Happy Thanksgiving!
Vol. III, No. 180 - Today is the 800th edition of Civic Capacity!
This Thanksgiving edition is special, and not just because of the holiday. Today marks the 800th edition of Civic Capacity, and that milestone belongs as much to you as it does to this publication.
When this newsletter started, the goal was simple but ambitious: to chip away at the invisible wall separating those who govern from those who are governed, not through outrage or frustration, but through clarity, context, and useful information about local decisions. Over the past three years, your engagement, questions, and support have helped turn that goal into a living reality throughout Miami County and our communities.
Because you read, subscribe, and speak up, local decisions have shifted in real time, and residents are now better equipped to understand not only what is happening, but why it is happening. The community that has formed around this work is stronger and more resilient, and this publication exists to serve that growing civic capacity every single day.
Reaching 800 editions in less than three years is not a sign that this work is getting old; it is proof that there is always something new and important to explore about civic life in our hometowns. The subscriber base has expanded into an international audience (a special hello to those readers in 48 states and 40 different nations that are reading this!), and the appetite for thoughtful, local analysis continues to grow.
This project remains young and evolving, branching into tools like handbooks, podcasts, and videos, all aimed at helping residents better understand and engage with local government. Each new reader, each share and every comment helps extend that reach and deepens the impact.
Civic Capacity has always been built on a simple premise: this work is more useful when it reflects the questions, concerns, and hopes of the people who call Miami County home. If you have ideas on how this newsletter can continue to earn your trust and provide value, please leave a comment or send an email to pinnaclestrategiesltd@gmail.com.
Thank you for reading, for subscribing, for sharing, and for caring about the future of our hometowns, whether here in Miami County, or somewhere else. I will always be grateful to those that are on this journey with me. And I can’’t tell you how much joy it brings me when I am walking down the street or in a store and someone comes up to me and thanks me for the work being done here. More than any statistic, or any metric, that tells me that this work continues to be valuable for our community and our readers!
Happy Thanksgiving, and here’s to the next chapter of Civic Capacity—written together with you.
Happy Thanksgiving 🦃