American Renewal Starts Here


Welcome to the site for the Our Towns Civic Foundation, devoted to connecting and supporting those leading today's American renewal, from the ground up. Please join us to become part of this movement.

reports

Geojournalism

We Find Our Way With Maps. But How Can Mapmakers Know Where They're Going?

A "geo-historical narrative" captured the imagination of many children in mid-20th century America. Maps have always had power to shape perceptions of reality. A memoir about their influence--and an introduction of what's to come.

Civic Life

The Mysteries and Lessons of South Dakota

Small cities, potentially big lessons. What a state that is home to 800,000 people can demonstrate to the country as a whole.

Big Little Ideas

A California Project, with Nationwide Ambitions

American history doesn't repeat, but it rhymes. Crises keep cropping up--and so do ideas and solutions. Many innovations from the 1930s have

Journalism & Civic News

They lost their local paper. So they created a new one--during the pandemic.

A local paper with a longer history than its home state suddenly shut its doors, for good, during the pandemic. How an entire community will

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 past content from the website here.
SEE PREVIOUS REPORTS

Voices From America