October 15th 17:00 to 18:00 [GMT (London) Time]

RETHINKING PARKS, NESTA, UK
Public sector funding for discretionary services like parks is projected to fall by 60 per cent or more over the next decade. Program Manager Lydia Ragoonanan will talk about the approach used through Rethinking Parks to create conditions for innovation and to enable new business models to come to life. The partnership is working with 11 teams to develop, test and measure the impact of new approaches to raising income or reducing costs for public parks. Lydia will draw on insights and experiences from these project teams as well as Nesta's wider work.

PLAYTIME IN AFRICA, MMOFRA FOUNDATION, GHANA
Amowi Phillips, board member of Mmofra Foundation will describe the pioneering effort she and others are making to rethink child-centered green space in urban Ghana. A prototype two-acre park benefiting children of all backgrounds in Accra is underway as the first project under this "Playtime in Africa Initiative". Creative harnessing of local and global early support has put eco-sanitation, off-grid water and solar power on the site. Amowi will share and invite next stage strategies to construct, maintain and manage a culturally inspired natural learning landscape in an urban African context.

About The New Barn-Raising

The New Barn-Raising is an initiative to encourage the exchange of international best practice around sustaining community and civic assets such as parks, recreation centers, libraries, neighborhood stores, senior centers, museums and theaters. These are places and spaces characterized by a high degree of accessibility, popularity and sense of belonging to 'the people'.

The term New Barn-Raising refers to how different groups (business, citizens, foundations, non-profits groups, politicians, social entrepreneurs, social investors, taxpayers and unions) can all pull together to support assets.

[ read more ]

September 29th 17:00 to 18:00 [GMT (London) Time]

ALAMERE CENTRAL LIBRARY, NETHERLANDS
Chris Wiersma, Director of the New Library in Almere, a NewTown near Amsterdam, will outline how the central library was redesigned based on the changing needs and desires of library users and, in 2010, reopened as a thriving community hub that looks more like a bookstore than a library – with staff trained in marketing and customer service.

QUEENS MUSEUM, NEW YORK, USA
Prerana Reddy, Director of Public Programs & Community Engagement at the Queens Museum in New York, will talk about the work of the museum in: understanding Queens’ diverse resident base; partnering with local organizations; developing popular events, many in collaboration with local cultural producers. 

About The New Barn-Raising

The New Barn-Raising is an initiative to encourage the exchange of international best practice around sustaining community and civic assets such as parks, recreation centers, libraries, neighborhood stores, senior centers, museums and theaters. These are places and spaces characterized by a high degree of accessibility, popularity and sense of belonging to 'the people'.

The term New Barn-Raising refers to how different groups (business, citizens, foundations, non-profits groups, politicians, social entrepreneurs, social investors, taxpayers and unions) can all pull together to support assets.

[ read more ]

July 22nd 17:00 to 18:00 [GMT (London) Time]

YOLLOCALLI YOUTH COUNCIL, NATIONAL MUSEUM OF MEXICAN ART, CHICAGO, USA
Yollocalli Arts Reach is a youth initiative of the National Museum of Mexican Art, in Chicago’s majority-Latino Pilsen neighborhood. In 2012, it established a Youth Council to help with student-centered programming. Whitney Ross, Youth Development Advisor, will introduce the guidebook they produced for developing a youth council. She will also, along with Youth Council members, outline Council progress – in particular building youth interest in the museum and fundraising.

VOLUNTEER DIY AT YOUTH CENTERS, U.K.
Tim Reading is the Director and co-founder of Cospa, a London-based social innovation agency working with brands, charities and public sector organisations to create and grow projects for social and business returns. He will outline his organization's Volunteer It Yourself (VIY) programme, which challenges 14-24 year olds to repair local youth club and community centers. The young people are mentored by professional tradespeople, who also volunteer their time, and gain vocational qualifications as well as access to further learning and employment opportunities. VIY is driven by a cross-sector partnership with the DIY retailer Wickes who donate all the materials and tools and share staff skills, the vocational training institution City & Guilds who deliver the qualifications, and the Government funded Innovation Foundation Nesta who fund the management and development of the programme. VIY was included on the 2014 New Radicals list, compiled by Nesta and The Observer newspaper.

About The New Barn-Raising

The New Barn-Raising is an initiative to encourage the exchange of international best practice around sustaining community and civic assets such as parks, recreation centers, libraries, neighborhood stores, senior centers, museums and theaters. These are places and spaces characterized by a high degree of accessibility, popularity and sense of belonging to 'the people'.

The term New Barn-Raising refers to how different groups (business, citizens, foundations, non-profits groups, politicians, social entrepreneurs, social investors, taxpayers and unions) can all pull together to support assets.

Learn more and register for the Engaging Youth webinar

July 7th 17:00 to 18:00 [GMT (London) Time]

PARK AVENUE COMMUNITY OVEN, DARTMOUTH, NOVA SCOTIA, CANADA
Ali Shaver will talk about the volunteer-run, wood-fired oven that is shared by local residents for community gatherings and events centered on food education and enjoyment. Ali will outline the origins of the project, the costs of constructing and maintaining the oven, its impact, and the relationship with the city council and councilors.

NEW TECHNOLOGY FOR OLD ASSETS, COMMON FUTURES, UK
Annemarie Naylor, Director of Common Futures, has been heavily involved in supporting the transfer of buildings and land to community ownership across the UK and, in 2014, was awarded an MBE by the Queen for her work. Annemarie will give a quick overview of asset transfer policy and then focus down on some of her cutting-edge work around supporting communities to become part of an increasingly digital society – examples include Common Libraries/maker spaces and community-owned ICT networks and data co-ops.

About The New Barn-Raising

The New Barn-Raising is an initiative to encourage the exchange of international best practice around sustaining community and civic assets such as parks, recreation centers, libraries, neighborhood stores, senior centers, museums and theaters. These are places and spaces characterized by a high degree of accessibility, popularity and sense of belonging to 'the people'.

The term New Barn-Raising refers to how different groups (business, citizens, foundations, non-profits groups, politicians, social entrepreneurs, social investors, taxpayers and unions) can all pull together to support assets.

[ read more ]

June 30th 17:00 to 18:00 [GMT (London) Time]

TIMERAISERS - CANADA
Kate Browning, Timeraiser Program Manager, will outline Timeraiser events that see participants bid their volunteer time on art, purchased from emerging Canadian artists, to support great causes. At Timeraiser, artists get paid, nonprofits connect with skilled volunteers, and skilled people put their time to good use. Amongst the wide range of nonprofits supported are theatres, arts festivals, museums, and art galleries.

L.A. WORKS, LOS ANGELES, USA
Debbie Brutchey, Executive Director of LA Works, outlines how the organization encourages corporate citizenship through hands on community service experiences as well as sponsorships, volunteer days, and pro-bono experiences. This sustainable model decreases their organization's dependence on traditional fundraising from individuals and foundations. Beneficiary organizations of the corporate service include parks, schools, community centers and non-profits.

About The New Barn-Raising

The New Barn-Raising is an initiative to encourage the exchange of international best practice around sustaining community and civic assets such as parks, recreation centers, libraries, neighborhood stores, senior centers, museums and theaters. These are places and spaces characterized by a high degree of accessibility, popularity and sense of belonging to 'the people'.

The term New Barn-Raising refers to how different groups (business, citizens, foundations, non-profits groups, politicians, social entrepreneurs, social investors, taxpayers and unions) can all pull together to support assets.

[ read more ]