Community Heart & Soul Stories

Hear from Lyman Orton, founder, as he reflects on his history and the origins and process of Community Heart & Soul®. Community Heart & Soul, a nonprofit organization, builds stronger,…

This article first appeared on the Our Towns Civic Foundation website on June 27, 2022, which you can see here. The power of storytelling. The importance of civic engagement. The…

This article first appeared on the Our Towns Civic Foundation website on June 3, 2022, which you can see here. Our partner, Our Towns Civic Foundation, has a new podcast.…

This article first appeared on the Our Towns Civic Foundation website on June 3, 2022, which you can see here. This is the story of how a late-1800s free public…

Postville, Iowa, is a small community with almost 3,000 residents, encompassing a little more than two square miles in a land of gently rolling hills. Its downtown is welcoming, with…

This article first appeared on the Our Towns Civic Foundation website on April 28, 2022, which you can see here. This is the story of Elias Van Buren Parker, and…

This article first appeared on the Our Towns Civic Foundation website on April 18, 2022, which you can see here. Americans know that retaining their young people requires getting them…

For the next video in our Community Heart & Soul minutes series, hear from residents of Winchendon, Massachusetts who are bridging divides to find what matters most to their community…

This article first appeared on the Our Towns Civic Foundation website on March 15, 2022, which you can see here. The life and spirit of any town or city depend…

This article first appeared on the Our Towns Civic Foundation website on March 8, 2022, which you can see here. The exodus of Galesburg, Illinois’ economic anchor in 2004 left the town in…