Strong Towns staff will kick off the 2025 National Gathering with opening remarks about the state of the Strong Towns movement, plus honoring the people who are making this movement happen, including the winners of this year's Strongest Town Contest, Local Conversation leaders, and more.

This session explores practical strategies to address housing production and affordability challenges. Alli Thurmond Quinlan, executive director of the Incremental Development Alliance and a developer based in Fayetteville, AR, will highlight the growing mismatch between American household sizes and available housing stock, emphasizing the need for diverse housing types such as ADUs, duplexes, and multi-family units. We'll discuss restrictive zoning laws that have historically limited housing supply and driven up costs, and how you can advocate for policy changes like eliminating single-family zoning, revising building codes, and decreasing lot sizes. Alli brings a wealth of case studies to illustrate that these sorts of changes are possible and they are happening across the country. Is your city ready to join in?

The continuing revenue stresses of COVID-19 and declining downtowns have forced states and localities to explore new sources of public revenue that do not impede economic growth nor burden taxpayers. Because local governments are the primary laboratories and practitioners of tax law and policies, this panel will discuss land value-based taxation and revenue policies. Tax policy must examine more than how much we tax but what we tax. Public finance economists believe publicly created land value (i.e., transportation projects, zoning, and planning) is a stable and substantial source of continued revenue streams. Governmental collection of land values and site value uplifts can reduce or replace inefficient and economy-killing reliance on sales, business, income, and other taxes on private investment and activity. This panel will discuss the basics of land value taxation, where used, and how best to define and quantify immediate and likely effects on the tax base. Our three speakers have all had substantial experience in research and legislative work in implementing and administrating these programs.

‍This session is sponsored by the Center for the Study of Economics.

Whether you lead a Local Conversation, neighborhood association or other community group, sustained engagement can be a real struggle. Do you see people join your meetings and never come back? Do one or two people do most of the work in your organization? These are common challenges in lots of groups, and many face burnout from working upwind on their own. But this struggle can be overcome! Just like riding a bike, you can learn and improve at better engaging members to get involved. The key is to form a strong culture of relationships and to understand the right ask. Learn how in this workshop and leaving with clear next steps on how to take this back to your community.

Why are so many cities and towns across North America going broke? Our roads are deteriorating. Our governments are in debt. No matter how much we increase them, our taxes aren’t enough to fix it all. And no one seems to be able to agree on how we got here—much less how to change the course. This isn’t just about numbers on a budget. This is about the fate of the communities we love most, and the real people that live there. This is about how to give our citizens, today and tomorrow, a chance at the future they deserve. If we want American cities to be strong and resilient, we need to change everything about the way we plan and build our places. In this core Strong Towns presentation, Charles Marohn will explain, in plain language, how so many American cities have found themselves in decline after decades of “growth.” And then he’ll show you a revolutionary way forward that could create enduring prosperity—if we just have the courage to change our minds.

If you’re new to the Strong Towns movement or you’ve never seen our core presentation, you might want to join this session.

As cities across the country grapple with the challenges of growth, affordability, and mobility, zoning and transportation reform are emerging as powerful tools to create more resilient, financially sustainable communities. This presentation will explore how zoning reform is gaining momentum nationwide, the key changes already taking shape, and why Strong Towns advocates for further reform. We’ll discuss the transportation shifts that have taken place in recent years, from the rise of multimodal networks to the evolving role of streets in urban life, and examine their long-term implications. Attendees will gain insight into the opportunities cities have to embrace a more people-focused approach to development—one that prioritizes fiscal health, adaptability, and community well-being. Whether you're a city leader, planner, or engaged resident, this session will provide actionable ideas for shaping a future that aligns with Strong Towns.

Highway expansion has long been seen as a solution to congestion, but in reality, it drains public resources, weakens local economies, and erodes community life. In this presentation, we’ll explore why highway expansion is a losing bet and how communities across North America are successfully pushing back against it. We’ll discuss how transportation should build wealth, not destroy it, ensuring that investments in infrastructure actually benefit the places they serve. We’ll highlight the urgent need to stop wasting resources—we simply cannot afford to keep expanding roads when we don’t have a viable plan for maintaining the ones we already have. At the core of this issue is a crisis of trust: governments must restore faith in their institutions by proving they can competently manage existing infrastructure before committing to costly new projects. Finally, we’ll share strategies for fighting the machine and real stories from activists, local leaders, and everyday residents who are taking action to stop wasteful highway expansion and build stronger, more resilient towns.

