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Lisa Mullins Thompson travelled to Lexington, Kentucky, for the Next City Vanguard Conference. © Lisa Mullins Thompson
When I was selected for the 2024 Next City Vanguard Conference in Lexington, Kentucky, I was excited and honored by the opportunity to dive deeper into the work I love — helping communities thrive. The Vanguard program, known for bringing together passionate urban leaders from across the country, is a space where ideas flow freely and actionable solutions are at the forefront. It was a week full of learning, inspiration, and reflections on building stronger, more resilient places where everyone has a role to play.
Main Street America’s work intersects with many themes I encountered during Vanguard — community resilience, leadership, and finding innovative ways to address today’s challenges. The experience reinforced many lessons I’ve learned and introduced new ideas and perspectives that will shape my work moving forward.
Participants shared ideas while enjoying dinner at the London Ferrell Community Garden. © Lisa Mullins Thompson
Community Resilience and Adaptability
My Vanguard experience emphasized that resilience is at the heart of every thriving community. Whether it was urban leaders sharing stories about revitalizing neglected spaces or rural communities finding innovative ways to overcome economic challenges, the message was clear: strong communities are built on the ability to adapt.
This theme of adaptability resonated deeply with me, particularly as I work with many small towns that have faced difficult transitions due to economic downturns, shifts in population, or environmental challenges. I heard stories about communities responding to climate change, integrating sustainable practices, and recovering from disasters. These experiences highlighted how important it is for towns and cities alike to be nimble, to plan for the unexpected, and to empower local leaders to respond creatively to change.
The Power of Local Leadership
Another key takeaway from this experience was how essential it is for change to come from within a community. Too often, we think of leadership as something that happens at a top level — decisions made by people far removed from the realities of a place. But real, lasting change happens at the grassroots level, when the people who know their communities personally take the lead.
This focus on local leadership aligns perfectly with what we strive for at Main Street America. We work closely with local leaders who are deeply invested in their communities, helping them gain the tools and resources they need to drive positive change. I was reminded that the most successful initiatives come from those closest to the issues. It reinforced my belief that empowering local voices to drive leadership is critical to long-term success.
Storytelling as a Tool for Connection
This experience also reminded me of the power of storytelling. Time and again, we heard how communities use stories to bridge gaps, celebrate diverse histories, and build a shared sense of identity. This resonated, especially when we visited Berea College and toured the bell hooks archives. The archives preserve the legacy of one of the most influential thinkers of our time, who wrote powerfully about race, gender, and class. What I found so inspiring about this visit was how it exemplified the importance of telling the stories that are often overlooked or marginalized.
Every town and neighborhood has its own unique story, and those stories are often what binds people together. During Vanguard, I heard countless examples of communities using storytelling to foster pride, build trust, and inspire action. From collecting oral histories to celebrating the contributions of underrepresented groups, storytelling is a powerful way to create a shared vision for the future.
Attendees toured Broken Spokes, a nonprofit dedicated to improving bicycle access. © Lisa Mullins Thompson
Collaboration and Connection
One of the most energizing aspects of the Vanguard program was the sense of connection and collaboration that flowed through every conversation. It was a reminder that, no matter how different our communities might seem, we all work toward a common goal — creating places where people can thrive. The 40 Vanguards, hailing from cities and towns across the country, each brought their own experiences and expertise. The collaborative spirit was infectious, and it became clear that the best ideas often emerge when diverse voices come together.
The Rural Urban Exchange (RUX) program exemplified this spirit of collaboration. By bringing together leaders from Kentucky’s rural and urban communities, RUX has helped break down silos and foster meaningful relationships across geographic and cultural divides. It’s a model that could be applied in other places where bridging divides — rural, urban, economic, or cultural — can create stronger, more resilient communities.
Hope and Possibility
Finally, the Vanguard program left me feeling incredibly hopeful. It’s easy to become overwhelmed by our communities’ challenges — economic inequality, climate change, social divisions — but this week in Lexington reminded me that many people are working to create solutions. The energy, creativity, and commitment of the leaders I met reinforced my belief that positive change is possible and already happening.
As I look ahead, I’m excited to take the lessons I learned from the Vanguard program and apply them to my work at Main Street America. From the power of local leadership to the importance of storytelling and collaboration, these themes will guide me as I continue to support small towns and neighborhood commercial districts in their revitalization efforts. The experience reminded me that there is always an opportunity to innovate, adapt, and grow, even in the face of adversity. It reinforced my belief that every community, no matter its size or location, has the potential to be a place where people can thrive.
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Downtown Ames hosted a festival for the 46th annual RAGBRAI race (The Register's Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa).
7 Ways To Bring Your Main Street On Screen
You don’t need to be a big-name district to make a video that goes viral; you just need to know what you’re doing.
