Ben Speggen, Author at Our Towns

Scott and Tiffany Whaley stop for a picture in front of the old Kershaw Train Depot renewed as office spaces and a museum. Photo by Michelle Ellia.

Ben Speggen
November 8, 2022

A train depot that’s a museum. A bank branch building that’s become a library. Another former bank that is serving as an early education center. Here is how this South Carolina town is repurposing buildings of the past to build up its future.

View Post

Economic Development

Inside Our Towns: Tighe Bullock

Ben Speggen and Evan Sanford
October 18, 2022

Evan Sanford catches up with Tighe Bullock, the accountant, lawyer, downtown developer, and construction contractor, on his latest work in Charleston, West Virginia.

Jim and Deb Fallows sitting in front of a bookshelf.

View Post

Colleges & Universities

What Do Colleges Do For Their Communities – and the Country?

Ben Speggen
October 13, 2022

‘What can colleges do for the country?’ is an important question to ask, and a powerful theme explored in The Washington Monthly’s annual college rankings issue. This conversation was hosted by New…

View Post

Civic Life

Inside Our Towns: Allen Carroll and Story Maps

Ben Speggen and Evan Sanford
September 16, 2022

Evan Sanford explores the origin and evolution of Esri’s story maps with the innovative storytelling tool’s creator, Allen Carroll.

A flagpole outside of the Fort Lawn Community Center where a 9/11 Memorial features an artwork created from a World Trade Center steel beam.

View Post

Citizen Engagement

To Both See and Tell the Country: From the Road through North Carolina to South Carolina

Ben Speggen
September 7, 2022

Why seeing more of America matters.

Mac Love (center) stands in front of a mural reading "beautiful" with fellow Art x Love team members Josy Jones, Dee McCall, Gaby Barnes, and Patrick Richards (left to right) who were a part of the @Play project in Akron. Photo courtesy of Art x Love.

View Post

Education

An Outsider Works with Insiders: Examples from Akron and Cleveland

Alex Bieler and Ben Speggen
August 10, 2022

Mac Love, who has spent much of his life outside Ohio, uses new technologies to bring community residents and college students together. That collaborative approach is now helping citizens’ voices be heard and is driving meaningful change in their neighborhoods.

A small child points as two older adults look at him. In the background, Bucksport, Maine's paper mill can be seen.

View Post

Parks & Recreation

Past, Present, and Future on the Water: Using StoryMaps to Explore Bucksport, Maine

Ben Speggen
July 28, 2022

What does a mile-long stretch along the Penobscot River tell the walker about Bucksport, Maine? As it turns out, a lot.

A 32 lobster boat with a blue haul named The Perseverance in Eastport, Maine

View Post

Environment & Sustainability

A Look at Lobstering and Craftsmanship

Ben Speggen
July 19, 2022

Eastport, Maine has a long history of resilience. It’s still there today in Elijah Brice.

View Post

Civic Life

Inside Our Towns: PA Humanities

Ben Speggen and Evan Sanford
June 27, 2022

A look at Humanities in the 21st century, the power of storytelling in community development, and more.

View Post

Citizen Engagement

Inside Our Towns: Jason Neises

Ben Speggen and Evan Sanford
June 3, 2022

Discussing opportunities, real and perceived challenges in small-town America, and the impact of Community Heart & Soul in Iowa.

View Post

Media

What Makes a City Great? – BYU Radio

Ben Speggen
April 25, 2022

Top of Mind with Julie RoseMillions of Americans move each year in search of a better house, neighborhood, job, or quality of life. Is leaving the only way to live…

Graphic featuring show title and photo of Jim and Deb Fallows

View Post

Media

Write America: Deborah and James Fallows

Ben Speggen
April 25, 2022

Join Alice-Byrd’s Books for the fifty-seventh episode of “Write America,” featuring Deb and Jim Fallows, as they read and discuss their works intimating how the deep divisions in the country…

Angela Zerad plays the Ukrainian national anthem at her assisted living facility

View Post

Arts

Think Global, Perform Local

Ben Speggen
March 24, 2022

Troubled by the war in Ukraine, 100-year-old Angie Zerad wanted to do something. With help from her daughter, she began the daily ritual of playing the Ukrainian national anthem.

A truckload of donations headed to Boulder thanks to a volunteer.

View Post

Breweries & Distilleries

Max Taps Supports Marshall Fire Victims

Ben Speggen
January 9, 2022

In the wake of one of the costliest fires in U.S. history, a local establishment is leading a local response effort to support those in need.

Graphic that displays James and Deborah Fallows as the guests on the "We're Speaking" podcast.

View Post

Media

‘We’re Speaking’ features ‘Our Towns’ in conversation

Ben Speggen
December 2, 2021

A conversation on the experimentation, renewal, and hope for America's small towns.

View Post

Governance

Ajo, Charleston, and Eastport take to the digital stage to talk rural resilience

Ben Speggen
November 7, 2021

What do Ajo, Arizona; Charleston, West Virginia; Eastport, Maine have in common? For starters, they were all featured in a recent panel discussion that Our Towns hosted at the Rural…