How to create places that bring us together
A Training Day with Aat Vos & Cormac Russell

Community doesn't happen by itself - it needs a meeting place. Now more than ever, people need spaces where they can connect, exchange ideas, and feel a sense of belonging.
Join us on our mission: creating thriving places that bring people together.

In our engaging, hands-on 1-day training, we won’t just talk about community spaces; we’ll build the knowledge to create them. Through dynamic keynotes, interactive World Café conversations, and hands-on workshops, you’ll gain insight into:
- The six pillars of impactful community spaces and how to apply them.
- Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD), a proven approach to strengthening communities from within.
- How participatory methods and a bottom-up approach can transform public spaces into successful places of true belonging - and how you can apply these principles directly to your own case.

Details

DATE & TIME:
Monday 7th April 2025 9am - 4pm

LOCATION:
De Lindenberg, Ridderstraat 23, Nijmegen, Netherlands

PRICE: 
€145.20 incl. VAT [€120 excl. VAT]

Max 100 places available!!
Write your awesome label here.

Program

9.00 Opening with coffee

9.30 - 11.00
- Aat Vos: Designing cultural community hotspots that work
- World Café discussions

11.00 - 11.30 Coffee break

11.30 - 13.00
- Cormac Russell: How to activate a community from the inside out
- World Café discussions

13.00 - 14.00 Lunch break

14.00 - 16.00
- Aat & Cormac in conversation - on participation, power, and place
- Workshop: How do we apply these ideas to real-world challenges? (Bring your own case!)

16.00-16.30 Closure

Who this is for:

Urban designers. Policy makers. Library innovators. Community organizers. Developers. Cultural leaders. Local Authorities. For anyone looking to activate the full potential of public space. Successful social hotspots designed with and for the community, like libraries, municipalities, cultural houses, theaters, co-working spaces, multifunctional facilities and learning spaces.

Who Are We?

Cormac Russell

Cormac Russell (IR) is a social explorer, author, and internationally sought-after speaker based in Dublin. As the Founding Director of Nurture Development and a leading voice in ABCD, he has worked in 35 countries, helping communities, NGOs, and governments build stronger, citizen-led initiatives.

Aat Vos

Aat Vos (NL) is a renowned architect and expert in shaping vibrant third places with decades of experience. He is also an author and passionate advocate for places that bring people together. Aat founded includi, a consulting and design agency based in Groningen, specializing in creating such places.