Great event yesterday at the mac (Midlands Arts Centre) – Sustainable Communities Conference 2017, put on by Climate Change Solutions and the RSA (Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce) Sustainability Network.
Many great speakers and exhibitors from throughout the West Midlands and some from further afield – though I was mostly focussed on Birmingham. I can only mention a few names from amongst the crowd.
My top favourite was Dr Noha Nasser of Mela Social Enterprise. Mela have just published a book called “Connections: 12 approaches to relationship-based placemaking”, edited by Dr Nasser. Amongst other things she spoke of various projects and events held in Balsall Heath to increase community cohesion. A very human approach.
Future we Want were showing the “How Bad are Bananas” game, Sam Ewell from Co-op Futures spoke about a Winson Green worm farm, and the importance of telling new and compelling stories about sustainability. Geoff Henderson of Urban Hax spoke about their workspace/toolshop for a variety of artisans. Nicola Clayton of Vanbrugh Construction spoke about low emissions modular housing construction. I spoke with Julian Todd of Climate Action Network West Midlands about the need to put together a database of all these great initiatives across the West Midlands and beyond.
Sustainability West Midlands are working with Groundworks West Midlands to deliver a Low Carbon Growth Support Project.
Cohousing West Midlands 