Jan 29, 2021
We sat down for a conversation with Strong Towns Founder Chuck Marohn.
Strong Towns message of bottom up and incremental approach to re-building our communities is catching like wildfire throughout the United States. The techniques they advocate for, seen by many as the antidote to our post-war grand experiment in suburbanization point to a more financially stable, opportunity-rich future….if we make it happen through insisting we can do better by each other.
Our conversaiton focused on economic conditions facing us including ultra-capitalism, the problem of top-down infrastrucure solutions and the challenges business has experienced with pandemic aid.
Listen to Strong Towns Podcasts
About Charles Marohn – known as “Chuck” to friends and colleagues – is a Professional Engineer (PE) licensed in the State of Minnesota and a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP). Chuck is the founder and president of Strong Towns. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Minnesota’s Institute of Technology and a Masters in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey Institute.
He is the author of Thoughts on Building Strong Towns (Volume 1) and A World Class Transportation System as well as the host of the Strong Towns Podcast and a primary writer for Strong Towns’ web content. He has spoken in dozens of towns and cities across North America, and speaks regularly for diverse audiences and venues.
Chuck grew up on a small farm in Central Minnesota. The oldest of three sons of two elementary school teachers, he graduated from Brainerd High School in 1991. Chuck joined the Minnesota National Guard on his 17th birthday during his junior year of high school and served for nine years. Besides being passionate about building a stronger America, he loves playing music, is an obsessive reader and religiously follows his favorite team, the Minnesota Twins. Chuck and his wife live with their two daughters and two Samoyeds just north of Baxter, Minnesota.
Learn more about the work of Strong Towns at StrongTowns.org.