Curtis Lowe

The Fight Nobody Wanted Last spring, our neighborhood association found itself in the middle of the kind of conflict that makes people stop showing up to meetings. The issue seemed straightforward enough: should we support the city’s plan to add protected bike lanes to Maple Street? On one side stood longtime residents worried about losing … Read moreWhen Good People Disagree: What I Learned from Our Neighborhood’s Messiest Fight

The Meeting That Never Happened Last Tuesday, the Parks and Recreation committee was supposed to discuss the community garden expansion. Three people showed up. The city staff member who had prepared a presentation on soil testing and water access sat there for twenty minutes, then packed up her charts. The woman who’d been advocating for … Read moreThe Infrastructure of Connection: What Happens When We Stop Showing Up

Start With Your Why (And Be Honest About Your Capacity) Before you post that enthusiastic Facebook announcement about your neighborhood cleanup or book fair, take a hard look at what you’re actually signing up for. I learned this the hard way when I organized what I optimistically called a “community garden kickoff” that turned into … Read moreThe Real Talk Guide to Community Event Planning: What Works, What Doesn’t, and How to Actually Get Help

When the Notice Arrived The certified letters started showing up on a Tuesday in March. Forty-three households at Riverside Gardens, a modest apartment complex near the bus line, opened identical envelopes announcing a 35% rent increase effective June 1st. For Maria Santos, a single mom working two part-time jobs, it meant choosing between her home … Read moreHow Riverside Gardens Fought a Rent Hike and Won: A Blueprint for Tenant Organizing

When Safety Grows From Connection Last Tuesday evening, Maria Santos was walking her dog past the corner of Maple and Third when she noticed something odd. A man was lingering near Mrs. Chen’s back gate, testing the latch. But instead of hurrying past or calling 911 immediately, Maria did something that might have seemed small … Read moreThe Block Party That Stopped a Break-In: How Mrs. Chen’s Garden Started a Neighborhood Revolution

The Dream That Split the Room Last Tuesday’s Parks and Recreation Committee meeting should have been a celebration. After eighteen months of planning, fundraising, and community input sessions, the proposed Riverside Community Garden finally had full funding and city approval. Instead, what unfolded was a two-hour debate that left neighbors on opposite sides of issues … Read moreWhen Good Intentions Collide: The Hidden Tensions in Our Community Garden Plans