District 11 Book Club on "Strong Towns: A Bottom Up Revolution to Rebuild American Prosperity" June 24 at 7:00 PM, Sequoya Library

The District 11 Book Club, a free and informal group hosted by Madison Alder Bill Tishler, will meet on Wednesday, June 24 from 7:00 to 8:30 pm at Sequoya Library. The group regularly brings neighbors together to discuss books and ideas related to urban planning, local history, and social issues.

This month's discussion will focus on Strong Towns: A Bottom Up Revolution to Rebuild American Prosperity by Charles L. Marohn Jr. The event will feature a casual panel conversation with area residents Josh Olson and Matt Wise, along with plenty of time for questions and community discussion. No advance reading of the book is required to attend, but you can learn more about the topic at www.strongtowns.org.

Event Details
Date: Wednesday, June 24
Time: 7:00 to 8:30 PM
Location: Sequoya Library

Strong Towns explores how communities can grow in financially resilient, human scale ways by prioritizing small, incremental improvements rather than large, top down development. These ideas are especially relevant in Madison as housing costs continue to rise and residents look for ways to add housing while preserving a neighborhood feel.

The District 11 Book Club has previously explored themes related to housing and zoning, and Strong Towns both echoes and challenges those earlier perspectives. Rather than relying on large, top-down projects or rapid outward expansion, Marohn advocates for small, incremental changes shaped by residents and local businesses. Examples include allowing a wider mix of housing types such as duplexes and small apartment buildings, along with encouraging gradual reinvestment that strengthens neighborhoods block by block.

These ideas are especially relevant for Madison. As housing costs continue to rise, the challenge is not only how to add more homes, but how to do so in ways that preserve a neighborhood feel while supporting long term financial stability. Marohn emphasizes flexibility, local decision making, and careful stewardship of public resources as essential tools for building resilient and adaptable communities.

Those familiar with past District 11 Book Club topics will notice both alignment and contrast. Like Arbitrary Lines: How Zoning Broke the American City, Strong Towns critiques zoning, though with a greater focus on municipal finance. Compared to Shrink the City, it favors steady, incremental change over bold transformation. And unlike The Art of Community, which emphasizes belonging and connection, Marohn's approach is more financially driven.

Join us for a thoughtful discussion about how choices around housing, infrastructure, and neighborhood design can shape stronger, more resilient communities over time.

Featured Panel Speakers

Josh Olson has lived in Dane County for nearly nine years. Inspired by Strong Towns campaigns, he helped launch the Madison “Local Conversation" group in 2023 and continues to co coordinate its monthly meetings and advocacy efforts. He nominated Madison for the 2026 Strongest Town Contest, where it placed runner up to West Allis, Wisconsin, and has contributed articles to Strong Towns highlighting local projects and progress. 

Matt Wise lives in Midvale Heights with his wife and three daughters. A board member of the Midvale Heights Neighborhood Association, he helped start the People First Streets committee, which advocates for safer pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, especially for children. Though a software engineer by profession, Matt draws inspiration for better neighborhood design from daily walks with his family.