About Us

This site is the work of one principal author, Nancy Thompson, a certified community planner, and professional collaborators with specialized experience. Nancy earned a master’s degree in urban and regional planning, and has served as a planning director in city and county governments. Often her department has been responsible for capital improvements, community development projects, and code enforcement as well. She also served as president of a consulting firm specializing in neighborhood plans and community development work.

She also has made some intellectual travels into media and writing. They have sharpened her judgment and perception about what’s truly important in community work. Nancy's an avid community and neighborhood volunteer herself, having served as an officer and board member in metropolitan, community, and neighborhood level non-profit organizations. Her recent experiences in facilitating neighborhood leadership training also influence the site.

Right now Nancy is tired of proper writing, even though she’s won several competitive prizes for formal writing. So she and her co-authors are really "telling it like it is" for a change. Whenever neighborhood folks are in danger of wasting their time, we says so. We expose any conventional wisdom about community work that doesn’t pass the reality test.