Where do we go from here: Reimagining Post-Industrial Cities

What happens to a city when the industry that shaped its identity, economy and everyday life is no longer its future?

For Global Donut Days 2026, the Multigenerational Community Foundation and MasterPeace Romania are bringing together people from Zabrze, Ploiești and other post-industrial communities across Central and Eastern Europe for an international online conversation about life after coal and oil.

Rather than focusing on economic indicators or technical solutions, we will explore the human side of transition: what makes young people want to stay or return, how cities can redefine their identity while respecting their industrial heritage, and how residents can become active co-creators of change.

The conversation will explore three questions:

How can post-industrial cities become places where young people choose to stay, return and build their future?

How can cities redefine their identity after coal and oil without losing their connection to their industrial past?

How can local communities become active participants in shaping a just and resilient transition?

Drawing on experiences from Zabrze and Ploiești, we will share local examples, compare experiences and look for common challenges and possibilities. The discussion will be grounded in the principles of Doughnut Economics, asking how cities can create futures that support both people's wellbeing and the health of the places they call home.

This is not a conversation about ready-made answers. It is an invitation to learn from one another, connect communities facing similar transitions and imagine what post-industrial cities could become for future generations.

Join us and bring your own experience, questions and ideas to the conversation.