Change-builders & possibility-makers

What is this activity? 
Are you a librarian who supports citizenship in your community? This program gives you an inspiring route to it - one where people don't just imagine the future together but start acting on it.

Why is this helpful? 
Democracy and citizenship are widely seen as urgent - but making that concrete in your own street, neighbourhood or town is a different story. This activity offers a simple, inspiring way to work on it locally - combining reflection with action.

How to prepare. 
Read through the program and decide whether to start with a one-off event or aim to grow it into a community movement. Check out the Our Futures platform too - this program is part of that bigger picture.

What to do. Choose your format: one evening, a series of three evenings spread across three months, or a fully integrated part of your yearly planning.

1. Find your local changemakers, they're key to the sessions.
2. Set a date to kickstart, adapt the invitation, and prepare the session(s).
3. Be flexible, dive into the different examples to get inspired, and feel free to add your own.

How to do this well.

• Pick your sparks. Your changemakers are the inspirators of the evening, so select them well.
• Make room to connect. Keep the format informal - a good story and room for conversation beats a tightly scripted program.
• End with action. End each session with one concrete next step people can take, however small - that's what turns inspiration into action.

What it brings.

• Inspiration: When you can picture a shared future together, every step you take starts moving you toward it.
• Connection: The moment you truly listen to one another; you discover far more common ground than you expected.
• Care: Once you've done something good for your neighbours or community, it leaves you wanting more.

Example. 
In Werkendam, a small town in the Netherlands, the community librarian embraced the concept - she believes that as active citizens, we can all contribute to a more beautiful community.