Jesse and his spouse pose in front of a basilica in Mexico City.
Falling in love with big cities has also taken Jesse Swingle and his spouse to megapolises like Mexico City. (Jesse Swingle)

When I joined the board of The Urbanist, it wasn’t just because I care about buses, bike lanes, or housing. (I do.)

It was because The Urbanist represents something rare and essential: a belief that our city can be better when we work together.

At a time when national politics feels paralyzed by fear and division, local action matters more than ever. Supporting The Urbanist means choosing optimism. Choosing facts. Choosing community.

It’s about more than policies or plans. It’s about believing in a Seattle that welcomes more people home, connects more neighbors safely, and builds a future that’s greener, fairer, and more resilient.

When you donate or become a member, you’re not just helping fund journalism or advocacy. You’re sending a signal. You’re raising a small but powerful flag. And, this donor drive, that flag can be a simple wool beanie that says: I believe we can do better, together.

In a world that too often pushes us to despair, The Urbanist gives us reasons to hope and tools to act. If you believe that, too, I hope you’ll join me. Become a member. Make a donation. (And yeah, grab the beanie.)

Let’s build the future we want, starting right here, together.

Support The Urbanist

How to get your Urbanist beanie:

To qualify for a beanie, you must meet one of the following criteria and fill out this form:

If you are not already a subscriber:

  • Start a new subscription at $15/month
  • OR Make a one-time donation of $80.

If you are an existing subscriber:

  • Increase your monthly donation by at least $10
  • OR Make a one-time donation of $40

You can make a new donation and/or adjust your subscription level at this link.

Once you have donated/subscribed, fill out your information below, and we’ll get your beanie to you after the subscriber drive has concluded, likely in the month of May.

Thank you for your support of The Urbanist — we rely on readers like you to support our nonprofit publication.

Kicking Off Our Annual Spring Member Drive
Article Author
Jesse Swingle

Jesse Swingle is a board member at The Urbanist and founder of Cedar Collaborative, a marketing and growth consultancy serving mission-driven startups, nonprofits, and public-sector organizations. A long-time reader of The Urbanist, he grew up on the Olympic Peninsula and attended the University of British Columbia and Seattle University.