<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[The Community Positive Project]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Community Positive Project showcases people creating lasting change through community engagement, aiming to inspire, empower, and impact others.]]></description><link>https://www.communitypositive.com/blog</link><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Tue, 17 Mar 2026 02:18:18 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://www.communitypositive.com/es/blog-feed.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title><![CDATA[Before He Wrote a Book, Founded a Nonprofit, and Led a Division of 110,000... He Was a 16-Year-Old Who Said Yes]]></title><description><![CDATA[Justin Edson started volunteering at 16. Today he leads a division, runs a national nonprofit, and wrote the book on code enforcement. Here's what drove it.]]></description><link>https://www.communitypositive.com/post/from-teen-volunteer-to-founder</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6987ba11966638726862354a</guid><category><![CDATA[Volunteerism]]></category><category><![CDATA[Career Insights]]></category><category><![CDATA[Servant Leadership]]></category><pubDate>Sat, 07 Mar 2026 16:45:30 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/770565_16626cf1bdc748d89cbc765f2f0411e3~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_221,h_221,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Catherine Huckaby</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Be the Thirteenth: The Underrated Power of Simply Showing Up]]></title><description><![CDATA[When every issue is a crisis, every disagreement is a war, and every neighbor is a combatant, we can't hear anything anymore. It's just noise. ]]></description><link>https://www.communitypositive.com/post/be-the-thirteenth-the-underrated-power-of-simply-showing-up</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69812ac71dce0ff3f1073314</guid><category><![CDATA[Civic Engagement]]></category><category><![CDATA[Volunteerism]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 06 Feb 2026 14:00:13 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/770565_85f98b56f3e1474cb90295c4ed3716cf~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Catherine Huckaby</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Can I Work in Public Service or Volunteer Without the Right Degree or Background?]]></title><description><![CDATA[Victor Turner's story about his unexpected path into housing and community development got thousands of reads. So did Nicolette Ricciuti's journey from answering phones to running regulatory compliance for an entire city. Rose Martinez turned her personal struggles navigating systems into a career helping other families do the same.



Starting a public service career looked different for each of them, but they shared something crucial: they stopped waiting for permission and started showing up.]]></description><link>https://www.communitypositive.com/post/the-voices-you-chose-what-your-top-20-stories-of-2025-reveal-about-public-service</link><guid isPermaLink="false">696a5f824240a10d7a7dea64</guid><category><![CDATA[Career Insights]]></category><category><![CDATA[Community Engagement]]></category><category><![CDATA[Youth]]></category><category><![CDATA[Civic Engagement]]></category><pubDate>Sat, 17 Jan 2026 18:13:24 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/770565_4816077c6d6749fe8deb8c97e04c8b7c~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Catherine Huckaby</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Inspiring Journey of Tyg Taylor and Wholly Kicks]]></title><description><![CDATA["They just keep showing up every Tuesday... and changed the entire trajectory of Wholly Kicks." ]]></description><link>https://www.communitypositive.com/post/wholly-kicks</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6930e3b0644b95bce4b459c1</guid><category><![CDATA[Volunteerism]]></category><category><![CDATA[Servant Leadership]]></category><category><![CDATA[Community Engagement]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 03 Dec 2025 06:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/770565_9cd243182e24401c9eb1a6280cfff8bd~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_428,h_430,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Catherine Huckaby</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Why Your City's Facebook Comments Aren't Community Engagement (And What Actually Works)]]></title><description><![CDATA[Do we solve problems by shouting louder through social media and packed public meetings, or do we invest in building stronger systems for genuine partnership?]]></description><link>https://www.communitypositive.com/post/why-your-city-s-facebook-comments-aren-t-community-engagement-and-what-actually-works</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69290d4fd8fb7619deea372c</guid><category><![CDATA[Civic Engagement]]></category><category><![CDATA[Community Engagement]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 27 Nov 2025 06:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/770565_80736e3b38184820bbd0d45bc8834381~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_589,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Catherine Huckaby</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Transforming Stigma into Strength: Courtney Harrness and VAMHAR's Impact on Mental Health and Addiction Recovery]]></title><description><![CDATA["When my kids are talking to you in a few years about what they're doing for work, they can say, oh, my dad had this challenge, but we grew up talking about it... and we know where to go for help." ]]></description><link>https://www.communitypositive.com/post/the-business-case-for-compassion-how-recovery-friendly-workplaces-drive-success</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6917360eeb7dccdd38abe92b</guid><category><![CDATA[Servant Leadership]]></category><category><![CDATA[Career Insights]]></category><category><![CDATA[Community Engagement]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 14 Nov 2025 06:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/770565_763056637bc74c418a8d78a09de52681~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Catherine Huckaby</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Building Better Communities Together: The Power of Civic Engagement]]></title><description><![CDATA[We've all been in situations where someone asked for our opinion, nodded thoughtfully, and then proceeded to do exactly what they were going to do anyway. Call it what you like, but that's not collaboration. It's theater.]]