Thematic
Cities of Solidarity
[France – Spain – Portugal]
Cities are the scene of resistance and innovation, often in terms of spontaneous ruptures: the place where social protests erupt and mutual cooperation unfolds, where street mobilisations and processes of cultural creation and productive innovation emerge. The European Commission has recently stressed the leading role of cities and metropolitan areas and the need for stronger coordination and exchange between them. More than 70% of Europeans live in urban areas, where 75% of energy consumption and 80% of emissions are also concentrated, placing them at the core of the environmental crisis. Precisely in such a critical context, cities – as was the case in crucial moments of transition in European history – can play again a leading role. The Western route is going to travel to meet city representatives and citizens’ initiatives in order to promote the exchange of best-practices between governments and activists, and raise awareness of the importance that cities play in the international arena.
The Team
coordinator
Doina Elena Craciun
I studied History and lately specialized in cultural management in Europe. I am driven by the idea that education and culture are great means of raising awareness and enabling stronger citizens’ engagement in building a more egalitarian society. I am particularly active in organizations that fight for equality for minority groups, especially Roma and LGBT+ communities. I am also interested in environmental issues and their strong impact on many other contemporary problems.
logistics coordinator
Emilia Esini
I am a project manager, working for organisation Maghweb, based in Palermo. I take care of designing and implementing European and international projects. I hold an Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree, which gave me the opportunity to live in different countries of the Mediterranean area and to study them in depth. In my free time I take walks, read loads of books, go to the theatre and to the opera, watch films and enjoy being surrounded by the beauty of Palermo.
communications officer
Adriana Díaz Martín-Zamorano
I am a journalist, who after some experience in media has mostly worked in communications and social media, concretely in the field of European political communication in Brussels. However, I have recently moved back to Barcelona to create my own communication agency, Agencia Godai. Apart from communication and politics, my main field of interest is anything related to culture. Particularly, cinema, music, literature and analog photography fill most of my personal time.
facilitator
Claraluz Lannes Keiser
I am a geographer, urban planner and culture manager. Coming from a multicultural and multisectorial background, I have worked in different projects (rural and urban development, festivals, research, urban interventions, cultural and artistic projects, participatory urbanism) in Brazil, France, Portugal, South Africa, USA and India. I am specialised in developing and implementing participatory methods to engage citizens in urban projects, community life, art projects and environmental causes.
Stops in route
Marseille
Les Jeunes font changer Marseille
Meeting with the organisation Marseille en Communs
Les Jeunes font changer Marseille
Lyon
Meeting with Corinne Iehl, counselor of the 7th district of Lyon
Viana do Castelo
Barcelona
Ruta per la memòria LGBTI
Building a feminist European network with Fundaciò Aroa & Catalan Council of Women
Lisbon
Tastes Beyond Borders: First Aid Kit Against Hate Speech
Paris
Le 20 du mois de mai / rencontres, débats, tournée générale
Agir contre les inégalités femmes-hommes
Blog
Material
Check out the publications, reports, and documents related to this route.