The hottest Community Engagement Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Business Topics

Problem-Solver's Paradox

HackBoyFly • 2 HN points • 16 Jul 24
💼 Business Community Engagement
  1. Entrepreneurs and innovators can get stuck in a cycle of just finding problems, instead of solving them
  2. Sometimes the act of searching for the perfect problem becomes the main issue
  3. Considering alternative approaches like letting problems come to you or engaging with communities can lead to more effective problem-solving

My Favorite Maps

Street Smart Naturalist: Explorations of the Urban Kind • 99 implied HN points • 21 Jul 22
🎭️ Culture Community Engagement
  1. Looking down at the ground while walking in Seattle can reveal interesting sights, such as tracks made by ducks in concrete. It's fun to notice small details others might overlook.
  2. Seattle has artistic hatch covers throughout the city, designed to make the streets more visually appealing. These covers feature maps and landmarks, making them both decorative and informative.
  3. The maps on the hatch covers are meant to help people navigate the city, but many are not aligned correctly. It's a quirky part of Seattle that encourages exploring while walking.

Once a Maintainer: André Luis Cardoso Jr.

Once a Maintainer • 49 implied HN points • 18 Oct 24
🕹 Technology Community Engagement
  1. Getting into programming can start with just curiosity and having a computer. Self-study can lead you to discover what you really want to do.
  2. Contributing to open source is about giving back to the community and helps you grow as a developer. Even small contributions can make a big difference.
  3. It's important to teach younger developers about understanding the code under the hood, not just using tools. Encouraging contribution can keep projects alive and thriving.

Vesuvius Challenge Progress Prizes: December Edition

Vesuvius Challenge • 31 implied HN points • 24 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Community Engagement
  1. The community is focused on improving data quality, like using better labels and refining how they categorize information. This will help them create automated tools for analyzing scrolls more effectively.
  2. Several contributors have made significant advancements in developing new segmentation models and tools, which will help in analyzing scroll data. These innovations are key for understanding ancient texts.
  3. 2024 has been a great year for teamwork and progress as everyone shares their findings. The hard work from many people is leading to quick improvements in technology for studying historical scrolls.

Urban Scavenger Hunt

Street Smart Naturalist: Explorations of the Urban Kind • 119 implied HN points • 06 Jan 22
🎭️ Culture Community Engagement
  1. Urban scavenger hunts can help you discover unique items in your neighborhood. Look out for fossils in old buildings and carved animals on facades.
  2. Take note of remnants of the past like hitching posts and ghost signs. These tell stories about the history of the area and how it has changed over time.
  3. Pay attention to local plants and geology as you explore. You might find native trees, interesting lichen, or clues about old water features that still exist beneath the city.
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Community Notes and potential vote brigading

Conspirador Norteño • 36 implied HN points • 02 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Community Engagement
  1. Community Notes on the X platform use a unique voting system to check facts, requiring a mix of helpful ratings. This makes it harder to manipulate which information is shown.
  2. Recent voting patterns show large bursts of upvotes or downvotes after political posts, often favoring right-leaning perspectives. This suggests some users might be trying to game the system.
  3. Out of many notes reviewed, most aimed to correct or add context to political content. While some notes were rated 'helpful,' others still need more varied ratings to be visible.

Philadelphia's Stray Cats

The Weekly Gazette • 42 implied HN points • 11 Sep 24
🎭️ Culture Community Engagement
  1. Philadelphia has a significant stray cat problem, with about 400,000 cats living outdoors. These cats often face dangers like disease, abuse, and harsh weather.
  2. Organizations like The Cat Collaborative are using trap-neuter-return (TNR) methods to help manage the cat population. This technique aims to reduce the number of stray cats over time.
  3. Despite some success, TNR has its challenges and critics. A large number of cats need to be trapped and fixed for it to be effective, and public awareness is key to improving the situation.

Taptive's 18 Month Progress Report

Grant's Writing • 19 implied HN points • 07 Jul 23
💼 Business Community Engagement
  1. Taptive partners with organizations to teach community members how to write online through cohort-based programs
  2. In the past 18 months, Taptive has worked with over 20 organizations, ran 35 programs, and helped publish 1,800 essays
  3. Taptive's future goals are to improve the cohort experience, partner with more organizations, and grow their team

🙏🏾 Thank You

UnfairNation by Ehsan Zaffar • 9 implied HN points • 08 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Community Engagement
  1. UnfairNation has grown by 25% in readers since announcing new changes, showing that there is strong interest in what they offer.
  2. They've posted over 400 job and internship opportunities, helping people find important roles that make a difference.
  3. A small group of students is actively involved in research and job curation, learning how real change happens outside of textbooks.

Some updates and the like

Just Enough to Get Me in Trouble • 18 implied HN points • 17 Dec 24
🎭️ Culture Community Engagement
  1. A new original piece will be published on December 21st, where several writers will share their personal philosophies.
  2. There will be a live Community Writing Circle in Sonoma on January 13th, inviting all types of writers to connect and create.
  3. A portion of paid subscriptions goes to the Cerebral Palsy Foundation, supporting important initiatives for those with CP.