Join Seth Zeren—a long time Providence resident and local developer—for a hands-on session exploring redevelopment and rehab projects near downtown Providence in the Federal Hill neighborhood. As you walk the city, Seth will introduce you to recent and ongoing historic redevelopment efforts that are transforming neighborhoods, leaving you inspired to imagine what transformations could occur in your own community. This walking tour may be especially of interest to fellow incremental developers or aspiring developers or investors. **Walking tours depart from courtyard outside Grace Church Pavilion. Make sure to bring appropriate footwear and outerwear, as this session will involve over a mile of walking outside and will proceed even during rainy weather. We aim to have 25 people or less for each tour in order to ensure the best experience for everyone, so please be mindful if you show up to a tour that looks very crowded and consider joining a different one instead. It's possible some walking tours may run long, so plan for that potential if you are very eager to attend a session that falls directly after a tour.

The urbanist landscape on social media has exploded in the past few years and we're bringing some of your favorite creators together for a conversation all about it. This expert panel, facilitated by Strong Towns podcast host Tiffany Owens Reed, features innovative and popular creators including Vignesh Swaminathan (aka Mr. Barricade), Noah Roth (creator of Streetcraft on YouTube), Justine Underhill (City Council member and YouTuber) and Strong Towns' own video creator, Rachel Leonardo, sharing their experiences reaching people using YouTube, TikTok and other social platforms. These creators will discuss how they got started, cultivate their audiences, and sustain their efforts over the long haul. (Also, don't miss the chance to chat with these creators at a social get-together Tuesday evening!)

In the battle for stronger towns, we all come up against some common counter arguments: “But people like driving.” “Residents don’t want to have to park two blocks away from their destination.” “The suburbs exist because everyone prefers to live that way.” How do you fight back against those arguments? With math. Joe Minicozzi, founder of Urban3 will walk through the math behind endless highways, subdivisions, and big box stores, and why it doesn’t pencil out. Then he’ll talk through how to use that math in your discussions with local leaders to advocate for stronger towns.

Chris Arnade (writer of the popular substack “Walking the World”) will deliver a keynote presentation that delves into the essence of community and connection in urban environments in the US and around the globe. Drawing from his experience as a writer and photographer, Arnade will explore what makes a place truly pedestrian-friendly and how cities can either foster or hinder a sense of community. He will discuss the "back row/front row" class dichotomy in America, and encourage reflection on how this separation shapes our places. Through captivating photos and stories from his travels across the U.S. and the world, Arnade will share his observations on what constitutes a flourishing community and the lessons Americans can learn from global examples. The presentation will also feature an engaging conversation with Strong Towns President Charles Marohn, providing a deeper dive into these critical topics.

Block parties foster community connection, a network of support, and local empowerment. Yet, for most Americans, they are just a fond memory of the past. How do we bring back these micro-local events that bring neighbors together, offer face-to-face connection and play in a virtual world? Block parties are a free, simple, and actionable cure for our country’s loneliness, social isolation, divisiveness, and the youth mental health crisis. Come away knowing how to make planning and execution easy, address potential challenges, and be ready to launch the initiative in your neighborhood and/or town.

Across the country, communities are grappling with large, underutilized properties—empty churches, struggling golf courses, and fading shopping centers. Too often, these sites are seen as liabilities, targeted for demolition or left to decline. But what if, instead, they could be transformed into community assets? Join Neighborhood Evolution, a leading development consulting group, for an insightful discussion on how to reimagine these spaces as drivers of economic vitality. This session will focus on empowering local developers, governments, and communities to rethink vacant properties as untapped resources with the potential to address affordable housing needs, increase tax revenue, and reduce vacancy and blight.