></description><link>https://www.communitypositive.com/post/stop-watching-your-city-happen-start-making-it-happen</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6917a84f1f276a0fa61deac9</guid><category><![CDATA[Civic Engagement]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 13 Nov 2025 06:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/770565_c28b98c7477841fdaed08e8188d60ad3~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_637,h_634,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Catherine Huckaby</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Why the Best Public Servants Start By Raising Their Hands: Questions, Curiosity, and Community Building]]></title><description><![CDATA["An assistant city manager asked, 'Are there any questions?' And I raised my hand and asked, 'What's a pension?’ "I was terrified but figured I needed to ask questions if I was going to effectively explain the topic to others."]]></description><link>https://www.communitypositive.com/post/public-servant</link><guid isPermaLink="false">690dfa7730af4bd6adb25482</guid><category><![CDATA[Career Insights]]></category><category><![CDATA[Civic Engagement]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 07 Nov 2025 15:27:59 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/770565_7176efda38cd4d00a125932de3a2a754~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Catherine Huckaby</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[No Map, No Problem: How Rose Martinez Turned Personal Struggle into Systemic Solutions]]></title><description><![CDATA["If there's a barrier, it's up to you if you want to let it stop you or not."]]></description><link>https://www.communitypositive.com/post/no-map-no-problem-how-rose-martinez-turned-personal-struggle-into-systemic-solutions</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68fb7319dc39b5e10eaa57c7</guid><category><![CDATA[Community Engagement]]></category><category><![CDATA[Career Insights]]></category><category><![CDATA[Civic Engagement]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 23 Oct 2025 05:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/770565_60ec298c91e848bca84f5c4b46bddcb7~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_452,h_456,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Catherine Huckaby</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Beyond the Bus Stop: How Strategic Pivots and People-Focused Programming are Revolutionizing Transit Engagement ]]></title><description><![CDATA["It took a long time to get comfortable. I was reactive. I said yes to every request for support and found it difficult to say no because there was no process I could reference to justify my reason for not doing something. When my manager left, I assumed their role and responsibilities, too. After much trial and error, I have a clear understanding of how I want public participation and education to look at the agency.” ]]></description><link>https://www.communitypositive.com/post/beyond-the-bus-stop-how-strategic-pivots-and-people-focused-programming-engagement</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68e7098df99b368a71d68a39</guid><category><![CDATA[Career Insights]]></category><category><![CDATA[Community Engagement]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 08 Oct 2025 05:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/770565_d40d5e91bfe44f4fb148b7f7660d4faf~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Catherine Huckaby</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[From Classroom to Community: How One Educator Took a Leap of Faith to Pursue Her Passion ]]></title><description><![CDATA[“When you're passionate about something—in my case, it's serving others—it becomes a way of life. It's not an 'I have to do this' mindset; it's an 'I GET to do this' mindset." ]]></description><link>https://www.communitypositive.com/post/from-classroom-to-community-how-one-educator-took-a-leap-of-faith-to-pursue-her-passion</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68d67d84369e7146c832f567</guid><category><![CDATA[Community Engagement]]></category><category><![CDATA[Career Insights]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 26 Sep 2025 05:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/770565_211c7679e25343f9980c67a2ac29893f~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_453,h_455,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Catherine Huckaby</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[One Volunteer, One Person, One Year: The Radical Simplicity of Ending Homelessness]]></title><description><![CDATA["His whole profession was climbing on rafters... he had six cars, lost them all, had a high-rise downtown, lost it all…and then he ended up in a homeless shelter." ]]></description><link>https://www.communitypositive.com/post/homelessness</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68b5a0b31280332ce0f8d68b</guid><category><![CDATA[Career Insights]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 12 Sep 2025 05:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/770565_148b1f9c964349d0bb7059ffb54df413~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_302,h_302,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Catherine Huckaby</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Transformative Success: Why Collaboration Defines Keith Vinson's Journey]]></title><description><![CDATA["He was a cheerleader for me. He came to my football and basketball games. He talked about me from the pulpit—all without me asking." ]]></description><link>https://www.communitypositive.com/post/transformative-success-why-collaboration-defines-keith-vinson-s-journey</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68b592e3c13d324174852d43</guid><category><![CDATA[Servant Leadership]]></category><category><![CDATA[Community Engagement]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 03 Sep 2025 05:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/770565_7dc4f5e010324add93efe3db41bfcba3~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Catherine Huckaby</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Why Mansfield, Texas Lets High Schoolers Make Real Government Decisions (And You Should Too) ]]></title><description><![CDATA["Our purpose is to pinpoint issues or subjects that impact the youth within our community and act on those  matters."]]