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In 2024, the province of Drenthe (Netherlands) organized its very first hybrid citizens’ assembly on the topic of housing. This initiative was a direct result of citizens’ requests for stronger involvement in provincial decision-making. The method combined a deliberative assembly with broader public...

With the Climate Village pilot initiative in Skive (Denmark) nearing its end, residents and local partners gathered for a Climate Exhibition celebrating the projects created over the past year. In total, 25 citizen-led projects were presented, each one funded by the municipality but fully imagined,...

To address the issue of waste, two swap shops have been set up in the climate villages of Skive (Denmark), by the citizens themselves. There, you can hand in used items for others to benefit from, an initiative that has especially created excitement among the youngest in the area. Toys are changing...

In Mechelen (Belgium), a holistic project to restore and transform the river that runs through the city was subject to a large experiment in layered participation and inclusive design. The project focuses on making space for both nature and the public by restoring the river into a rewilded and cooli...

Every summer, France comes alive with a nationwide initiative: “Quartiers d’Été” (Summer Neighbourhoods). This program brings communities together through free, family-friendly cultural activities. Thanks to the efforts of local social centers, underserved communities are offered the opportunity to...

How can we efficiently engage citizens in conversations and decision-making for climate change? Our partners in Malmö recently tested a method developed by the Klimatriksdagen, who have conveniently shared all their tips and tricks for creating a climate citizen assembly in a handbook. This document...

The Speak Up project has officially reached its halfway mark! After a year and a half of dedicated collaboration, our twelve partners have led a range of pilot initiatives, navigated a variety of challenges, and uncovered valuable insights along the way. To capture this collective knowlegde, we cond...

The Hannah Arendt Institute has just published its report on the Collective Impact Model (CIM)! This report outlines how the CIM was applied in three of Speak Up’s partner cities: Malmö, Mechelen, and Skive. It combines clear theory with on-the-ground practice, offering tools, inspiring case studies...