First 10 steps in Idea Friendly: change your town

Sometimes officials ask, “What should we do first?” or “What are the 10 things we should do?”

It’s not just officials, either. All kinds of people and groups want to know, ‘what should we do first?’ You can find 10 things you can choose from, or do them all, right here. We’ve also provided links to more information about each topic.

I’ve numbered them, but there are no rules. Do one or a few, or pick and choose. Just start small.

1. Coffee and calendars

Bring different groups together over coffee, compare schedules, and learn a little bit about each other. Do this in person. You’re there for community building, not for creating an online calendar. This is a perfect first step to build connections locally.

Start Coffee and Calendars

2. Community success list

Be prepared for those folks who say, ‘We’re a dying town’ or ‘nothing good happens.’ This is another one that is a perfect starting point.

Start a community success list
Deb got mad about a negative news report and wrote her own positive list

White board says, "Success List! Remember, not everything is terrible. Three clients in business builder. Surprise sponsorship for Infusion, EDAM Community Edge Northern Delivery." — First draft of a Success List. Photo by Becky Cianflone, Community Futures Greenstone, Canada

3. “What to do” Pinterest list

Answer those people who say, ‘There’s nothing to do here’ with a Pinterest board sharing things to do. Make it easy for everyone to contribute to the board.

Make a “What to do in…” Pinterest board as a group

4. Local networking time

Have you scheduled a conference or workshop? Remember to add networking time. Even people who know each other want a chance to talk.

Add a networking time to a local event

5. Do good, but kinda secretly

Join with some friends and become ninjas-for-good in your own town. The city doesn’t have to do everything!

Adopt downtown planters and flower boxes, pull some weeds and clean up some windows ninja-style.

6. Community honey-do list

Make it easier for just anyone to be a ninja-for-good. Start a list of small projects that anyone might do.

Make a “Ninja” or “Honey, do” list for the community

7. Paint something (anything)

Those downtown utility poles with the faded paint? Paint ’em. Tired of looking at cracks in the cement? Paint it with some crack art! Boring bollards? Make ’em minions!

Paint the utility poles
Paint the bollards or some crack art

A small metal water tank has been converted to an herb garden planter and painted with bright flowers — Paint your herb garden container, like this one at TwispWorks, in Twisp, Washington. Photo by Becky McCray

8. Do lots of ribbon cuttings and shovel events

Ribbon cuttings and shovel events can be held for more than just new businesses. By hosting a ribbon cutting, you can keep folks current with your ongoing projects!

Hold a ribbon cutting or shovel event for the next step in an ongoing project