Participatory processes which allow for a meaningful engagement across diverse groups of stakeholders are relevant and much welcome in the context planning for more sustainable living environments. But what form such participatory process should have and how these should be delivered is subject to ongoing debate. These are very contemporary questions on which we have been working over the past years as part to the VIVA-PLAN research project (https://www.viva-plan.eu) where, as part to the Working Package 3, the project team experimented with different types of engagement formats. In VIVA-PLAN we seek to further research on Mosaic Governance both as a normative idea centred on the coordination between different actors and as alterative approach to the governance of urban areas. As part to this we have explored with different engagement formats and designed “VIVA-PLAN Hacks” which are events meant to gather and engage stakeholders from across selected areas in Sweden and Denmark.
On the 25th August 2021 the research team based at the partner organization Södertörn University in collaboration with Läsfrämjarinstitutet has delivered the VIVA-PLAN Hack on the topic of current challenges and future opportunities of Ronna, a district in the Södertälje municipality. We were particularly interested in how this group of local stakeholders positioned local youth in relation to use and access to green areas and meeting places in the Ronna district. Thirteen local stakeholders joined to the event and discussed locally relevant challenges and explored possible solutions to these. Tomas Kjellkvist, from Sustainability Lab at Södertörn University, facilitated the discussion and the outcomes of this activity will be showcased to the wider public online (https://www.viva-plan.eu/) and on site in Ronna in fall 2021.
To view our Infographic from this event click here: Infographics Ronna Event 25/08/2021