></description><link>https://www.communitypositive.com/post/why-mansfield-texas-lets-high-schoolers-make-real-government-decisions-and-you-should-too</link><guid isPermaLink="false">688bbe8b45ab709d6d05a59e</guid><category><![CDATA[Civic Engagement]]></category><category><![CDATA[Volunteerism]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 29 Aug 2025 05:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/770565_2a626074a5164d0290cfa38c5da9bc48~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Catherine Huckaby</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[From Popsicles to Politics: How One Grandfather's Question Sparked a Lifetime of Public Service ]]></title><description><![CDATA[“I believe disagreement and the challenge of ideas is not only important, but also absolutely necessary."]]></description><link>https://www.communitypositive.com/post/from-popsicles-to-politics-how-one-grandfather-s-question-sparked-a-lifetime-of-public-service</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68a6732d8efa79f18afbd024</guid><category><![CDATA[Volunteerism]]></category><category><![CDATA[Community Engagement]]></category><category><![CDATA[Civic Engagement]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 21 Aug 2025 02:09:21 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/770565_47556540f1124d5cb62185e32501836d~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Catherine Huckaby</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Creating Space for Every Voice: Pete Iengo's Mission to Transform How Cities Engage with Community Members]]></title><description><![CDATA["Neighbor to Neighbor is all about making sure people have the opportunity to thrive. The number one-way people have an opportunity to thrive is if they have a stable home." ]]></description><link>https://www.communitypositive.com/post/creating-space-for-every-voice-pete-iengo-s-mission-to-transform-how-cities-engage-with-community-m</link><guid isPermaLink="false">685c544ad99c65dd82f1fb9e</guid><category><![CDATA[Career Insights]]></category><category><![CDATA[Community Engagement]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 30 Jul 2025 05:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/770565_55507788c51d4678999c2e69808aac3f~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Catherine Huckaby</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[From Insurance Agent to 3-Term Mayor: How One Wife's Challenge Transformed an Entire Texas City  ]]></title><description><![CDATA["I think you're making a mistake. She said, 'I think God has given you a gift to work with people, and you need to use it.'" ]]></description><link>https://www.communitypositive.com/post/from-insurance-agent-to-3-term-mayor-how-one-wife-s-challenge-transformed-an-entire-texas-city</link><guid isPermaLink="false">684c87b8b80f7a04fa9a3c3d</guid><category><![CDATA[Civic Engagement]]></category><category><![CDATA[Volunteerism]]></category><category><![CDATA[Career Insights]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 24 Jul 2025 05:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/770565_0ddc26b4b6ef4127901cb933fd952da4~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_430,h_433,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Catherine Huckaby</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Uncomfortable Truth About Leadership (You MUST Learn)]]></title><description><![CDATA[The most effective leaders don't just share updates—they share understanding. They distill complex issues into what people actually need to know, then invite them into the conversation.]]></description><link>https://www.communitypositive.com/post/the-uncomfortable-truth-about-leadership-you-must-learn</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6880f39d3fd33c2c585c331e</guid><category><![CDATA[Community Engagement]]></category><category><![CDATA[Civic Engagement]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 23 Jul 2025 05:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/770565_835bb376bac3421796154e176689a0e6~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_666,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Catherine Huckaby</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Hidden Heroes of Local Government: How One Administrator Protects 1.3 million Dallas Residents Daily ]]></title><description><![CDATA[No paycheck can match the satisfaction of doing what’s right, strengthening our community, and leaving a legacy that will continue to shape lives for years to come." ]]></description><link>https://www.communitypositive.com/post/the-hidden-heroes-of-local-government-how-one-administrator-protects-1-3-million-dallas-residents-d</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68406296c81ffc3560ea375a</guid><category><![CDATA[Career Insights]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 16 Jul 2025 05:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/770565_250b61f2110f4516a186a6a7e0bf30a5~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Catherine Huckaby</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[How Asking "Who's Missing?" is Becoming Colorado Springs' Most Powerful Tool for Building Stronger Neighborhoods ]]></title><description><![CDATA["Someone asked me a while back, what was it like leaving the ministry and I said, I don't know, I have no idea what that's like, I'm doing more ministry now than I've ever done." ]]></description><link>https://www.communitypositive.com/post/how-asking-who-s-missing-is-becoming-colorado-springs-most-powerful-tool-for-stronger-neighborhoods</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6841b48ce4226906a2fb865e</guid><category><![CDATA[Career Insights]]></category><category><![CDATA[Community Engagement]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 10 Jul 2025 05:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/770565_bc54516468224317a2a81b46080bca4b~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Catherine Huckaby</dc:creator></item></channel></rss>