Adam Bandt launches Ideas for Melbourne.
Inspired by amazing community-based projects springing up in cities and towns all around the world, like New York City’s Highline, Renew Newcastle, and Hepburn Wind, three weeks ago, Federal MP for Melbourne, Adam Bandt, launched Ideas for Melbourne. A collaborative community-based initiative, Ideas for Melbourne is a platform for ideas and projects aimed at making Melbourne a more sustainable, equal and compassionate city.
It was a great kickoff for this exciting new venture, with over 80 people coming together at Hub Melbourne, and designing nine very creative and innovative concepts out of a one-hour brainstorming session.
The nine projects included a “life-exchange” story-telling project: Walk a mile in our shoes; a sustainable infrastructure project turning empty buildings into affordable housing; Tradies for Good: a weekend blitz to retrofit low income households to save money and energy; plans to Make Melbourne a Walkable city; and the Solar Quest Game: which uses art to track our progress in the transition to the clean energy economy!
What’s next
Over the next few weeks, in conjunction with the good folk at Hub Melbourne, Tomorrow at Work, Collabforge, Huddle design, School for Social Entrepreneurs and Adam Bandt’s office, Will Donovan and myself will be putting the final touches on a comprehensive program for Ideas for Melbourne, that will run from September 2011 – June 2012.
This pilot program will include a series of practical workshops and skillshares with leaders in their respective fields from the corporate, government, community and various industry sectors, to help members of the Melbourne community develop their ideas for a more sustainable, equal and compassionate Melbourne and help make those ideas happen.
Ideas for Melbourne will also serve as a platform to showcase existing projects, campaigns, events or organisations that are contributing to building a better Melbourne, with the opportunity for selected projects to be presented at a TEDx event early next year.
Join us
If you’re interested in contributing project ideas for a more sustainable, equal and compassionate Melbourne or helping make them happen, please email i4melb@hubmelbourne.com with your contact details and what you’d like to offer.
You can also subscribe to updates for Ideas for Melbourne here.
