Categories
Community Ally Suite of Tools

October 2020 Update Preview

We usually send out an annual email on December 31 regarding improvements to our suite of tools. Since we’re just about to launch our premium plan on November 1, we wanted to share a preview as an extra oomph to help encourage those on the fence to support us by signing up for the premium […]

Categories
Community Improvement

Limit Company Size

I was recently quoted by Kauffman Foundation regarding what systems changes I would prioritize for the economy: Limit company size. Crazy, I know. But once an economy has companies the size of Walmart, Amazon, or Google, you inhibit the creation of small businesses. Those small businesses are less efficient, but employ more people and directly […]

Categories
Community Improvement

Money Flowing Away

If you talk to me at community strength then you’ll know I’m a believer that apathy is the primary cause of fading communities. I’m starting to think there’s another factor that’s just as important: financial independence, or local self-reliance as the amazing ILSR group puts it. Bear with me here. If neighbors are stumbling financially, […]

Categories
Community Ally Suite of Tools

Announcing Our Premium Plan

Thanks to the support of our amazing base of HOAs and condo associations, we’ve introduced a premium plan to support the Community Ally suite of tools. After much number crunching, we’re also happy to announce we’re still going to offer a free plan to help very low usage groups. Features No existing features will be […]

Categories
KCK Adventure

KCK Adventure Update Spring 2020

I want to periodically share updates regarding my adventures in visiting KCK neighborhoods. Covid-19 has shut down all neighborhood meetings for the time being so now seems like a good time for an update. Back in January I attended the Armourdale Renewal Association board meeting this morning thanks to an invite from my friend Dinie. […]

Categories
Community Ally Suite of Tools

We’re Not Shutting Down Our Tools!

We’re honored and flattered to share that we’ve had enough responses from associations committing to pay for our tools that we’ll be able to keep running. We’ll be sending out an email soon with more details.

Categories
Community Ally Suite of Tools

Shutting Down the Suite of Tools

It is with a heavy heart that I’m announcing that Community Ally will be shutting down. I’m sorry to pile on bad news with this pandemic we’re all facing, but I want to give you as much notice as possible. On the bright side, we’re giving you a year heads up, we plan to shut down April 2021. We can’t […]

Categories
Engagement

Personal Responses

I met with the insightful LaMonica the Neighborhood Outreach and Engagement Coordinator at the Center for Neighborhoods in KCMO. She previously worked with Andrea at Livable Neighborhoods in KCK as a Neighborhood Liaison. She shared a lot of helpful information, but we Americans love our “sound bites” so I want to share this with the […]

Categories
KCK Adventure

Learning from Kansas City, KS Neighborhoods

I’ve been involved in my Kansas City, KS (KCK) community since I first moved here. But I haven’t branched out too much beyond my own borders. I met with the amazing Andrea at Livable Neighbors today. If you just go by what you read online, you’d think that all neighborhoods are imploding and no one […]

Categories
Community Improvement

Apathy: The Destroyer of All Things Community

I’ve been meaning to write a lot about this ever since I launched Condo Ally. I’ve been able to experience this first hand for close to a decade. I’ve lived near great neighbors that whose company I enjoyed very much, but for some it was near impossible to get them to participate in building/association activity […]