In DUST, we seek to promote lasting change in our case study regions and beyond, towards more democratic forms of decision making. One of the ways we do this is through our Community Champion Network (CCN) that connects stakeholders working on the ground in our case-study regions. The network involves NGOs, social clubs, collective groups and practitioners that work with communities, that have vital knowledge on the structures, values, and perspectives of those least engaged in decision making. The CCN is designed to allow for a multi-way exchange of information, between researchers, decision-makers and civil society. We enable Champions; to share their expertise, experiences and opinions between regions and countries, to connect to decision makers to learn more about upcoming policy shifts and how they can influence them, and to build their capacities in working constructively towards policy designs that work for the communities they impact.
Our new forum page on the DUST website is a space where this sharing of information, experiences and opinions will take place. It is open for Community Champions and those outside of the project and operates in all project languages. All opinions and perspectives are welcome on the forum, and we encourage users to get involved with ongoing debates and conversations. Even if you are not located in one of our case study regions, you can get involved in discussions and share your experiences of territorial transitions.
There are four sections on the forum where users can get involved. First, is a general discussion, where all can share their questions, thoughts and experiences of sustainability transitions. Then, two sections exist where information and discussions can be found on support tools for Champions. Currently, these pages focus on funding opportunities and strategies for citizen engagement, with more support tools to be added as the conversation grows. The last section contains information and reflections on events and ongoing activities in the DUST project.
We want to hear from you! Head over to: https://www.dustproject.eu/forum to join the conversation and come together with others to work towards new forms of citizen engagement with communities affected by changing industries and practices related to sustainability transitions.