Like many, I’ve been thinking about the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact in the longer term on our cities. We have seen the disease ravage communities across the globe, with dreadful tragedy unfolding now in India, Nepal, Brazil… It goes without saying – there are so many ways that the pandemic will change us – personally, professionally and as communities.
In the UK, cities have been working throughout, and across the board – continuing to deliver core services – and also, continuing to innovate. Why does this matter?
I am reminded of the great story Barack Obama told of a matriarch in a local Greenwood, South Carolina community rallying the room with the cry ‘Fired Up! Ready To Go!’ He couldn’t ‘reach’ the crowd with his own words who were busy checking phones and chatting amongst themselves, until she stood from the back of the room and bellowed the call to arms. The crowd responded, and soon they were engaged in a mutual chant, – chanting up to and until they were in fact Fired Up, Ready To Go!
Sadly, we’ve all got to be able to be ‘fired up, ready to go’ in the face of crises that come our way – as climate change and biodiversity loss continue to drive more frequent and extreme events including pandemics, fires, floods, storms and the like.
I think of our own resilience of purpose – and resilience of organisation – resilience in our communities, in this way. Are we in fact Fired Up, Ready To Go? The good news is that we can muster the energy, the learning, the logistical wizardry and the power of the crowd by listening to those who are.
There are lots of ways we can inspire each other, and I am sure we will have the opportunity over the coming months to hear stories from all corners of the globe.
Right now though, if you could do with a serious dose of inspiration, I am excited to say that on 13 May, there’s an opportunity to hear from 6 UK cities who are indeed very Fired Up, Ready To Go!
We were delighted to have been asked to pull this dynamic programme together. We were even more delighted when we realised what a treasure trove of experience the teams working on implementing their innovation projects had amassed.
Six different innovation projects in Manchester, Birmingham, Barnsley, Brighton, Cardiff, and Preston, have revealed extraordinary tales to tell – from combatting hate, tackling urban regeneration, being bold with digital transformation, to creating spaces in and for communities, and taking climate action through the arts – all while working in the midst of a pandemic. If you need convincing, check out Manchester’s very own Louise Wallwein’s own call to arms here. It’s a cracker! https://vimeo.com/542726845
If you want to hear more about what these cities achieved, and how they came through resiliently, we would love to welcome to get ‘ready to go’ with us – Register Here: 13 May 9-12.30pm GMT https://hopin.com/events/perspectives-on-resilience-for-cities-what-next-for-innovation-and-collaboration-in-a-time-of-covid-19-and-towards-cop26
It’s a free event, and all the cities were funded under the URBACT UK programme. More information can be found here. https://urbact.eu/covid-19-no-barrier-innovation-resilient-cities-how-prepare-next-big-crisis
Finally, Obama’s story is a powerful example of how art can amplify intent. Here’s a link for more.
Ed Synnott, May 2021.