LESSONS FROM COMMUNITY PIONEERS IN AMSTERDAM

Community initiatives are a driving force for change within the city and demonstrate what the city of the future can look like. Not only through innovative solutions such as neighbourhood gardens, sustainable housing cooperatives and circular district initiatives, but also through the ways they organise themselves, govern their work and develop financial models. What sets these pioneers apart is that they do not focus on a 'profit model', but on a 'service model'. A service model places service to the city at its core rather than profit.

Their experiences and insights into building resilient and rooted communities offer valuable lessons for anyone working to build a more social and sustainable urban economy.

Living Labs
From climate change to growing social inequality, cities today face enormous challenges. This makes it essential to understand which innovative practices are working, which barriers remain, and where opportunities exist to better support sustainable pioneers.

To explore this, the Amsterdam Donut Coalition organised a series of Living Labs together with 21 community initiatives across Amsterdam. Participants used tools based on Deep Design to reflect on their greatest successes and challenges, while collectively exploring ways to strengthen their organisations.

Our most important lessons and findings have been translated into pracitcal “puzzle pieces” that form a foundation for resilient and future-proof initiatives. And as with every puzzle, a few essential pieces are still missing.

Publication: The Donut Economy in Practice
In this publication you will find the insights gathered throughout the Living Labs, you will find the tools to start puzzling yourself - and hopefully you can help us find the missing pieces.

The publication also contains valuable tools and insights for all policymakers, entrepreneurs, and scientists looking to support strong and resilient community initiatives.