Commons Magazine

Commons Magazine is your gateway to the latest thinking and action in the commons movement. We pay close attention to how communities around the world are discovering the commons as a way to solve problems and to share what belong to all of us equitably – including future generations. You’ll find profiles of everyday people making a difference, groundbreaking ideas that will prove useful in your own life, as well as current news examined in fresh ways through a commons lens.

September 2012 Edition

The Times They're a Changing. Or Are They? 31 states outlaw gay marriage. But this election offers four opportunities to stop bans.	The President and the Citizen A vision of citizenship expressed in Obama's recent speech might signal a new direction for his administration-- and the country
Needed: A New Vision for the Great Lakes A commons belonging to all rather than a commodity for sale to the highest bidder	Will the Tide Turn on Gay Marriage This Election Year? A new voter's guide lays out the arguments of both sides in Maine, Washington, Minnesota and Maryland
The Great American Neighborhood Welcome to Jacobsburg, which offers inspiring lessons in how to create a great community.	Cities By the People, Cities For the People A conversation with David Harvey, eminent geographer, commoner, radical and champion of our right to the city
Did We Build It? Or Didn't We? America's vanishing sense of commonwealth can be seen in this year's election

August 2012 Edition

Corporate Crime Does Pay Major businesses repeatedly break the same laws over again to boost profits	A 150-Year Experiment: Colleges That Serve Everyone Land-grant schools make a natural ally for the commons movement
16 Ways to Make Your Neighborhood Safer, Greener and More Fun From Italy to Luckenbach, Texas, practical ideas for improving your hometown	Magna Carta Manifesto The commons was at the core of a founding document of Western democracy
For Good Customer Service Go to Government, Not Corporations Have you tried to get through to your insurance company or bank recently?	25 Tips for Making Your Neighborhood Better Jay Walljasper's guide to changing the world on your own block
Low-income People Need Public Spaces the Most Parks, squares, sidewalks, transit, schools and community centers are commons that can be used by all	Water Privatization Overlooked as Factor in Egypt's Revolt Mubarak's water policies contributed to the Arab Spring revolution last year
After 20 Years, Charter Schools Stray From Their Original Mission Instead of laboratories to improve all schools, many are now for-profit enterprises with poor report cards	Not Your Father's Motor City Southwest Detroit defies the stereotypes
Poor People Need Public Spaces the Most Parks, squares, sidewalks, transit, schools and community centers are commons that can be used by all	11 Ways to Turn Public Spaces into Great Places A guide for placemaking based on almost 40 years experience in 40 countries
The Fall and Rise of Great Public Spaces Why we need parks, streetlife, squares, markets, trails, community gardens and other hang outs more than ever	What Do We Lose When Experiences Go Extinct? A less colorful, less fragrant, less delicious, less sensual world awaits us--unless we act now
How to Transform Your Community Jay Walljasper's video about how to make a great neighborhood	Around the World in 40 Places Some of the greatest public spaces on Earth--which offer lessons of what we could do in our hometowns