Every traffic crash has something to teach us, yet traditional approaches often focus solely on assigning blame rather than uncovering deeper insights. This presentation (and the related report) introduces a groundbreaking method for analyzing crashes to improve community safety and prevent future tragedies.   Drawing on lessons from the Strong Towns Crash Analysis Studio, this session will offer actionable recommendations for local leaders, emphasizing proactive design, rapid-response strategies, and community involvement. Whether you're a policymaker, advocate, or engaged resident, you'll leave equipped with the tools to address systemic issues in traffic safety and create lasting change.

The presentation will demonstrate how temporary quick-build interventions at problem intersections can evolve into permanent, well-engineered solutions. It will highlight the process of addressing urban challenges—from analyzing travel patterns and designing rapid experiments to navigating complex geometries, ensuring proper materials and maintenance, and fostering community engagement. Ultimately, the session seeks to share best practices that can be adopted across counties and cities to improve intersection safety and functionality.

The untold story of our public parks and recreation systems is compelling. Increasing demand, poor planning, and limited interest in doing math are among the things that have led to the unprecedented challenges many organizations face today. Let’s take a look at not only these realities but how better planning, shifts in investment, community education and other strategies can transform current conditions into opportunities to enhance our shared quality of life.

In this session, expert leaders from the Parking Reform Network, including President Tony Jordan, will share proven strategies for effectively communicating the benefits of ending parking minimums and mandates in your community. Attendees will learn how to address common concerns and persuade residents, elected officials, city staff, and other stakeholders that parking reform is not a threat but an opportunity for positive change. The session will highlight successful messaging tactics that have worked in cities and towns across the country and provide practical resources to help advocates push for policy changes that support more financially resilient, people-centered urban development.

Walking tours can be a powerful tool to help your neighbors get up close and notice the challenges (and assets!) on your streets. Whether you want to help your neighbors think through better crossings and safer bike access, or even bring elected officials on a walk to talk about public space or housing options, walking tours are a great way to get the conversation started and truly live out the Strong Towns Approach to Public Investment by doing Step 1: "Notice where people in your neighborhood are struggling." This hands-on workshop led by Strong Towns Director of Community Action, Edward Erfurt, will show you how to lead a walking tour by modeling one and talking through the steps to success on the streets of downtown Providence. **Walking tours depart from courtyard outside Grace Church Pavilion. Make sure to bring appropriate footwear and outerwear, as this session will involve over a mile of walking outside and will proceed even during rainy weather. We aim to have 25 people or less for each tour in order to ensure the best experience for everyone, so please be mindful if you show up to a tour that looks very crowded and consider joining a different one instead. It's possible some walking tours may run long, so plan for that potential if you are very eager to attend a session that falls directly after a tour.

Housing affordability is one of the most pressing challenges facing cities today. Home prices have soared, rental costs continue to rise, and for many, the dream of stable housing feels increasingly out of reach. At the same time, solutions often feel distant—many cities are waiting for state or federal interventions that never seem to fully materialize. But the reality is clear: cities don't have to wait. Local governments have the power, the tools, and the authority to take meaningful action right now. This session will help cities take that first critical step through regulatory reform with 6 key recommendations. The goal is simple—get more housing built. We'll present approaches that feel familiar, practical, and beneficial to the very people who may otherwise resist them.

Ready to jump start the Strong Towns movement where you live? This session from Local Conversation leader Isaac Gonzalez will share practical advice on how to establish and grow an impactful advocacy group. Topics covered will include: Mobilizing grassroots supporters to demand policy changes from local leaders; Turning local advocacy into a force that shapes public policy and infrastructure priorities; and Educating local communities about tactical urbanism and affordable solutions.

Inner ring suburbs represent the best opportunities for location-smart housing development with public infrastructure and access to jobs and public transportation. Yet, many are resistant to the higher densities of housing of their neighboring urban centers. Rhode Island’s 6 inner ring suburbs represent a range of responses to the housing crisis – some communities are working proactively to attract housing development, some are threatening legal challenges to prevent it, and some are in between. Join a diverse team of Rhode Island housing advocates to learn more about the Providence area and our housing challenges, then join a wide-ranging, crowdsourcing discussion about what could be done to change suburban hearts and minds. Share what has happened in your community and add any success stories you’ve heard about communities who have made changes in land use, zoning, incentives, transportation, commercial centers, or design. We’ll even be brainstorming out of the box ideas and what ifs, and everything will be compiled into a big list of possible solutions that we can all take home with us.

