Chuck Marohn will be participating in the City: Details conference as panelist in a session titled: White spots. How to deal with the shortage of communities at the local level?

Citizens are not always activists of their districts, often even with the support of the administration and many opportunities for the implementation of projects, local initiatives do not appear. At the same time, the lack of involvement on the part of residents does not necessarily mean their indifference to the improvement, it is often characteristic of the position of the resident as a "client" concerning the city, when residents expect the city, or the city administration, to take responsibility for the well-being of residents and the quality of the urban environment. The difficulty is to find a balance: the administration cannot create a sustainable urban environment without the participation of citizens, and they cannot create long-term projects without the support of the government. Different cities use different tools to support the development and emergence of new local communities and their activities and to involve new groups of residents, such as children and older generations.

Such tools can be educational projects, as well as local activations and community centers.

• Why does the city need active and engaged neighborhood communities? Can and should the city independently respond to all requests from citizens?

• How can a city collaborate with and support local communities?

• What are the tools available to develop local communities and increase their engagement? Which of them are more relevant for megacities, such as Moscow?