Success is people consciously working together, putting differences aside in pursuit of higher quality of life, and getting something done.

Writing about successful neighborhood planning, my friend and colleague Howard Blackson used the term “placeshaker” as a catch-all for the grass roots engagement efforts that empower, but don’t necessarily define, placemaking. That got me thinking...

Focusing on what connects people to community is one way to navigate the treacherous waters between gentrification and disinvestment.