Your city is probably doing municipal budgeting all wrong. Your local budget treats roads as assets instead of liabilities. It accounts for what’s needed this year, but makes no provisions to pay for needs in five, ten or twenty years. And worst of all, it’s challenging for even the most skilled and trained government staff—let alone the general public—to understand how all of this is happening because municipal budgets are incredibly opaque. In 2025, Strong Towns is introducing a new tool called the Fiscal Health Assessment that aims to change all of this. Join this session to learn about the new tool and how it could transform your community's financial situation. You’ll walk away with a better understanding of how to examine your budget through a Strong Towns lens and ensure your city is truly accounting for the long term costs of its infrastructure and development decisions. We can’t wait to release this tool out into the world. Get a first look during this National Gathering presentation.

Housing debates often feel abstract, but a well-planned walking tour can make them real. Join Norm Van Eeden Petersman—an experienced neighborhood walk leader—for a hands-on session exploring how to use the built environment to tell a compelling story about housing challenges and solutions. In the first 15 minutes, Norm will demonstrate what to look for in a neighborhood: the telltale signs of outdated land use policies, the impact of suburban development standards, and how these factors drive up housing costs. Then, as we walk the streets together, the conversation will shift to effective messaging—how to guide a housing-themed tour that resonates with your audience and sparks meaningful dialogue. Norm will share practical insights on making housing issues visible, relatable, and actionable.  **Walking tours depart from courtyard outside Grace Church Pavilion. Make sure to bring appropriate footwear and outerwear, as this session will involve over a mile of walking outside and will proceed even during rainy weather. We aim to have 25 people or less for each tour in order to ensure the best experience for everyone, so please be mindful if you show up to a tour that looks very crowded and consider joining a different one instead. It's possible some walking tours may run long, so plan for that potential if you are very eager to attend a session that falls directly after a tour.

In cities across the country, advocates are making incremental, effective reforms that move beyond abstract debates and deliver tangible results. Join Andrew Burleson, board chair of Strong Towns, as he facilitates a discussion with three zoning reform leaders who have successfully pushed for change at the local and state levels. This session will dive into what works, what doesn’t, and how to overcome the barriers that have stalled previous reform efforts. Expert panelists include: Jess Remmington (Washington, D.C.) who will speak about how she helped organize neighborhoods across D.C. to help elect a pro-reform city council and create a political environment where zoning reform could succeed; Ryan Puzycki (Austin, TX) who has worked with Austin’s Zoning & Platting Commission to pass meaningful, incremental changes like eliminating parking requirements and reducing lot size restrictions; and Will Wilson (Richmond, VA) who has been involved with state level reform and will speak about when is the right time to take zoning reform to the state level ad how to operate in that environment. If you’re working to push zoning reform in your community or wondering how to get past the political and structural obstacles that have stalled past efforts, this panel will give you the real-world strategies, insights, and inspiration to move forward.

In a world where social media shapes conversations and drives change, how can local movements effectively use these platforms to engage new audiences and spark real impact? Join Jon Jon Wesolowski, founder of Chattanooga Urbanist Society—the viral TikTok and Instagram accounts that took the urbanist space by storm—for an inside look at how to create compelling, high-impact social media content that resonates with people beyond the typical Strong Towns audience. Drawing from insights gained while growing two accounts to over 200,000 followers, Jon Jon will share key strategies to: make complex urbanist ideas accessible and relatable to new audiences; leverage storytelling, humor, and visuals to create viral content, and turn online engagement into real-world action for your local movement. Whether you’re a grassroots advocate, a local leader, or just someone looking to sharpen your digital skills, this session will equip you with the tools to build momentum, shift narratives, and make Strong Towns ideas impossible to ignore in your community.