An award-winning writer and editor, popular speaker and veteran communications strategist, Jay Walljasper chronicles stories from around the word that point us toward a better and more enjoyable future.
He covers a wide variety of topics, with particular specialties in community and urban issues, travel, sustainability, cultural commentary, and the commons.
On this site, you will find fresh insight from Jay’s latest articles and columns as well as information about his speaking and writing.
Walljasper is the author of The Great Neighborhood Book (2007) and Visionaries: People and Ideas to Change Your Life (2001).
His experience includes being editorial director and editor of Utne Reader, executive editor of Ode magazine, and a travel editor at Better Homes & Gardens. Utne Reader was nominated for the National Magazine Award for general excellence three times during his years as editor.
Jay's articles have been published in National Geographic Traveler, The New Statesman, Chicago Tribune, The Nation, Midwest Living, Preservation, Huffington Post, Toronto Star, WorldChanging.com, Australian Financial Review, Mother Jones, L. A. Weekly, AARP Bulletin, Planning and other publications.
He was awarded the Robert S. Abbott Award for Meritorious Service in Mass Communications from Savannah State University.
Jay has been quoted on contemporary issues in the New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times and NPR. He has been a speaker at the UNESCO International Conference on Creative Tourism, the Chicago Architectural Foundation, the State of Iowa's Great Places Conference, The Tom McCall Society Lecture in Portland, the Meredith Lecture on Communications at Drake University, and the Trinity Cathedral Lecture Series in Cleveland.
Strategic communication is another of his skills, and he has been deeply involved in developing publicity, media and publishing efforts for On The Commons, Project for Public Spaces and other organizations. He wrote the annual report for Friends of the Mississippi River, a leading citizens group in Minnesota, and a Rockefeller Foundation-funded report about Coalition for Livable Future in Portland.
Click here to contact Jay Walljasper
Fellow, Editor
On The Commons .org
Senior Fellow
Project For Public Spaces
Contributing Writer
National Geographic Traveler
Editor At Large
Ode Magazine
Columnist
Parks & Recreation
