BOOK REVIEW: Our Towns: A 100,000-Mile Journey into the Heart of America – Reviewed by Richard Dodd
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MIKE FENDER[dropcap]”O[/dropcap]ur Towns” (2018) is a timely book that offers constructive insights to our community’s current plight following Hurricane Michael. Husband-and-wife team James and Deborah Fallows share their travels throughout the United States studying communities that have faced adversity and survived.
From crop failure to job loss to shifting population, these towns had all suffered, and their economy and overall quality of life had significantly declined. The authors immersed themselves in these communities for extended periods of time to understand the challenges and to document the outcomes to date with resulting strategies. This is a fascinating book that provides valuable information about 29 different towns, many of which had to face similar situations as our beloved community.
One of my favorite chapters is the story of Greenville, South Carolina. Relying on its textile industry from the Civil War through the mid-1990s, Greenville suffered a dramatic decline of this industry when NAFTA, the North American Free Trade Agreement, took effect in 1994. It might have dealt a fatal blow to Greenville if not for strong business leaders, engaged elected officials, passionate educators, a thriving arts community, and agile entrepreneurs. The entire community banded together, and Greenville was reborn.
On October 10, 2018, Hurricane Michael devastated Northwest Florida, taking away the homes and livelihoods for so many in our community. The great news is that nature will prevail, and beauty will return eventually. We are blessed to live in this beautiful coastal setting. We have mourned our losses and have come together to help one another along in daily struggles. Progress is slow, but blue tarps and debris piles are fewer and businesses are reopening weekly. Now is our time to become a community of a collaborative spirit filled with local patriotism. One of the overarching findings from “Our Towns” is that progress is often slow and should be measured in decades and not months. It is our time to ask questions. How can we make our community a better place not just for you and me but for our children and grandchildren? How can we be a vibrant community with an exceptional quality of life? How can we be that town that entices entrepreneurs and business owners who could live almost anywhere but choose our community to call home?
There is so much to be gleaned from “Our Towns.” For example, the authors stressed the importance of having walkable communities with a strong quality of life, a nimble and strong educational system, and being receptive to public/private partnerships that yield a win-win outcome. I encourage, and even challenge, everyone to pick up this book and read it. There are now multiple copies in the Bay County and Panama City Beach libraries. One underlying theme from “Our Towns” that we should all whole heartedly embrace: Banding together we can do great things.
[divider]About Richard Dodd
Richard Dodd and his wife of 37 years are the proud parents of three children and two granddaughters who affectionately call him “Pop.” Dodd, a Bay County resident since 1983, is president of ReliantSouth Construction Group, a regional commercial construction contractor. In addition to being passionate about Downtown Panama City, businessman Dodd serves with the LEAD Coalition, Alignment Bay, Destiny Worship Center and is involved with Bay District School’s Construction Academies, Science Fair, and Cherry Street Elementary School.