Book of the Month: What I Found in a Thousand Towns; Empowering People, Restoring Trust Through Community Action
This month, our members dove into What I Found in a Thousand Towns: A Traveling Musician’s Guide to Rebuilding America’s Communities—One Coffee Shop, Dog Run, and Open-Mike Night at a Time by Dar Williams. As a folk musician who crisscrossed America, Williams shares inspiring stories of towns revitalized by everyday citizens who harnessed their passion to rebuild local culture, economies and connections. Through interviews with local organizers, she offers insight into how ordinary people who loved their towns found ways to get involved and create unique, welcoming downtown spaces.
Her travels even include Phoenixville, PA. For all the locals who remember Phoenixville a few decades ago, it truly has risen from the ashes like the firebirds celebrated in their annual festival! Phoenixville is an inspiring example of how Pennsylvania’s factory and mill towns can re-capture their heritage and welcome fun new ways to attract people into our communities. Building many strong local businesses rather than relying on one large employer has made Phoenixville more resilient and given the community a strong sense of belonging. With a combination of dedicated volunteers, non-profit organizations, and local government, Phoenixville has reinvented itself while holding onto its past. It also maps a way forward for other towns that have seen industry and community members leave for greener pastures.
Why This Book Matters
Alongside being a collection of feel-good stories, Williams’ book is a call to action for citizens to take charge of their communities. Williams highlights how ordinary people — farmers, artists, small business owners, and volunteers — have created vibrant spaces and events that strengthened local bonds.
Dar Williams’ insights resonate deeply with our core values — Empowerment, Integrity, Vitality, and Community. Her interviews show us that we don’t need to wait for someone else to start projects in our hometowns. They also show how small projects and local groups can invite community participation and grow into something transformative.
Key Takeaways for Pennsylvania Communities
Williams breaks down common trends among these towns, including building positive proximity, coalescing around a shared community identity, and translating community members' efforts to invite the public to become part of the culture.
The stories shared offer practical ideas that anyone can apply to strengthen Pennsylvania’s boroughs, townships, and cities from New Castle to York to Honesdale. Here are actionable insights:
Build Positive Proximity
Host Interactive Events: Organize community days, pet parades or policy proposal days to spark connection. Aim to create spaces that invite people to interact through contests, art, music, and workshops.
Create Welcoming Spaces: Support coffee shops with community bulletin boards, parks with riverwalks, or pop-up art workshops. These spaces foster the “vibrant, empowered community” that we strive to build and support.
Celebrate Community Identity
Research Local Roots: Visit your historical society or library to uncover your town’s founding stories, agricultural heritage or cultural traditions. Talk to retired community members about hometown culture and shared memories.
Highlight Natural Assets: Promote hiking trails, rivers or farms to boost local tourism and vitality. Create outdoor events in your community’s natural spaces.
Translate and Invite Participation
Leverage Local Voices: Seek out podcasters, bloggers or social media influencers to share your community’s story. Start a community bulletin board to post advertisements and spread the word about events and projects.
Build Coalitions: Seek out people and organizations in your community and connect them for unique projects. Use your social connections to match people with resources.
How You Can Act Now
Williams’ book reminds us that change starts with us, not distant bureaucrats or wealthy patrons. We can begin to revitalize our communities by simply getting out of our homes and introducing ourselves to neighbors. The first step in the journey to rebuilding your hometown is to restore the sense of belonging you feel in it. Here are some ideas on how you can embody WTPPPA’s motto, “Empowering People, Restoring Trust,” in your community:
Research: Search online and in social media for groups in your community working on projects or events you can join or support. Shop locally and take time to meet small business owners. Talk to them about the history of their business and any organizations they work with to improve the local business environment. Chat with vendors at farmers’ markets to uncover shared passions.
Find Your Passion: Turn a hobby like gardening or storytelling into a community project, such as a community garden or open-mike night. Using your passion to dictate the type of project you want to start will be more successful and meaningful than if you attempt to create a project for someone else. Find existing programs to expand impact, as Williams advises, “thinking inside the box.” You can act as a community bridger to bring together existing groups or programs to create a unique fusion that will attract interest and support.
Partner Up: Join a CSA (community-sponsored agriculture) program. Look for support from local institutions like colleges, schools, historical societies, and religious organizations. Reach out to libraries, artists, retired community members, or civic groups to collaborate. We think you’ll be amazed at how open others in your community are to these kinds of partnerships!
A Vision for Pennsylvania’s Future
Many of us look around our communities and think to ourselves, “If only the city council would start a program,” or “The state of Pennsylvania needs to do more to create economic opportunities.” While there’s a role for government in improving our communities, we don’t need to wait for politicians to make positive changes. Dar Williams’ book shows us how we can take action in our neighborhoods, create interest and cooperation from others, and build more than an improved Main Street.
The inspiring stories of towns across the country and the citizens who came together to build them into connected spaces demonstrate that if we start with our own passions and get to know people already involved in our community, we can make our vision a reality. We all have something to give. If we work together, we can improve not only our towns for future generations, but we can also make them into the warm, welcoming places that we’re proud to call home.
We The People Party of Pennsylvania’s mission is to empower our citizens to reclaim self-governance, strengthen communities, and restore systems that put people first. This book mirrors our vision of a Pennsylvania where citizens lead with integrity, reject divisive partisan tactics, and build resilient communities rooted in shared purpose. Good governance begins with community involvement. Connecting with friends and neighbors on projects is a great way to heal from divisive politics, find common ground and work to develop positive political solutions.
Join us in this movement! Share your thoughts on the book or your community ideas on our X page or Facebook. We also invite you to visit our Membership page to learn how you can become a Founding Member and help us empower Pennsylvania, one town at a time.