Overview of the Local Conversation Process

You can think of the Local Conversations process as a multi-leg journey. It progresses from the Start-up Phase through a succession of stages. As a Local Conversation grows and matures, the more the Strong Towns organization and staff can help. Each stage unlocks new benefits.

Also at each stage, there are things we will ask Local Conversations to accomplish. These achievements aren’t arbitrary. They are based on what we’ve learned watching more than 230 groups get up and running, and what we’ve learned watching many other groups struggle to find their legs.

The Local Conversations process is described in more detail in the free Local Conversations Leaders course. You can also see a graphic representation of the process in the PDF below. Here is a summary:

Start-Up Process

Most prospective Local Conversation leaders begin the process of creating a Local Conversation by visiting strongtowns.org/local. There you can see if there is already a local Strong Towns group in your area. If there isn't, they fill out this form. That is our cue as Strong Towns staff to send some basic information about the Local Conversations program and invite you to an orientation call with a Strong Towns team member.

Here are the requirements for officially launching a Local Conversation and moving into Stage 1:

• Complete an orientation call with a Strong Towns staffer.
• Complete the Local Conversation Leaders course, which answers all the most common questions we get about starting and leading a Local Conversation.
• Sign the Local Conversation Leader's agreement...what we call the "Don't Be a Jerk Agreement"!
• Meet at least one time with at least two other people in your community, if you haven't already. This should be an in-person meeting. It’s not important that these folks have heard of Strong Towns. So long as you sense that they are kindred spirits who share your hopes for a stronger town or city.
• Ensure that at least one member of your new group is a Strong Towns member at what we call the “Movement Builder” level. This is the equivalent of either $100 per year or $10 per month.*
• Let Strong Towns staffers know when you've completed these steps by filling out this form.

*A note about the membership requirement. Membership does three things:

1. It brings the benefits of Strong Towns membership into your group. This includes member-exclusive email updates, discounts on various things, invites to local member meet-ups, and more.
2. It helps offset a very small portion of the Local Conversations program, which is growing rapidly. 
3. It inspires action. According to a recent audience survey, Strong Towns members are far more likely than non-members to talk Strong Towns with others, share articles, volunteer, run for office, and more.

Stage 1: Learn to Gather

Every stage of the Local Conversation process has a theme. The theme of Stage 1 is "Learn to Gather." Every new stage also includes several new tasks we ask groups to accomplish. These tasks — based on our experience — help Local Conversations build skills, resilience, and momentum...all while encouraging you to take real-world action in your community.

Benefits of moving into Stage 1:

• We will add your group to the Local Conversations map.
• We will send an email to everyone on our email list who lives in your area to let them know a new group has formed.
• We will announce the formation of your group in Strong Towns media, including our general emails and in the announcement bar at the top of our website.
• You will start getting monthly Local Conversation emails, each of which will include new resources, announcements, and a preview of what Strong Towns is working on.
• You’ll be able to use the Strong Towns name and logo. For example, you can be called Strong Towns Grand Rapids or Strong Towns Cheyenne, if you want. You can also modify our logo to make it fit your group. (By the way, you don’t HAVE to have Strong Towns in your group name.)
• You will get an invitation to a Discord server that we set up just for people leading Local Conversations.
• You will be invited to several monthly Zoom skillshare office hours, just for Local Conversation leaders.
• You will be invited to monthly Stage 1 office hours
• Your Local Conversation moves into Stage 1.

And you will likely start getting invitations to be invited to be featured in Strong Towns content.

Milestones for Stage 1

Most stages include a training goal, a leadership development goal, and one or more group activities. Here are the milestones for Stage 1 Local Conversations:

• Training Goal: Complete the Academy training "Working Across Differences"
• Leadership Development Goal: Have at least two Local Conversation leaders
• Group Activities: Complete a Learning to Gather activity
• Grow your Local Conversation to a minimum of five LC members
• Have a minimum of two Strong Towns members at the Movement Builder level

Stage 2: Learn to Communicate

The theme of Stage 2 is "Learn to Communicate."

Benefits of moving into Stage 2

• Strong Towns will follow your group on social media and look for opportunities to re-share and boost your content
• Strong Towns will use growth-hacking expertise to advertise your group in your local region
• You will receive a communications coaching/strategy session with Strong Towns experts
• You will receive an invitation to monthly Stage 2 Zoom meetings

Milestones for Stage 2

Here are the milestones for Stage 2 Local Conversations:

• Training Goal: Complete the Academy training on the Strong Towns approach to messaging
• Leadership Development Goal: Have at least three Local Conversation leaders
• Group Activities: Complete a messaging-focused movement building activity; complete a second Learning Activity; create a group communications strategy
• Grow your Local Conversation to a minimum of seven LC members
• Have a minimum of three Strong Towns members at the Movement Builder level

Stage 3: Learn to Advocate

The theme of Stage 3 is "Learn to Advocate."

Benefits of moving into Stage 3

• Your group can receive a Strong Towns landing page
• You will receive free passes for Local-Motive and Academy courses
• We will send periodic reminders to our full email list, telling them about your group and upcoming activities
• You will receive an invitation to monthly Stage 3 Zoom meetings

Milestones

Here are the milestones for Stage 3 Local Conversations:

• Training Goal: Complete the Academy training on the 4-Step Process for Public Investment
• Group Activities: Complete an Organizing Activity; complete a third Learning Activity
• Identify your group's focus areas, especially those aligned with Strong Towns five core campaigns
• Grow your Local Conversation to a minimum of nine LC members

Stage 4: Transform Your Community

The theme of Stage 4 is "Transform Your Community."

Benefits of moving into Stage 4

• You will receive an invitation to a Leadership Summit in Brainerd
• You will receive advance tickets to the National Gathering
• You will receive free passes for Local-Motive sessions
• You will receive priority access to Strong Towns staff
• You will receive coaching on priority campaign implementation
• We will send periodic reminders to our full email list, telling them about your group and upcoming activities
• You will receive an invitation to monthly Stage 4 Zoom meetings

LC Process Document