Позитивные изменения. Том 4, №1 (2024). Positive changes. Volume 4, Issue 1 (2024)

“We’re grassroots in our approach. Residents not only voice their desires but substantiate them through action. When the Tom Sawyer Fest arrived, platbands “took residence” in our anti-space. People came to restore them, accompanied by tea and guitars, sometimes extending into the dead of night. When, six months later, the platbands became an art installation on our riverfront, it underscored people’s commitment to preserving what they had nurtured,” recounts Maria Azizova, founder of Walls anti-space and ambassador for the Commonwealth of Kind Cities.

Participatory practices foster community-building. Engaging individuals in projects from ideation to reflection three times is what makes self-organized communities.

Another illustrative initiative is the “If There’s a Gap…” forum, showcasing contemporary cultural and artistic expressions. The forum featured an initiative competition, with the winning project, Living Dies, shedding light on forgotten yet captivating locales in Syzran.

“The project team explored several sites, proposed an informal tourist route, and presented it at various venues, not only in our anti-space but also at the local community center and during town events. Following Syzran’s victory in the All-Russian Competition for the Best Urban Tourism Project, Living Dies may get a resurgence. It’s a prime example of grassroots efforts leading to something significant — something to take pride in, making the city genuinely benevolent and enhancing its allure,” concludes Maria Azizova.

Another avenue through which significant projects can be initiated is production. Experts anticipate an increasing presence of local producers in cities and towns — individuals who have personally navigated from inception to execution of initiatives and can aid in locating other activists within the community capable of reshaping the social and economic landscape. Moreover, foresight moderators — specialists who facilitate defining the desired future vision and reaching agreements on actions within its context among all stakeholders — are emerging in these territories. For instance, there exists a regional community of foresight moderators in Rostov-on-Don, offering complimentary training on developing moderation skills and fostering trustful communications.

“We’ve recognized that there is no abundance of adept communicators in small towns. Often, at gatherings, every citizen clamors for attention, impeding consensus. They lack a moderator to facilitate hearing all perspectives. Thus, our School of Moderation and Communication was conceived. So far we’ve trained 118 moderators from 5 regions and 15 municipalities. Now they hold foresight sessions in small towns, where representatives of business, government, and NGOs meet. Throughout the day, they exchange views and craft roadmaps for territorial development. Our students hail from various walks of life: government officials, NGO representatives, business owners, educators, school principals, and clergy. The quality moderation training we provide is our contribution to both human capital development and territorial progress,” shares Victoria Musichenko, an expert at ANO Integra and head of the LIRO School of Moderation and Communication.

Experts anticipate an increasing presence of local producers and foresight moderators in cities and towns, capable of reshaping the social and economic landscape.

However, to ensure the visibility of activism in the city, mere community presence is insufficient; funding is imperative, notes Oleg Sharipkov, director of the Endowment Knowledge Center. Funding mechanisms include endowments, grant and social startup competitions with low entry barriers, initiative schools, and accelerators.

“When we administer micro-grant competitions and review applications, we discern the townspeople’s grievances and their readiness to tackle issues autonomously. Funding tools like endowments sustain community engagement, enhancing their living environment. Yet, horizontal connections are equally vital — we require more of them,” asserts Oleg Sharipkov.

Recognition of citizens’ endeavors in shaping a benevolent and appealing city can be found in tourism development. This is also a format highlighted by experts.