Re-Imagining Our World(s)
We cannot make changes that we cannot imagine. Our collective imaginations can add up to a collective voice, opinion and demand. Some of this imagination doesn’t even need government/policy/governance changes. Some of it needs deep changes in individual attitudes and beliefs at scale.
But imagine we must. Because that’s the start of the conversation. In our heads, with our own selves to start with. Then amongst a few. And maybe many someday.
Our imagination paints our self-image. Of our own selves, our lives, our neighbourhoods, our cities, our communities, countries.
If we can imagine it, we will get there. It needs every one of us, it needs many of us. For different things, different starting points, different directions.
Here’s a few I’ve talked about, heard in conversations with a few. Would love to keep adding….
Imagine -
— A neighbourhood where our kids can walk easily to parks and lakes, and even walk the dogs? Safely. In clean air. With a lot of trees and nature around?
— A creche for all including the staff that works in our communities, or at least neighbourhood, so the kids have a place to spend time in when very young or back from school? We could help with the space and basics and all could be involved and organize and run it.
— Pretty, clean streets everywhere, walkable easily even if you’re old, or a kid, with priority and respect for pedestrians?
— Lots of public spaces to play, meet, have events, games, swim, climb, skateboard? Maybe even sports events for all citizens across professions and economic groups?
— Public libraries for all? Cheap/free/multilingual?
— Restaurants, art, theatre and other forms and avenues for leisure? Community performances where people across the locality come together to create something for all?
— Festivals celebrated as a larger community across the locality?
— Citizens across your locality involved in deciding on priorities for the neighbourhood and submitting the same to the executive, and following up?
— Creating public art together and prettyfying the neighbourhood?
— Food gardens all over for clean, healthy seasonal food for all there?
— Skilling workshops as hobbies, professions, on a free-basis run by various volunteers ?
— Great public transport? Less than 25–30% people driving cars/2 wheelers on any given day?
— Cycling friendly neighbourhoods?
— That we create space for street vendors in our communities and neighbourhoods?
— That it costs nothing to get an education of various sorts, and perhaps you can pay it forward. Or that it’s equally accessible and affordable to all.
— Easily accessible, affordable healthcare everywhere, for everyone.
— Public art
— Public spaces where women are expected and accepted with dignity, as equals, and completely safe.
— Housing blocks for seniors in the centre of town, accessible to everything. Subsidized/designated if necessary.
— Repair/maker spaces for encouraging longer lasting products, skills and opportunity to repair things and extend their life.
What does it look like around you?
What’s the easiest way to get started?
How do you make it inclusive, owned by all?
How do you spread it?
Without needing funding, government, policy changes?
What’s step 1?
(if you’ve read it this far, you’re likely more interested in doing something than most — we’re trying to kickstart and crowdsource ideas and collaboration at The Reimagination Project group — join in)
