🎤 Talks this week & hello from the road

[Kat Vellos]

Plus: What to do this weekend  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

Greetings from on the road, Brian!    Last week, I spoke at CNU34, the annual gathering of Congress for The New Urbanism. On Friday, I presented alongside Ross Chapin and Clay Chapman on a panel called The Software of Community: Building Social Fabric Through Design.   It's critical that the housing we build not only provides roofs over our heads but also containers for community. It's no coincidence that improving the built environment was Pillar #1 in Surgeon General Vivek Murthy's action plan when it comes to reversing the loneliness epidemic. It matters!   In just a few short hours, I'm leveling up last week's panel session with a solo presentation I'm giving at the Strong Towns National Gathering. My session is called Crowbarring Connection into Car-centric Cities. Subtle, right? 😉   I think the title does a good job of telling you what it's about but here's a sneak peek at the overview and what I'll be talking about: the barriers to connection that the design of so many neighborhoods and apartment buildings put in front of us — AND what TF we can all do about it! We find ways to connect anyway!   Building connection in these environments may not be easy, but it is possible to spark community in places that inadvertently overindex for separation, privacy,, and isolation driven by the madness of car supremacy. 🏡 Good Neighbor Day America Fun fact, this country has not one, but two 'good neighbor days.' May 16 is Good Neighbor Day America, and National Good Neighbor Day is on September 28, 2026.    And TBH that's probably a good thing because this country needs as much help as we can get. If you didn't do anything special for Good Neighbor Day last weekend, it's not too late. Do something now! Here's two to-dos to get your started: 1. Introduce yourself to five neighbors, either in person or via a nice postcard left at their front door. Not because you expect them to reply saying they want to be your bestie, but because when it comes to building community, someone's gotta decide to be friendly first. Might as well be you. :) 2. Look for a volunteer opportunity in your town here   If you want my help coming up with an action plan for creating more hyperlocal connection in your neighborhood, enroll today in PAL Kickstart.   🔔 Doors close in 3 days!! This is not a drill. If you've been on the fence, hop over and join this BBQ, good buddy!    Are you feeling like the community connection you're wishing for is too hard, too weird, or too impossible to pull off? I love helping people see that they're not trapped in the limitations of their current moment. 💫    We can creatively design a way around whatever barriers may be holding you back from making new friends, hyperlocal friends, or stronger friendships.   ou deserve to feel at home and connected in your neighborhood. Filling the area with friendships is a reliably joyful way how. Beacon of the Week Thank you to everyone who voted last week. Your wishes are granted! BOTW is here to stay. Warmly, Kat Kat Vellos, author of We Should Get Together: The Secret to Cultivating Better Friendships 🙋🏽‍♀️ The human behind everything written, illustrated, and shared in these newsletters.  Unsubscribe or Manage Preferences 2930 Domingo Ave #1399 Berkeley, CA 94705, United States