Comcast Newsmakers: Revitalizing Downtown
Matt Wagner, National Main Street Center's Vice President of Revitalization Programs, discusses competitive advantages, incrementalism and the power of the Main Street America network
Community Spotlight: Main Street Homer, Louisiana
Main Street Homer (Homer, Louisiana) was awarded a $25,000 A Community Thrives social impact grant from Gannett/USA Today Network to create an arts center with affordable artist studios and classroom/event space.
Evolution, Acceptance, and Change: The Main Street Approach as a Catalyst for Revitalization
Nearly slated for demolition 30 years ago, downtown Cedar Falls has experienced an amazing transformation through its revitalization journey using the Main Street Approach.
Main Street Roots Run Deep in Downtown Wytheville
Since starting as Executive Director, Todd has helped the organization achieve Virginia Main Street Designation Status and national Accreditation.
Announcing the 2018 Great American Main Street Award Winners
The National Main Street Center, Inc., announced Downtown Oregon City, Rock Springs Main Street/Urban Renewal Agency, and Howell Main Street as the 2018 Great American Main Street Award (GAMSA) winners during its annual conference in Kansas City, Missouri.
Main Streets in Action
We rolled out four new Main Street America videos highlighting the power of the Main Street movement, Main Street Approach, economic impact of Main Street, and the incredible volunteers that make Main Street's grassroots network so effective.
Community Spotlight: Ridgefield Main Street
Ridgefield Main Street is an energetic, up-and-coming Washington Main Street program located just north of Vancouver, Washington.
Want to do something big? Start small.
A series of small, incremental improvements, when taken together, provide momentum for long-term economic transformation and improved quality of life in a community.
Michigan Main Street Refresh Implementation: The Refresh from Our Communities’ Perspective
Here's a bit of background on each of the communities. Read on for the Refresh Implementation Q&A.
Announcing the 2017 Great American Main Street Award Winners
The National Main Street Center, Inc. announced the 2017 Great American Main Street Award (GAMSA) during its annual conference in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
The Reality of Main Street — Letter from the President
The National Main Street Center and the Brookings Institution have jointly authored a response to Mr. Hyman’s piece, The Reality of Main Street, that is featured on Brookings’ blog.
Michigan Main Street Refresh Implementation: Our Process and Lessons Learned So Far
Michigan Main Street Center was the first Coordinating Program to implement the new Main Street approach on a large scale. In this article, they share their robust process and valuable lessons.
The Reality of Main Street
There is another way for smaller communities to compete in today’s economy and we believe a strong main street strategy is at the heart of it.
The Myth of Main Street? Letter from the President
Letter from past MSA President, Patrice Frey
The Lowdown in Downtown LaBelle
Fritz the dog has made his way into the hearts of the residents of LaBelle, Florida, and helped our Main Street Community find a way to make what we do more noticeable.
Strategic Planning Through Transformation Strategies – Saline, Michigan
Back in October 2015, we introduced the three key components of the refreshed Main Street Approach: inputs, outputs and Community Transformation Strategies.
Revitalization and Main Street Transformation
For a lucky few downtowns, greatness may happen effortlessly with a strong sense of place that seems to develop organically and simply sustain itself. For most places, success doesn’t happen by chance.
Revisit Your Community’s Unique Assets: Connecting Asset-Based Economic Development to Community Transformation Strategies
This need for change results from the heavy emphasis on three components of the refreshed Main Street Approach.
The 2016 Great American Main Street Award Winners
The 2016 winners are a diverse group in geography and character, but together demonstrate the broad applicability of the Main Street Approach:
Main Street Nation Radio
The first official show under the Main Street Nation banner aired in June 2015 on WJR-760 AM Detroit.
The Path To The Future
The economic value of historic preservation on Main Street.
Refresh Demonstration Project Sites: Learning Labs for the Updated Main Street Approach
A series of demonstration projects providing the opportunity to test new strategies on the ground, learn from practitioners, and refine the approach.
Why Business Retention and Expansion Plans are Important for Downtowns
A business retention and expansion plan, properly implemented, not only helps keep businesses open but possibly even helps them expand.
Wisconsin Main Street: 27 Years of People, Places and Progress
While there have been over $1.2 billion in public and private investment in Wisconsin Main Street communities over the past 27 years, what really makes it special are the people and places that have been involved.
Pop-Up Art Tour
Main Street Bartow's empty storefronts become pop-up art galleries to promote economic development.
A Walk Through Rehoboth Beach Main Street
Although a “beach town,” Rehoboth Beach is open 365 days a year, and with that has the unique challenge of catering to both year-round residents and tourists within a wide range of ages, interests and economic levels
Independent We Stand Makes Main Streets a Priority
In communities across the country, hardworking business owners and buy local advocates come together to foster an organized effort to reinvent and revitalize Main Streets and downtown districts.
Announcing the 2015 Great American Main Street Award Winners
The National Main Street Center is pleased to announce that Cape Girardeau, Mo., Montclair Center, N.J., and Rawlins, Wyo. were selected as the 2015 Great American Main Street Award® (GAMSA) winners.
