Core Lessons
Each Hickory 101 lesson is like a short class. Together, they teach you how to understand the systems that shape Hickory—its economy, culture, and community life. The goal is simple: to help you see the bigger picture of how this town works, how it changed, and what that means for your future here. (Release date shown below)
Lesson 1 – Introduction by Professor Hound - 11/4/25
This is where it begins. You’ll learn who I am, why I started The Hickory Hound, and what this series is meant to do. It explains that Hickory 101 isn’t a civics class or a news site—it’s a guide to understanding how everything in this community connects.
Lesson 2 – Navigation and the Civic Map - 11/11/25
This lesson teaches you how to move around The Hickory Hound. You’ll see where to find articles, archives, and data tools, and how to follow the storylines that build the full picture. It’s about learning how to use this site like a map of Hickory’s reality.
Lesson 3 – Hickory as a Legacy City - 11/18/25
Here we talk about what it means to live in a “legacy city”—a place that once thrived but now struggles to adapt to change. You’ll learn how Hickory fits that pattern and why understanding it is the first step toward fixing it.
Lesson 4 – The Hound’s Method - 11/25/25
This explains how I study the town: through data, observation, and lived experience. You’ll see how economics, history, and daily life fit together, and how I separate facts from noise to understand what’s really going on.
Lesson 5 – Reading the Room - 12/2/25
This lesson shows you how to interpret what you read on The Hound. Tone, context, and structure matter. You’ll learn how to catch the deeper meaning behind each article and see the connections that might not be obvious at first glance.
Lesson 6 – From the Kitchen to the Command Post - 12/9/25
Here, I talk about what I’ve learned from a lifetime of working in kitchens—discipline, timing, and accountability—and how those lessons apply to leadership and civic life. It’s about the mindset you need when there’s no safety net and no excuses.
Lesson 7 – The Local Lens - 12/16/25
This lesson connects Hickory’s local stories to bigger forces—economics, education, politics, and social change. You’ll see how small events here reflect national and global patterns, and how to read those links with a critical eye.
Lesson 8 – Finding the Signal - 12/23/25
In a world full of noise, this lesson teaches how to recognize what matters. You’ll learn how to tell the difference between real change and empty talk, and how to identify credible information from distraction or spin.
Lesson 9 – Building the Map Forward - 12/30/25
The final lesson ties everything together. Once you understand the systems at play, the question becomes: what now? This class focuses on personal responsibility, civic action, and how individuals can help rebuild Hickory’s future—step by step.
