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Looking for resources - community center

A group of friends is currently planning to approach the local council about getting to rent or being ceded some kind of facility to use as community space and find out about other support options that might be available for such a project.

While working with local government (or depending on them) has its risks and might turn out to be the wrong approach, we will at least consider it in the beginning - it might be surprisingly easy to get a space in this way, considering the many empty and abandoned properties where we live. Stepping in with a project the council deems support-worthy could really get us started.

So for that, I would like to design a small brochure or presentation with our ideas and find that rather hard. I have a list with what we would possibly include in such a space, but could do with some inspiration as to how to present it so it highlights how the community will profit from this project.

Has anyone ever designed such a document, or knows of one they could share? Or has any ideas to share? Successful recipes could and should be copied, documented, passed on.

So far, imagining loads of space and a factory-sized building, the ideal community space could have:

Space for Community, Collaboration, Cooperation

Compost and growing

Outdoor event space

Metal/vehicle workshop

Community Kitchen

Office and collaboration space

Wood/Electronics workshop

CNC/3D printing/Hacker space

Indoor event space

Storage

Mushroom lab

technomad ,

Hey, I was thinking about your project the other day and wondering if you will have any kind of dedicated space for recycling/donations? I would like to start taking more/better initiatives towards taking care of my own stuff, and if there was somewhere to send it.... (I know there are places I could probably look up and send things to, but your project came to mind first).

I sometimes find myself in possession things that are almost too valuable to donate, but not really valuable enough to warrant trying to sell. If there was a valuable cause to support, I'd feel good about giving them to that cause. I think maybe a lot of other people would have good things to give as well.

It's mostly electronics.

schmorpel OP ,
@schmorpel@slrpnk.net avatar

Wow, that's mega-kind. I feel honoured that you remembered us! If we had a place and team already I'd love to have a source for electronics as they can be a little hard to come by around here. I find even the most vile crap is still sold for stupid prices. However, we are still much more of a theoretical project: we are a tiny group without dedicated electronics team and have no space to work in yet. If we manage to materialize into something more concrete I will happily get back to you!

technomad ,

Awesome, and no worries. I just wondered if it had been something that was thought of already or not. I hope it does materialize, even if it's not soon, even if it's years from now really. I enjoy seeing your progress 😁

technomad ,

I love the ideas that you have for this space.

I wonder if there should be any concern over the wording for the ideas. Particularly 'hacker space' and 'mushroom lab'. I think some people might see those words and immediately assume the worst. It may not be an issue, but just something to consider.

'mycology research' and 'makerspace' might be some good alternatives

schmorpel OP ,
@schmorpel@slrpnk.net avatar

I've changed it, thanks!

technomad ,

No problem :)

punkisundead ,

Hmm my idea would be to look at the webspaces of projects in your local / regional / national area and see if they have some concept papers. Would be best to focus on those that have actual funding by the state so you can see what worked and maybe even ask them.

I found something like that for my area, but idk if you can use that considering its mostly in german. But maybe you can atleast check out the design: https://hausderstatistik.org/archiv/

Also I never designed something like that but the software I would use would probably Scribus or a pirated Adobe InDesign.

schmorpel OP ,
@schmorpel@slrpnk.net avatar

Loads of interesting stuff in there, thanks for sharing! It contains great infos about the organization of something even larger than we have in mind, fascinating project.

MxRemy ,

I don't really have anything to offer for your proposal design, but do you have a local library? The library I work at does a lot of this stuff, and if you don't already have one, you could pitch it that way. If you have conservatives on your local council, they might hear this list and start screaming about "socialism", but those same people are usually more onboard with libraries even if they're doing the exact same stuff.

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