Understand community strengths and assets is a key part of developing regenerative projects for the Common Good. As usual, it’s all about deep listening. And, as we explore pathways to value creation in yet another community in Southern Italy, we wanted to share some insights gleaned from our workshops.
The former mayor of Palermo Leoluca Orlando put it this way: culture opens the door, and business follows.
But where to begin?
To enable community value creation across the dimensions of culture, nature, and economy, we came up with some questions to consider:
1. Culture
- Cultural Identity and Heritage
- What are the most important cultural traditions, stories, and practices in our community that we want to preserve and celebrate?
- How can we ensure that the diverse cultural identities within our community are respected, represented, and integrated into community activities?
- Engagement and Participation
- How can we encourage greater participation in cultural events and activities from all community members, especially youth and marginalized groups?
- What platforms or spaces can we create to showcase local arts, music, crafts, and other cultural expressions?
- Cultural Economy
- How can we support and promote local artisans, cultural entrepreneurs, and creatives to contribute to the local economy?
- What opportunities exist to leverage our cultural assets for sustainable tourism or cultural exchanges that benefit the community?
2. Nature
- Environmental Stewardship
- What natural resources are most vital to our community’s well-being, and how can we protect and enhance them?
- What are the key environmental challenges facing our community, and what actions can we take to address them collectively?
- Green Infrastructure and Spaces
- How can we increase access to green spaces for all residents, and what kinds of natural areas do we want to create or restore?
- What role can nature play in improving public health, education, and community cohesion?
- Sustainable Practices
- How can we encourage local businesses and households to adopt more sustainable practices, such as reducing waste, conserving water, and using renewable energy?
- What role can local agriculture or food systems play in supporting both environmental sustainability and economic resilience?
3. Economy
- Local Economic Development
- What are the existing strengths of our local economy, and how can we build on them to create more jobs and opportunities within the community?
- How can we support local businesses, entrepreneurs, and cooperatives in ways that align with our cultural and environmental values?
- Inclusive and Equitable Growth
- What barriers do certain groups face in accessing economic opportunities, and how can we address these to ensure inclusive growth?
- How can we design economic initiatives that reduce inequality and empower marginalized groups?
- Economic Resilience and Diversification
- What are the risks to our local economy, and how can we diversify to reduce these risks and increase resilience?
- How can we attract and develop industries that are both economically beneficial and environmentally sustainable?
Integrated Regenerative Projects
How do we take our insights from community listening sessions to create regenerative projects?
- Interconnections and Synergies
- How can we ensure that our cultural, environmental, and economic initiatives support and enhance each other rather than compete or conflict?
- What collaborative opportunities exist between cultural, environmental, and economic stakeholders to create shared value?
- Community Ownership and Sustainability
- How can we foster a sense of ownership and responsibility within the community for ongoing cultural, environmental, and economic initiatives?
- What governance structures or partnerships do we need to sustain these efforts over the long term?
- Monitoring and Feedback
- How will we measure the success of our initiatives across culture, nature, and economy, and what indicators should we use?
- What mechanisms can we establish to gather ongoing feedback from the community, and how will we adapt our strategies based on this feedback?
- Future Visioning
- What does a thriving community look like in 5, 10, or 20 years, considering culture, nature, and economy?
- How can we involve future generations in planning and decision-making to ensure that our vision is sustainable and adaptable?
Use these questions to think about what you are hearing.
Now, creating community value across culture, nature, and economy requires an integrated approach that respects and enhances each dimension while acknowledging their interdependence. Here’s a process outline (modify it to suit the situation and the community):
1. Community Engagement and Visioning
- Inclusive Participation: Engage diverse community members, including local leaders, organizations, businesses, and residents, in a collaborative visioning process.
- Shared Vision: Develop a shared vision that reflects the community’s values, aspirations, and priorities across culture, nature, and economy.
- Asset Mapping: Identify existing cultural, natural, and economic assets and opportunities within the community.
2. Integrated Planning and Design
- Cross-Domain Collaboration: Form interdisciplinary teams that include experts across various domains (always include the arts!)
- Sustainability Focus: Ensure that all plans consider long-term sustainability, balancing economic growth with environmental protection and cultural preservation.
- Cultural Integration: Incorporate local traditions, arts, and heritage into planning processes, making culture a central component of community identity.
3. Strategic Implementation
- Pilot Projects: Start with small-scale, high-impact projects that can demonstrate success and build momentum.
- Policy Alignment: Work with local governments to ensure that policies support integrated goals, such as incentives for green businesses, cultural grants, or nature conservation efforts.
- Resource Mobilization: Secure funding and resources from a mix of public, private, and philanthropic sources. Leverage community assets for economic gain in ways that are culturally and environmentally sensitive.
4. Monitoring and Adaptation
- Metrics and Evaluation: Develop metrics to assess progress across all three dimensions. This might include economic indicators, biodiversity measures, and cultural participation rates.
- Feedback Loops: Establish regular feedback loops with the community to adjust strategies based on outcomes and changing needs.
- Scalability and Replication: Identify successful initiatives that can be scaled or replicated in other communities, ensuring that the model is adaptable to different contexts.
5. Celebration and Cultural Reinforcement
- Cultural Events: Host events that celebrate the community’s cultural heritage, environmental achievements, and economic milestones.
- Storytelling and Communication: Use storytelling and media to share success stories, lessons learned, and the impact of the integrated approach.
- Intergenerational Engagement: Involve all age groups in these celebrations to reinforce community values and ensure that the knowledge and experience are passed on.
6. Long-Term Sustainability and Legacy
- Institutionalization: Establish institutions or organizations that can sustain the integrated approach over time, such as cultural centers, environmental trusts, or economic development boards.
- Leadership Development: Invest in developing local leadership to ensure ongoing stewardship of the community’s culture, nature, and economy.
- Adaptive Governance: Create governance structures that are flexible and responsive, allowing the community to adapt to future challenges and opportunities.
The process is not simple. More information is available here and in our book on regeneration >>
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