How Sort Made It to the Front Page of Product Hunt

Database Engineering by Sort • 15 implied HN points • 27 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Community Engagement
  1. Preparation is key for a successful launch. It helps to choose the right day and have a strong online presence ready.
  2. Engaging with your community can make a big difference. Personal messages and social media can help gather support and votes.
  3. A clear value proposition shows how your product solves real problems. Highlighting what makes your product unique is important for attracting attention.

I just met Bob Dylan 🎨

Mindful Musings • 83 implied HN points • 14 Feb 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Community Engagement
  1. The author shares a story of encountering an artist named Blob Dylan in Brooklyn, which seemed to resonate deeply with them.
  2. Despite the mystery and intrigue surrounding Blob Dylan, the author ultimately learns that heroes may not always meet expectations when met in person.
  3. The encounter with Blob Dylan inspires the author to realize the power of having a dream and making a mark on the world, encouraging readers to embrace their own potential for change.

Responding to Loss with Courage and Compassion

Journal of Free Black Thought • 16 implied HN points • 28 Nov 24
🎭️ Culture Community Engagement
  1. Leaders should face their losses openly instead of ignoring them. This helps them understand their emotions and grow stronger.
  2. True grit involves recognizing fears and failures, while false grit is about pretending everything is fine. Leaders should embrace vulnerability to inspire real courage.
  3. Understanding the emotional impact of loss is key for effective leadership. Leaders must help others process their losses to facilitate positive change.

Apple of my Eye

Street Smart Naturalist: Explorations of the Urban Kind • 59 implied HN points • 27 May 21
🎭️ Culture Community Engagement
  1. There are wild apple trees growing along bike trails in Seattle, and they might have started from people tossing apple cores or seeds. It's a fun thought to imagine how they got there.
  2. In the past, Seattle had many orchards with a huge variety of fruits. Back in 1860, there were way more fruit trees than people, with lots of different types of apples available.
  3. Feral fruit trees still exist in the city, telling stories about the connection between nature and urban life. Some trees were once cultivated but now grow wild, showcasing the randomness of nature.

Building for the Block, Not the Feed

Kathy PM • 7 implied HN points • 30 Mar 25
🕹 Technology Community Engagement
  1. Creating simple tools can make it easier for people to take action on local issues, like biking safety. By providing ready-to-use message templates, more people can easily express their support.
  2. Fast and focused coding can lead to impactful solutions that address specific community needs. You don't need large projects to make a difference; sometimes, small changes have a big effect.
  3. Listening to your community's needs and building tools to address them can spark meaningful conversations and connections, helping people feel more involved in local matters.

How to develop an online professional network [StoryTime Saturdays]

Technology Made Simple • 19 implied HN points • 29 May 22
🕹 Technology Community Engagement
  1. Building an online network can connect you with diverse individuals and open up opportunities for growth and progression.
  2. When building your network, remember to be active and ask questions, while avoiding impatience and neediness to make a good impression.
  3. Finding like-minded individuals in groups, adding value to conversations, and interacting thoughtfully are key steps to effectively developing your online network.

Thinking Diagonally about the Church

DruGroup • 39 implied HN points • 23 Nov 21
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Community Engagement
  1. The church is not just another part of the community; it works across many areas like a network and connects people from all backgrounds.
  2. Thinking of the church in terms of identities is limiting. The church should bring together all kinds of people and intersect various identities to be truly effective.
  3. Leaders need to adopt 'diagonal thinking' to see the church as a whole. This means stepping away from viewing it strictly as a business or identity group and understanding its broader role in the community.

20241117

Curious futures (KGhosh) • 8 implied HN points • 17 Nov 24
🎭️ Culture Community Engagement
  1. Occupying public spaces can help resist the negative effects of consumerism. It encourages people to reclaim shared areas for community building.
  2. A balanced society needs three sectors: public, private, and plural. The plural sector includes community groups and NGOs that are not controlled by big corporations or government.
  3. Art and culture should be explored in everyday places. Simple experiences like listening to music or viewing art can enrich our lives and connect us.

Episode 25: Burkhard on Qt Embedded Systems

burkhardstubert • 19 implied HN points • 03 Jan 22
🕹 Technology Community Engagement
  1. The author received a significant award, becoming a Qt Champion in the Ambassador category for promoting Qt Embedded Systems. It's quite a recognition for their contributions!
  2. In 2022, the author plans to write more, give talks, and create video tutorials on Qt Embedded Systems, with over 50 ideas lined up. It sounds like they are excited to share more knowledge!
  3. The author encourages readers to engage and provide feedback, hoping to keep them as loyal readers and critics as they grow their content.

Speaking of You

DruGroup • 19 implied HN points • 20 Dec 21
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Community Engagement
  1. The author appreciates their readers and encourages them to share articles. This sharing helps grow the readership and reach others who may find the content valuable.
  2. The decision was made to keep the subscription free rather than introducing a paid option. The author values continued engagement without charging their audience.
  3. The author is open to addressing reader questions and interests in future writings. They invite feedback on what topics readers want to explore next.

