Since March 2022, city2science has been supporting the Herford Herringhausen Protestant Parish in a participation process. The goal of this “innovation project” is the role of church in the neighbourhood. How are the people in the neighbourhood? Who are they and what expectations do people have of of their church?
What do the residents of Herringhausen want after their experiences during the pandemic? What ideas are there for the development of a (new) community? Could the church become a so-called “third place” – an open meeting center in Herringhausen? These questions will be the focus of the creative participation process of the Herringhausen church community.
Within the process, we will initiate a “relationship building” between a diverse audience in the Herringhausen neighbourhood. Different opinions, experiences and expectations shall be heard, both from groups close to the church and from groups more distant. In addition, multipliers from local politics, administration and society as well as elementary schools and kindergartens, the Herringhausen-Eickum sports club, companies, service providers and retailers in the district will be involved.
In addition to smaller discussion groups, the highlight of the project is the large interactive summer festival on August 21, 2022. The festival invites people from the district to get to know their neighbors (anew) and to develop ideas together for the future of the neighborhood: 10 hands-on stations invite young and old to share experiences.
