The Power of Place-Making: Why Community is Important Now More than Ever

I am writing this column from Zurich today, where the air is cold, and the mountains are still capped with snow. Even from here, my thoughts are with Avalon Park—where spring has arrived, the sun is shining, and the community is full of life. No matter where I am, Avalon Park is never far from my mind.

In Zurich, I grew up in a small apartment above a bakery and coffee shop. The space was small, but the neighborhood was large in heart. We played in the streets, went to school a few blocks away, and bought groceries from the local shop down the street. Our neighbors were like extended family, and the sense of community was built into everyday life. Looking back, it was my first experience with the kind of place-making that stays with you forever.

That same feeling is what we strive for every day in Avalon Park. We designed this community with the idea that people thrive when they have spaces to connect—parks, churches, schools, restaurants, and sidewalks that lead to familiar faces. In a time when so much of life happens online, these shared public places become more important than ever. They are where smiles are exchanged, where ideas are born, and where the simple act of saying “hello” reminds us we belong.

What makes Avalon Park special is not just the design, but the people who bring it to life. I often visit The Colombian Bakery on my way into the office, and I rarely leave without a good story—running into someone I have not seen in a while, sharing a conversation over a pastry, hearing what’s new in someone’s life. These small everyday moments create a strong sense of community. It is not something that can be manufactured—it has to grow naturally from people caring about one another.

Culture is another part of what brings us together. Avalon Park is home to many different backgrounds, traditions, and languages. That diversity does not divide us in Avalon Park—it enriches us. Whether it is through food, art, music, or shared celebrations, culture has a way of opening hearts and connecting neighbors. A great example is Anna and Chef Rosario, the owners at Mangia, who have woven their Italian heritage into their restaurant, and who are now working on an Italian heritage event for the fall. That kind of cultural sharing strengthens our community and builds bridges to understanding.

The beauty of a community like Avalon Park is that leadership does not just come from the top—it rises from the ground up. Local volunteers, small business owners, families, and friends shape this place every day. They give their time, their talents, and their passion to help build something meaningful. It reminds me of how my own father, a baker in Zurich, knew every neighbor by name. He did not need a title to lead—he led by showing up, by being part of something larger than himself.

We live in a world full of challenges—economic uncertainty, political division, and technological change—but I believe the answer is not to pull apart, but to pull closer. To gather in our parks, to support our local shops, to greet one another on our morning walks. In short, to build places that reflect our shared humanity.

I often say that Avalon Park is not just a place to live, learn, work and play—it is a place to belong. And in a time when that feeling can be hard to find, I am grateful every day that we have it here.