Technical Education vs. Mental Illness

Rounding the Earth Newsletter • 5 implied HN points • 10 Dec 24
🚌 Education Community Engagement
  1. Learning about technology is really important for understanding how to manage our finances, especially with things like Bitcoin. If people don’t educate themselves, they might miss out on important advantages.
  2. Misunderstanding technical subjects can lead to harmful decisions in society, like when someone protests against effective solutions due to fear or misinformation. We need to have informed discussions rather than relying on opinions that lack depth.
  3. It's crucial to recognize the hard work that goes into becoming an expert in technical fields. Just knowing a little isn’t enough; serious commitment and study are necessary to really understand complex topics.

Sustainable Winter Cities

The Third Place • 1 HN point • 20 Mar 24
🪑 Design Community Engagement
  1. Swedish winters can be challenging with prolonged darkness, cold temperatures, and limited vegetation, affecting mental health and activity levels.
  2. Improving public spaces in winter cities involves creating pedestrian-friendly infrastructure, clear bike lanes, and mixed-use development for vibrant and efficient neighborhoods.
  3. Cities worldwide are implementing creative approaches to make winter more enjoyable, such as ice skating rinks, winter sports events, snow parks, festivals, and illuminated paths, fostering community engagement and appreciation for the season.

💪🏽 New Format. New Opportunities.

UnfairNation by Ehsan Zaffar • 3 implied HN points • 28 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Community Engagement
  1. The newsletter is changing to provide more practical resources rather than commentary. This means it will be sent more regularly with useful information.
  2. Youth incarceration rates have dropped significantly since the 1990s, showing that communities can create better solutions when they demand change.
  3. There are various job and fellowship opportunities available that focus on social good, climate change, and equity in college sports.

Vaccine Safety Research Foundation SunPower LED SuperPalm 1050 Raffle

Steve Kirsch's newsletter • 1 implied HN point • 25 Jul 25
🏥 Health Politics Community Engagement
  1. The Vaccine Safety Research Foundation is holding a raffle for a SuperPalm 1050 device valued at $1900, which uses advanced light therapy. This device helps relieve pain and target deep tissue issues.
  2. Tickets for the raffle are affordable, starting at $10 for one entry, and there are options to buy more for better chances. The funds raised support the foundation's mission related to vaccine safety and advocacy.
  3. The foundation promotes transparency and encourages open discussions about COVID-19 vaccine safety and public health. They aim to provide information free from corporate influence and biased narratives.

Postcards from a Train, Part One

Outspoken with Dr Naomi Wolf • 3 implied HN points • 24 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Community Engagement
  1. Conservative women often share a sense of resilience and optimism, focusing on what they can do to improve their communities, unlike some liberal groups who tend to dwell on problems and blame.
  2. In personal relationships, avoiding discussions about political differences can create unspoken barriers that lead to a lack of honest communication, leaving important feelings unaddressed.
  3. Emotional connections suffer when people feel silenced or restricted in expressing their views, making it hard to address deeper personal issues and feelings within relationships.

Dear subscribers . . .

The Corbett Report • 5 implied HN points • 18 Feb 24
📰 News Community Engagement
  1. The post addresses paying members of The Corbett Report community, inviting them to log in and watch a new video explaining the subscriber features of the website.
  2. Those who are paying members but unsure how to log in are encouraged to reach out for assistance.
  3. Non-paying members are acknowledged in the post, implying they can continue with their usual activities without supporting independent media.

On Developer Marketing

Optimism (for the web) • 4 implied HN points • 24 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Community Engagement
  1. Building trust is key in developer marketing. Developers want to know that a product is reliable and that they can turn to it without worry.
  2. Great marketing for developers should be clear and useful. Instead of using fancy terms, it should focus on how to help developers create better products.
  3. Engagement with the community is crucial. Hosting events and talking to developers can guide product improvements and create valuable content ideas.

Live Call 11/15 -- Unlearning

Charles Eisenstein • 2 implied HN points • 11 Nov 24
🚌 Education Community Engagement
  1. The course 'Unlearning for Change Agents' is designed to help people break free from old beliefs that block understanding and cooperation.
  2. It is relevant today because of increased political division, aiming to teach how to handle differences without harming society.
  3. Participants can join a free live call to get a taste of the course, and they can choose their own price for the course based on what feels right for them.

Community Discussion

Daniel Pinchbeck’s Newsletter • 1 implied HN point • 26 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Community Engagement
  1. There's a community call happening to discuss the changes in American politics. It's open to anyone who wants to join.
  2. The meeting will focus on concerns about issues like Technofeudalism and Tech fascism. These are important problems related to technology and power in society.
  3. If you're interested, you can register for the call happening today at noon EST. It's a good chance to share your thoughts and learn from others.

Once a Maintainer: Benji Nguyen

Once a Maintainer • 5 implied HN points • 28 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Community Engagement
  1. Benji Nguyen started programming after leaving medical school and discovering a passion for it.
  2. Erdtree, a multi-threaded filesystem tool in Rust, was born out of boredom and the desire to create a modern alternative to an old program.
  3. Getting more people into open source involves educating them on engagement etiquette and encouraging empathy for fellow programmers.