Community
Stay informed about local news, initiatives, and the people who make our community thrive.
Local governments hide urban development plans from citizens
Anti-data center protests erupted in downtown Kansas City and Independence, Missouri, revealing widespread citizen frustration with urban development decisions made without adequate public input.
Local Action to Boost Civic Engagement & Resilience in 2026
In a recent experiment, simply asking participants to consider their feelings about their town increased donations to local problems by a remarkable 600%.
Local volunteer initiatives are key to community resilience in 2026.
Globally, the volunteer workforce is larger than the employed population of more than half of the world's 10 most populous countries.
San Diego's Arts Funding Cuts Threaten Community and Economy
San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria has proposed slashing arts funding from $13.
Supporting local volunteers sustains community resilience
In Central Texas, researchers at Texas State University are now studying the emotional and mental health of disaster recovery volunteers.
Local News Disappearance Threatens Civic Engagement, Papers Decline
Up to 4.4 million citizens in the UK now live in 'news deserts,' communities with no dedicated local print, online, TV, or radio outlet, according to GOV UK . These vast information voids leave entire
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Nearly Died. Local News is Critical for Democracy.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, one of America's oldest newspapers, was reportedly due to shut down in May, signaling a critical moment for local news.
City planning failure: Resident voices ignored, despite transparency efforts.
A proposal to reinstate annual winter parking restrictions in Geneva, New York, with overnight bans from 2 a.
Cities Are Investing Billions in Sustainable Transit for 2026. Is It Enough?
Illinois lawmakers recently approved a $1.
Local News: Reclaiming Community Engagement by 2026
Between 2009 and 2019, over 320 local newspaper titles in Britain vanished, leaving communities without vital civic information.
Independent Bookstores Thrive: Hundreds Open as Community Hubs Grow
In 2025, approximately 422 new independent bookshops opened across the country, marking a significant 31% increase from the previous year, according to theguardian .
Citizen Advocacy Shapes City Planning in 2026
After public and city council concerns mounted, Bloomington Mayor Kerry Thomson ended the city's contract with surveillance company Flock Safety, demonstrating the direct power of citizen advocacy in
Your City Council Race Matters: Local Decisions Shape Your Life
Between 2017 and 2018, a chilling statistic emerged from Washington D.
Local Events Are Key to Building Community Cohesion and Civic Engagement
In South Dallas, rival high school football seniors will unite to distribute fresh produce to older adults.
Investigative journalism donations rose 70% in Feb 2017
The Center for Public Integrity and its International Consortium of Investigative Journalists saw a 70 percent rise in individual donations in February 2017 compared to the same period in 2015.
Community health engagement: The challenge of measuring lasting change
In 2026, Linda Lara-Jacobo will receive a prestigious AAAS award for her work reducing health disparities.
Local news is vital for democracy. Most outlets are failing.
Almost 200 counties across the United States currently have no newspaper at all.
Two Cities, One Lesson: Why Local Arts Funding Is an Investment, Not a Luxury
Local arts funding is an essential investment, not a luxury, as demonstrated by contrasting approaches in Tempe and San Diego. While Tempe proactively invests in its creative ecosystem, San Diego fights to preserve funding for its significant arts sector, highlighting the economic and social benefits of sustained arts support.
Our Budgets, Our Business: How to Tell If Your Local Government Is Really Transparent
Assess your local government's budget transparency by evaluating information accessibility, comprehensibility, and public participation. This guide provides a scorecard to help citizens understand and engage with public funds.
Supporting Local Artists and Cultural Events Isn't a Luxury, It's Our Lifeline
Supporting local artists and cultural events is essential for building a vibrant community, strengthening social bonds, and driving economic prosperity. It's a direct investment in our collective identity and future.
How Local Tourism Boards Preserve Historical Landmarks
A single guidebook from the Texas Historical Commission offers communities a step-by-step blueprint to transform local history into a thriving economic engine, generating new jobs and tax dollars.
Types of Public Health Initiatives for Community Well-being
During health emergencies, broad public health measures, while designed to protect, have led to widespread unemployment, interrupted education, and increased instances of domestic violence, according
Improving local volunteer initiatives for social challenges
At Main Stay Therapeutic Farm, a simple upgrade to their volunteer management system dramatically improved their capacity to deliver vital services.
How Do Community Excellence Awards Boost Local Business Reputation?
Priority Signs & Graphics, a local business, has already secured the 2026 Southlake Chamber Small Business of the Year Award.
The Psychological Toll of Long-Term Volunteer Engagement
In Tanzania, over 80% of the population volunteers, yet globally, those who commit long-term to programs are often found to have less positive attitudes towards the people they help and higher persona
What are the benefits of supporting local businesses for community resilience?
During the pandemic, the sudden collapse of global supply chains left countless communities facing empty store shelves and economic instability, a stark reminder of their inherent fragility.
Barriers to Citizen Participation in Local Decisions
In many local governments, the legal framework for citizen participation is riddled with loopholes, allowing a 'very high margin of manipulation' by those in power, according to legal, political and a
Ogunquit Rooster Statues Spark Debate Over Noise Ordinances and Community Values
In the picturesque coastal town of Ogunquit, Maine, a family faced $450 in fines not for a noisy party, but for displaying two 6-foot-tall metal rooster statues outside their home.
How do funding sources for local community initiatives work in 2026?
Even with billions in federal and state funding earmarked for local initiatives, many communities struggle to access these vital resources.
What Is the Evolution of Libraries?
A new branch of the Metro Nashville Public Library system opened in Donelson, Tennessee, last summer, symbolizing a quiet but profound evolution of libraries into vital community hubs.