Join us for a conversation with author Steve Nygren about embracing optimism, challenging the status quo, and reinventing community!

Hosted by Westside Urban Forum, Steve Nygren of Serenbe will discuss his national bestseller, Start In Your Own Backyard: Transforming Where We Live With Radical Common Sense, which chronicles the rise of Serenbe, a pioneering model of biophilic living outside Atlanta. Josh Stephens, former Westside Urban Forum President and contributing editor to the California Planning & Development Report, will join in conversation.

The book provides a blueprint for developing sustainable communities where citizens of all generations can thrive, and awe is found in everyday moments. Topics include:

• The unintended consequences of sprawl, and why clustered development supports more green space, more housing, and lower costs

• Why being disconnected from nature and each other is at the root of many environmental, societal, and health-related woes

• Tactics to encourage a local food-based economy

• How small yards, front porches, and blueberry bushes at crosswalks lead to strong, supportive neighborhoods

• The benefits of aging in place and nurturing connections between generations

Whether you're a placemaker, developer, civic leader, business owner, or parent wishing to improve your community, this book educates and inspires, demonstrating the impact of local action and sparking hope that one person can change the world by starting in your own backyard.

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