We want... Strong Towns.

At Wicks Collective, we spend a lot of time thinking about how to make our town a place where people actually want to be—not just pass through. A place where families hang out on the weekends, neighbors stop to chat on the sidewalk, and new ideas can take root and grow. That’s our mission: to help build inclusive spaces, support civic life, and bring energy back to the local level.

One group that’s helped shape how we think about this work is Strong Towns.

If you haven’t heard of them, Strong Towns is a national nonprofit that’s flipping the script on how we approach growth and development. Instead of pushing for big flashy projects or endless expansion, they ask: What makes a place strong? What makes it lovable, livable, and financially resilient in the long run?

The answers are often surprisingly simple. Strong Towns believes in small, steady investments—fixing up what we already have, supporting local businesses, building streets for people (not just cars), and trusting that real change starts with the people who live here.

Sound familiar? That’s basically the heart of what we do at Wicks.

Whether we’re working to create shared spaces, helping local entrepreneurs get started, or advocating for better streetscape design, we’re moving in the same direction. We want South Berwick—and the surrounding region—to be a place where people stop, stay, and support. Not because someone built a mega mall or added 200 parking spaces, but because they like it here. Because it feels like home.

Strong Towns gives communities a framework and language to talk about these things. They’ve got great articles, podcasts, and resources if you’re curious to dig in. But more than anything, they offer a reminder that it’s okay to think small. That taking care of what’s already here—our downtowns, our sidewalks, our neighbors—can be more powerful than any big outside investment.

We’re proud to carry that spirit forward in our work. And we hope you’ll join us.

Let’s build something strong, together.

Check out more here: www.strongtowns.org