An Introduction to Hillsdale Renaissance

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that every man possessing an education and any amount of extra time, will begin a Substack or a podcast. Men want attention. Most of us men do not command the good looks or the charisma necessary to pop off the screen and into your heart, so we pretend to ourselves that we might possess style and wit with which we can recommend ourselves to your brains. Substack is one mode of content creation that men fancy acceptable to this end. My self-recommendation to the world is long overdue, but I might now have a project worth your time and attention.

My name is Luke Robson. I’m a graduate of Hillsdale College, where I studied economics, and of the University of Notre Dame, where I studied law. In my post-graduate life, I helped start Capstone Classical Academy in Fargo, ND, and the American Classical Education Foundation. Both projects are heading toward success, and now I have moved to Hillsdale, MI, where I aim to rejuvenate the small town. It is important to note that I am not a self-made man, nor do I pretend to be. I am a trust fund baby with a half-functioning sense of noblesse oblige. This status allows me to pursue these projects, and this conscience allows me to think I am pursuing them with the best of intentions. This also means that I don’t know how to do anything; I rely wholly on the talents of others to accomplish anything meaningful. So far, that has worked well for me. I pray that it continues to work well.

The interior of the building in my logo, which is located at the edge of Downtown Hillsdale. One day it could host a fresh market, a lively event space, or perhaps an excellent restaurant. This is one of several prominent downtown buildings that would completely alter the feel of downtown if restored well.

The primary purpose of this newsletter is to allow me to imagine that I have a boss. That imagined boss is you, Dear Reader. In my imagination, my boss wants me to provide periodic updates on the progress of my main project and isn’t upset by self-aggrandizing rhetorical flourishes. My boss prefers these updates to be provided on a semi-regular basis. The updates should provide adequate detail as to what is planned. Thankfully, my boss is not a numbers man and does not wish for me to provide detailed estimates for work to be done and actuals for work that has been done. Some secrecy must be maintained, although I plan to be relatively transparent regarding the steps taken, the steps to be taken, and the reasoning underlying my actions. Feedback from my boss is appreciated, supposing that it is charitably given.

My main project, rejuvenating Hillsdale, will be the focus of this newsletter. Future posts will cover the past and current state of Hillsdale, where Hillsdale can go in the future, my reasons for thinking a bright future is achievable, and the partnerships I am exploring to realize that bright future. I believe this project will be important not only for my town, but also for my alma mater, the conservative movement generally, and, eventually, America. If that seems to be too grand a scope for what is essentially a real estate development company, that’s because it is.

This project will require developments and partnerships that go beyond real estate and into the industries of education, fine trades, music, and more. It is not enough to make money for myself off of the labor of my tenants, I must also work to bring genuine economic growth to this small town. That growth will require me to attract new investment to this town and also to encourage some risk-taking on the parts of the locals. If you think that you can help me in this effort, please reach out. I would love to talk to you.

I hope this newsletter allows me to clarify my thoughts, better chart the way forward for this little town with which I have fallen in love, and keep my community up to date on what is happening in this neck of the woods. Talk to you soon.

The view from my street after a light dusting.

P.S. If you’ve received this in your inbox, it’s probably because I added your email to the subscriber list without asking your permission. Better to ask forgiveness than permission.