What is Civic Capacity All About?
Vol. III, No. 181 - An inside look at this growing publication
Thank you Friends!
Throughout November, this publication is giving our readers an opportunity where our readers can support local food pantries. Every dollar received from our “Buy Me a Coffee” Page will be given to New Path Food Pantries.
We started November with a modest goal to raise $750 and thanks to the response, our goal was changed to $2,500. Our Campaign has met it’s goal and has raised $2,600!
But, we still have more than a week here in November and we aren’t stopping now!
Do you want to be part of this effort, along with over 60 other donors to help support our efforts? You can by making a donation here:
Over the past few weeks, the subscribers to this project has grown and grown substantially. It has give me pause and made me think that this might be a good time to take a step back and help explain what the purpose and the mission of this project is. Is this just another newsletter focused on local affairs? It might look like that, but the vision is for something richer and more impactful.
This publication exists because hometowns deserve more than headlines. This project is built on a simple belief: when neighbors understand how local decisions are made, they are better able to shape the future of their community. Here in Miami County, that means slowing down, asking honest questions, and giving clear answers about the choices that affect daily life.
Civic capacity is a shared strength. It is the combined ability of residents, institutions, and local leaders to work together on problems, make informed decisions, and move a community forward. That strength grows when people have access to good information, feel welcome in public conversations, and know how to make their voices heard.
Civic Capacity is a different kind of local newsletter because it focuses on the “why” behind the “what.” Plenty of places, even legacy media, will list events or repeat press releases, but very few stop to explain what a new tax tool does, how a land use plan works, or why a council vote matters to your street. Here, the work is to unpack complex topics in calm, plain language so more neighbors can follow along and take part.
This publication loves Miami County and takes its responsibilities seriously. Integrity, transparency, and public trust sit at the center of every story, with accuracy and fairness placed ahead of speed or style. No donor, sponsor, or advertiser gets special access or influence, because the first duty is to readers and to the truth. And yes, when this publication gets things wrong, retractions are made and further explanations are offered.
The mission is direct: to produce fair and accurate stories that explain decisions made in our hometowns. The vision is just as clear: when the community is watching and engaged, public needs are addressed, government works better, and the whole county grows stronger. Civic Capacity aims for depth, context, and analysis, not quick clicks or viral outrage.
This work is also practical. It points out big upcoming decisions in local government and shows residents how to get involved before the vote, not after the fact. It creates a place to ask honest questions, learn about tools and ideas on the table, and see what solutions local governments are considering to make communities more resilient.
Everything here is written to be easy to read and easy to understand. The goal is not to impress experts, but to welcome busy neighbors who care about their town and want to catch up after work, school, or a long week. Articles are meant to fit into real life, not demand a policy degree.
The information here is free because strong communities need open access to local news. Many outlets have gone away or locked their best work behind paywalls, leaving residents with fewer ways to understand what is happening around them. Or, perhaps even worse, they have intermingled their work with clickbait titles — it’s hard to tell the real journalism from paid advertising. Here, insight is meant to reach as many people as possible, with readers who are able choosing to support the work so others can benefit.
Most importantly, this publication also believes leadership does not live only in city hall. This is a place to recognize neighbors, institutions, and groups that quietly carry the work of community forward every day. By lifting up these efforts and talking honestly about the values and principles that matter, the publication invites everyone to think about the kind of leadership they want to practice at home, on the job, and in public life.
This newsletter is only a first step. As the project grows, it will look for more ways to meet people where they are, whether that is in their inbox, through more podcasts or video, or possibly even creating in-person events. But the heart of Civic Capacity will remain the same: a steady, trustworthy space where Miami County residents can learn, reflect, and join in the work of shaping the place they call home.
And you can help Civic Capacity grow. Please share our work with your friends and neighbors, participate in our surveys, consider becoming a paying customer this holiday season. Together, we are growing stronger communities.
Participate in our November Community Survey!
So, throughout November, you can participate in our survey to give your thoughts and feelings on the direction of your hometown!
You can access the survey here:
Thanks for your time and your participation! It is greatly appreciated!
A New Handbook to grow Civic Capacity!
Recently, we created a new digital handbook, “The Citizen’s Guide to Public Records”. This handbook is designed to help residents have a better understanding of public meetings and meeting records. It’s filled with templates, ideas and other information that will open a new world of public affairs.
Also, if you have ideas for future handbooks, please let us know at pinnaclestrategiesltd@gmail.com.
Want to Learn More About Troy’s Businesses?
Our publication has recently released our September 2025 Economic Abstract, the most comprehensive and up-to-date report on the businesses and industries in the City of Troy. For those that want to understand our community’s business and industries, this is a must-have report.
Thank you to our New Media Partners!
Recently, many of our stories has been showing up on the local news website, www.mymiamicounty.com. We are grateful for the good folks for sharing our work with their audience and we would encourage our readers to check them out at their website!
Our publication would also like to recognize the good work being done at www.piquanewsnow.com. Piqua News Now is a new web-based news and information site for the Miami County area, with a specific focus on Piqua!
In addition, the good folks at Piqua News Now have started a new, 24-hour streaming YouTube channel. This channel is awesome with continuous weather updates and more importantly, it provides a 24-hour audio feed from county wide dispatch. Check it out here!
Also, thanks for reading today’s Civic Capacity Newsletter! Please feel free to share this information with your friends and neighbors.
Also, please consider subscribing to our work. If you are a free subscriber, please consider becoming a paid subscriber. For less than $1 a week, you can get timely and conversational updates about the decisions that are impacting your hometown!