Achieving Community: Let's Get Real

The benefits of authentic community are extensive. Maybe even transcendent. But how do we get to that point? Scott Doyon's latest blog has a few thoughts.

1 minute read

December 8, 2016, 9:00 AM PST

By Hazel Borys


"Looking at the types of neighborhoods ... where many if not most people lack the option of just buying their way out of their problems — should tell us something."

"When we need each other we naturally organize ourselves in particular ways. Those ways work, from a purely functional standpoint. But they also work on a deeper level. By bringing us closer and enabling the give-and-take of daily human negotiation, they also make us something more. Something better."

"There’s the idea of community as it’s often presented in marketing literature and then there’s this. When people say they yearn for community, whether they realize it or not, this is what they’re pining for."

Scott Doyon references Kristen Jeffers of the Black Urbanist and Michael Harriot's The Caucasian's Guide to Black Neighborhoods to broach this subject, and then looks at sharing economy tools like Josephine to talk about alternative approaches to community building.

Wednesday, December 7, 2016 in PlaceShakers

Young Professional

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

Get top-rated, practical training for planners

"Planetizen federal action tracker" logo superimposed over black and white image of US Capitol dome.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

October 28, 2026 - Zachary Whalen

A car drives through a puddle, making a large splash. Rain pours down.

California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour

If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.

October 28, 2026 - Grist

A pencil rendering of Foundry Park, which shows skyscrapers and public green spaces.

Chicago breaks ground on $3 billion megadevelopment

The new neighborhood, titled Foundry Park, will one day host 3,700 residences.

October 23, 2026 - Chicago Sun Times

A rendering of a high speed rain station in California, with wide platforms and a sleep train with yellow highlights.

California High-Speed Rail Authority CEO resigns after $600,000 scandal

Under Ian Choudri, the authority used taxpayer dollars to fund first class flights and trips to nightclubs.

5 hours ago - Cal Matters

 A bridge stretches across the Missouri River at Chamberlain, South Dakota.

Want to study the Missouri River? Soon, you may need unanimous approval from 10 states

Legislation would require 10 governors’ permission to study or build projects moving water outside the basin.

7 hours ago - South Dakota Searchlight

Lake Powell with much of the water evaporated.

Desperate measures: Advocates weigh draining Lake Powell to fill Colorado River

Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.

October 30 - Yale Environment 360