Where's Your Hometown?
Vol. III, No. 121 - I want to know more about the place you formed you the most!
Your message can be here!
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For the past two and a half years, Civic Capacity has explored the choices that shape our local communities. The main goal has always been simple: to help people feel inspired and ready to play a part in the decisions that affect their own towns. Local government works best when regular citizens and public leaders work together to create places that can thrive for generations to come. That mission still matters, and it is still at the heart of everything this publication does.
But while working on Civic Capacity, something surprising happened. Today, about 2,500 people get these stories sent right to their email inbox. Even more amazing, more than half of them will read this issue. In the world of newsletters, these are strong numbers. Here’s the interesting part: more and more of these readers don’t even live in Ohio. This made me step back and think—why would someone who has never heard of Piqua, Troy, or Tipp City want to read Civic Capacity? Maybe they see things happening in their own towns. Maybe they like the way the stories are told. Maybe they just enjoy good writing. Of all those reasons, I keep coming back to the stories themselves.
That’s why Civic Capacity won’t change its mission, but it will start sharing even more stories. It’s time for this publication to feel a bit more like a journal—a place for stories from all kinds of places and people. Of course, you will still see stories about what’s happening in our local governments. But now there will also be space for people to share what home means to them.
Home is more than just the place someone was born or grew up. A hometown is any place that makes you feel connected—a spot where you built memories with friends and family, where you learned and grew. It could even be a new place where you feel that same sense of belonging. For me, that place is here. My father and mother both grew up in this town, just minutes from where I live now. I still walk past the schools I attended, the old hardware store where I worked, the parks I played in and the streets where I grew up. I see friends from the past and people who knew me as a child.
Since writing on Substack, I find myself curious about other people’s hometowns and their stories. One subscriber grew up in Paris—the daughter of immigrants from Algeria. Another grew up on a farm, where “going to town” meant a small local village. Stories like these only scratch the surface. That is why now, I want your help.
I hope readers of Civic Capacity will share their stories, too. Tell us about the places that made you who you are. Let’s learn about each other’s hometowns. If you would like to share, just reply to this message or leave a comment; I can be reached at pinnaclestratgiesltd@gmail.com. I would love to set up a time to hear and celebrate your story. Think of Civic Capacity as a home for stories—yours and mine, and those of our whole community.
Take our September Communty Survey!
September means it’s time for our every-other-month community survey. This three minute survey helps gauge our community’s thoughts on the progress being made in the community and asks you, our residents, on what our opportunities and challenges are. This month’s survey is already over 150 participants! If you haven’t participated, please do so!
And this is open to everyone! If the survey gets substantial interaction from other communities, this publication will publish those results!
Access The Community Survey Here!
Thanks for your time and your participation! It is greatly appreciated!
Thank you Readers!
Well, this newsletter was named a “Best Seller” on the Substack platform. But, since we recently lost a paid subscriber, we aren’t on the “Best Seller” list anymore.
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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 updated 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.
Purchase the Economic Abstract
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 importanly, it provides a 24-hour audio feed from county wide dispatch. Check it out here!
You Can Help Support This Work!
Our readers and subscribers have been asking for a new way to support the work being done here at Civic Capacity! Some of our readers do not like the idea of having to sign up for another subscription service. Some of our subscribers occasionally want to give more support through a one-time transaction.
Civic Capacity is partnering with “Buy Me A Coffee” to give our readers, subscribers and friends an opportunity to give one-time support to Civic Capacity. Personally, I don’t like coffee, but I will never turn down a nice iced tea. If you feel compelled to support this effort, just click the button below. In other words, this is an online tip jar.
Also, thanks for reading today’s Civic Capacity Newsletter! Please feel free to share this information with your friends and neighbors.
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