A Love Letter to Suburbia: A Q&A Night with Diane Alisa

From suburbs to villages: places to call home, where kids have freedom and parents aren’t full-time chauffeurs.

A Q&A night with author Diane Alisa, hosted by Strong Richmond Hill.

Gather with us in person at FlexSpace. Diane Alisa will join us virtually for the conversation and audience Q&A.

What if your child could visit a friend without asking for a ride? What if meeting another parent didn’t require coordinating calendars and getting in the car? What if the place you called home made it easier to find your people?

Join Strong Towns Richmond Hill at FlexSpace for a conversation with Diane Alisa, author of A Love Letter to Suburbia: How to Restore the American Village. We’ll explore her vision of turning suburbs into villages—and what that could mean for families here in Richmond Hill.

An evening about the places we live—and the lives they make possible

This event brings mothers, fathers, and neighbours into a conversation about how our streets and neighbourhoods shape everyday family life. When nearly every trip requires a car, children’s independence can depend on an adult’s availability, and parents can spend much of their day moving between school, activities, errands, and home.

Through conversation and audience questions, we’ll explore what it would take to create neighbourhoods where more of daily life happens close to home: safer walks, nearby destinations, welcoming public spaces, and more chances to meet and support one another.

• How can children gain more freedom to walk, play, and explore safely?
• What makes it easier for parents to find friendship and practical support nearby?
• What does a village offer that a subdivision might be missing?
• What small changes could help Richmond Hill become a more connected place to raise a family?

About Diane Alisa

Diane Alisa is a Utah-based author, storyteller, and performer, and a mother of two sons. She studied theatre at Brigham Young University and has worked in professional and community theatre. Her writing and advocacy focus on mothers, children, and rebuilding a sense of community.

About the book

A Love Letter to Suburbia: How to Restore the American Village examines how suburban development and car dependence can weaken the connections that help communities thrive. Diane offers a hopeful vision of the village: a walkable place where families, local businesses, and shared community life reinforce one another.

The book’s setting is American, but our conversation will bring its questions home to Richmond Hill: how can we make the places we already live more welcoming, connected, and supportive of family life?

Learn more about the book and author at The Olive Conservatory.

Who is this evening for?

Moms, dads, grandparents, caregivers, and anyone who wants a stronger neighbourhood. Whether you’ve read the book or are just curious about the idea, bring your questions and your experience of life in Richmond Hill.

Event details

• Event: A Love Letter to Suburbia — A Q&A Night with Diane Alisa
• Host: Strong Towns Richmond Hill
• Location: FlexSpace (in-person gathering; the author will participate virtually)
• Date and time: Nov. 18, 2026
• Registration: Details and a registration link will be added here.

Come with a question. Come with a neighbour. Help us imagine a place where family life feels less isolated—and more like a village.