We are proud to unveil our Community Makers' Guide to introduce our 4C Community Making cycle, featuring illustrative case studies by pioneers from around the globe, as well as showcasing Social Ventures Hong Kong (SVhk) and Urban Renewal Authority's (URA) experience in revitalizing the Staunton Street/Shing Wong Street Neighbourhood (H19) using this approach since 2019.
We had the pleasure of having Wilfred Au, Executive Director of the URA, and Amy Cheung, President of the Hong Kong Institute of Planners, join our Executive Director Florence Cheng for a fireside chat alongside our Convenor Francis Ngai to share common experiences in community making.
From our work in H19, Kennedy Town, to Kwun Tong, our speakers highlighted key learnings
Fostering a sense of belonging is crucial for community engagement
It is often the most challenging task for community makers to move beyond one-way consultations to a two-way dialogue driven by those who care for the place they call home, but it is also the most important one.
Piloting is an integral part of the process
Once the community has developed a shared vision for the future, collaboration on prototype projects based on shared interests, such as farming, helps build relationships and commitments before more resources can be dedicated to longer term implementations
Succession is vital
While the project initiator may eventually transition out, it does not mean a complete retreat. Instead, we need to ensure that local stakeholders can be empowered to take up the mantle and continue the legacy. For example, Habyt, the co-living operator for the revitalized Tong Laus at H19, has now taken the lead in building the neighborhood further through initiatives like enlisting co-living residents to participate in the community farm and carrying out its own artist-in-residence programme.
Everyone has a stake in Community Making! Beyond public and philanthropic funding, we can (re)discover how our resources can be leveraged for community making effort. Diversify the stream of resources we are tapping into also enhances the sustainability of community making initiatives.
You can download our guide via: https://www.communitymaking.org/community-makers-guide, and we look forward to working with you to co-create vibrant communities!
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