On Friday, May 30th, Sandyford Business District hosted their second Urban Local Group (ULG) meeting, facilitated by SBD Project Manager, Fernanda Pinto Godoy.
The session brought together key local stakeholders and collaborators to strengthen their collective efforts in fostering a cohesive and vibrant community in SBD, driven by culture and creativity, with the aim of addressing the growing presence of parallel societies in the district.
Here is a overview of the meeting's focus:
- A brief recap of progress since the last meeting
- The official launch of the Adapt Stage as a group
- Key insights from recent international URBACT meetings
- Introduction of the Testing Action Canvas and proposed testing actions
- The importance of mapping local stakeholders for co-creation and implementation
- Presentation of the Investment Plan Canvas and its role in strategy
- Alignment on next steps and key project milestones
Looking Ahead: Turning Data into Connection
As they move into the next phase of the project, the team of SBD is not just looking at data, they are asking: "what if listened more deeply to the people behind the numbers?"
Sandyford Business District is home to a growing and diverse population, with 51% of residents coming from non-European backgrounds. But with that richness of culture has also come a challenge: increasing social fragmentation and the rise of parallel societies: communities that exist side by side but rarely connect.
What if, instead of relying only on statistics, we gave that 51% a voice?
What if stories—not just numbers—could guide our actions?
What if storytelling could spark empathy, reveal hidden insights, and help us co-create a district where everyone feels a sense of belonging?
In the coming months, they will begin testing storytelling as a way to gather real, human insights that can shape the investment plan and inform more inclusive, community-driven solutions. These sessions won’t just be data-gathering exercises—they’ll be moments of connection, reflection, and imagination.
Storytelling can help us bridge divides and reimagine a more connected Sandyford Business District.
The original article was written by Fernanda Pinto Godoy, Project Coordinator at Sandyford Business District and can be read here: https://www.sandyford.ie/eu-funded/recup-itn-network