Building micro-local community: Village In The City (Firestarter Festival)
Village In The City was founded by Mark McKergow in June 2020. Mark noticed that his street in Edinburgh’s West End started to communicate in a new and more productive way during the pandemic lockdown, and he wanted to extend on this newly appearing connection as well as encourage others to do the same.
Drawing on his experience in developing Host Leadership and solution-focused change methods, Mark developed a manifesto and invited people to get involved. The project now includes ‘villages’ in the USA and continental Europe as well as in Scotland. Resources including a village-builders handbook and worksheets are developed, and there are calls every month with special guests and to support community builders.
In the event Mark will briefly introduce the project and lead a discussion about what (else) can help people in taking initiatives to work on the micro-local level – a few streets or blocks. Edinburgh council lists 154 ‘natural neighbourhoods’, so the potential for this kind of action is huge, the results are rewarding, and the exercise can address demographic, cross-generational and inter-community connection as well as simply building a better place.
The future – post-pandemic – is more local than we were expecting! Come and share your ideas, questions and potential with us on Thursday 4 February at 4pm UK time.