Hourglass, a nonprofit organization focused on quality of life issues for Lancaster County, will host Chuck Marohn, president and founder of Strong Towns, in Lancaster on Wednesday and Thursday, April 12 and 13. Marohn, an urban planner and engineer, is known for his writing and speaking about the need for cities and towns to prioritize strong, resilient neighborhoods and a more financially responsible approach to development. Marohn's advocacy includes a focus on incremental development, walkable neighborhoods and safe streets, and the importance of building strong local economies.

Marohn's visit will include a community forum on April 12 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Ware Center, 42 N. Prince St., Lancaster. In this presentation, Marohn will highlight stories from his book, "Strong Towns: A Bottom Up Revolution to Rebuild American Prosperity," and use those insights to highlight a path to community prosperity. Using an innovative, hands-on approach, this presentation will showcase why many towns in North America are struggling financially despite decades of robust growth. The event will include a reception with complimentary wine, beer and hors d'oeuvres; a presentation and audience question-and-answer session; and a book signing with the author. Tickets may be purchased at http://www.hourglasslancaster.org/strongtowns.

Following the community forum, Marohn will keynote a breakfast presentation on April 13 for local nonprofit leaders, developers, planners and municipal and elected officials with a focus on housing. This presentation, co-hosted by the Coalition for Sustainable Housing and Coalition for Smart Growth, will focus on the root causes of America's interrelated housing crises and will identify some responses that the local community can take. The presentation will also include local housing data. The breakfast presentation will not be open to the public, but community members who purchase tickets to the April 12 forum will receive a livestream link to watch virtually.

For more information, visit the aforementioned website.