continue working to build community through crisis.
Like many towns and cities, Erie, Pennsylvania long had its identity tied to its industry. The only county of the Keystone State’s 67 located on the Great Lakes watershed – on the lake from which it draws its name – Erie, through the decades, built the reputation for building. But unlike Detroit with its automobiles […]
Arts
THIS IS WHAT WE TRAIN FOR
During our five years of travel around the country, my husband Jim and I often found that artists who revealed the perspectives on their hometowns were the people who stopped us in our tracks.
