Community in the Country – HTW Master’s Students weigh in
by Julianne Becker
For 6 weeks I worked with a group of students who all share a passionate vision of working together to leave this world better than the way we found it. I had the privilege of harnessing this energy to focus it on the social ambitions of Coconat.
We dove head first into the world of social enterprise, with speakers from Imagine Cargo and Fahrwerk Kurierkollektiv, Wikimedia, Solidrinks, and non-profit working on various projects related to the Economy for Common Good.
The goal of all of this was to push forward with the social goals of Coconat. To use our sustainable business as a Launchpad for engaging the rural community in which we would be operating. We developed ways to engage the people who would be our neighbors.
What was great is that we all agreed that the best way to develop any project was to do it with the community we would be working with. They worked for 4 weeks on the ideas for engaging the elders and the youth of the community, finding ways for those groups to work together, but always with the caveat that ‘we need to talk with them about what THEY want’ before making any concrete plans though.
Really looking forward to presenting the ideas they came up with, and refining and reworking them with the community of Klein Glien and the greater Bad Belzig area. The final ideas included creating an informal social space – opening up the café/bar, sharing ideas – sharing knowledge, skills, cars, and equipment, and a community theatre project.
We’ll keep you updated about which of these will be fully realized with our new neighbors!
Coconat restarts: first workshop at Klein Glien
post by Joel Dullroy
During the workshop, locals expressed excitement about the hotel and restaurant returning to life after so many years of inactivity. Already the district fire brigade uses a small building on the property as its base. Local farmers have expressed interest in selling produce through Coconat.
Stadt, Land, Work – Berlin & Brandenburg
Coconat is back! Updates about our exciting project – get involved!
At the last meetup the Coconat team presented our project, but we hadn’t found a (new) home yet. That has changed and we would love to share the latest news about the Coconat project with you.
Szimpla
Gärtner Str. 15
7PM-9PM
The main topics are:
• presentation of the new location
• current projects in the works
• Volunteers, Supporters, Members – what can you imagine doing at Coconat?
• Looking for helping hands and part-time Coconats
• Hear your ideas about this creative spot in the countryside
We’ll be meeting at a cozy Berlin location in Friedrichsain, Craft-Beer Bar Szimpla at Boxhagenerplatz. Hope to see you there!
Let us know if you are coming!
–As we expect a diverse group of interested people the meetup will be in English. —
Next Stop: Countryside! How Freelancers & Coworking revive the rural areas
Millions of experienced entrepreneurs, freelancers and startups are able to work remotely at any time and any place. They can work completely location independent. Tools, portable devices, and accessible air travel are enabling a life with just a backpack. Nine to five and cubicles have been replaced by cloud platforms and coworking spaces. We love to share our experience, projects and valuable insights about workation and how to be able to work from the countryside. Come and talk with us!
This event’s focus is Inspiration. Event has No entrance fee and no RSVP [ Entrance fee: 0 € ] and it will be held at welance, Berlin, Germany.
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