City Makers: American Futures
The people, organizations, and ideas reshaping the country. A journey piloted by James Fallows with Deborah Fallows.
Leaders
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Stuart Siegel From Xizhou to Eastport to Ajo: Big Dreams in Small Towns
The same kind of ambition you see in political campaigns, races for sports championships, or attempts to score a big IPO—but toward a different end.
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City of Fresno Stages of a Downtown Comeback: Fresno Begins the Long Climb
Urban revivals require a shared narrative, private-sector partners, and a public official championing a far-sighted plan.
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Tom Nguyen How the Arts Drove Pittsburgh's Revitalization
The role of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, founded by a wealthy band of visionaries 30 years ago, is central—but hard to replicate.
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BikePGH How Political Leadership Makes City Streets Bikeable
Pittsburgh's Mayor Bill Peduto shows what political will and determination can do.
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Riverlife How Green Riverfronts Transformed Pittsburgh
The City of Bridges revives the rivers that helped make it an economic powerhouse.
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John Tierney When a Community College Transforms a City
Ohio State University may be the local titan, but Columbus State Community College has also become a formidable presence.
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Deborah Fallows National Problems, Local Solutions: More Reports From Ohio
America and Americans in the active, not passive, mode
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Jessica Phelps How to Attract Artists to a Down-and-Out Neighborhood
Columbus, Ohio, has figured out how to draw creative types to an area it is hoping to revitalize.
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John Tierney Remaking Columbus's Most Downtrodden Neighborhood
Franklinton long has been called "The Bottoms." But not for much longer.
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John Tierney Water, Water, Everywhere: Lehigh Valley Edition
Allentown deals with fiscal problems from its past with a bet about water supplies for its future
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John Tierney The City That Turned Its Water Into Cash
"We've got unfunded obligations in the hundreds of millions. What can we leverage?"
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John Tierney Breathing Life Into Allentown: Pennsylvania Comes to the Rescue
What does it take to raise a city? More than a village. In fact, it may take a whole state.
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Village Bake Shoppe Countdown to Tonight's Arena Debut in Allentown
Is the city ready for its close-up? The locals say it is.
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All photos: Deborah and James Fallows The Eagles Come to Allentown, and So Does 'American Futures'
Tomorrow is the first day in an old city's new life—or so the city leaders hope and believe.
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East Mississippi Community College Raj Shaunak and the Economic Boom in Eastern Mississippi
It's one thing to draw high-skill, high-wage jobs to a place that has historically lacked opportunities. It's something else altogether to find people qualified to fill them. A local answer to a national question.
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Heavy Industry in the Mississippi 'Prairie': Why Are These Factories Here?
"Live every second as if your ASS is on fire," and other words of wisdom.
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Photos by Deborah Fallows Theories of History: Joe Max Higgins and the Golden Triangle of Mississippi
"When Eurocopter came here, people started walking upright a little bit." Why has this part of Mississippi pulled ahead of some others?
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Wikimedia Commons Luck? Planning? Karma? The Elements of a Small Town's High-Tech Success
A software company grows in an unlikely setting. "Why here?" we ask the founders.
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On the Character of a Community: What Local Narratives Emphasize, and Leave Out
The role of universities, and our un-loved public efforts.
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Riverview Group Holland, 'Snowmelt,' 'Patient Capital,' and the Revival of Downtown
"I have the best location in all of Western Michigan!"
