Together with the Local Community Organizer we have diagnosed the needs of the Dębiec neighborhood, located at the edge of the city. Our expertise in the issue was also informed by our previous interactions with the community members from that part of Poznań. The community needs more integration, greater involvement and more local activities and a greater sense of agency. The neighborhood faces stereotyping and a risk of being excluded due to its localization, poor access to arts and culture, education, as well as poverty. We have also noticed conflicts cropping up within the community. There are not enough communal spaces and those available do not meet the needs of the people.
We would like to address these issues by supporting and developing two already existing institutions located in Dębiec: the Neighbor’s House and the Civic Garden. We would like to organize a series of cultural and educational meetings, as well as gardening workshops and community integration meetings (e.g. arts workshops, theater plays, neighborly dinner parties). The offer will be consulted with the community members and we would like to encourage everyone to engage in their own, original initiatives. These places and programs will enable self-organization and integration of the local population through network building, neighborly cooperation, and creation of a common space.