Recap of Session II: How should we live together

Moderator: Shawn Westcott, The Wellbeing Project

The second session of the Lab series on the role of elders in nurturing civic values delved into the fundamental question of “How should we live together?”. We explored the role of elders and their wisdom in society, examining its historical significance through stories and case studies. We also considered how this role has evolved in recent years and discussed ways to reintegrate it into contemporary society.

Our special guest in this session was Imandeep Kaur, co-founder of Civic Square in Birmingham, UK, from whom we learned about Civic Square’s amazing work in transforming communities through participatory approaches, addressing social, ecological, economic, and climate transitions. A key project of Civic Square involves repurposing an industrial site in Ladywood into a community-driven space to empower neighborhoods in leading sustainable change. Civic Square’s approach emphasises systemic transformation, focusing on reimagining economic systems and implementing practical, street-level changes such as retrofitting for environmental sustainability. In her presentation, Immy underscored the importance of creating spaces where intergenerational dialogue can flourish naturally—where elders and young people aren’t segregated by design but brought together by shared purpose. She also emphasised the need to rethink our relationship with land, resources, and the built environment to adapt to climate crises. Her work operates on three layers: addressing systemic issues (“dark matter”), fostering long-term vision (“dream matter”), and taking practical actions (“everyday matter”). Immy highlighted the importance of community engagement and unlocking the wisdom of local residents through accessible, everyday activities. By involving communities in these processes, Immy’s work aims to build resilience and create spaces that can adapt to future challenges while centering marginalized voices and ideas.

• Link to Endowing The Future – a chapter of the Neighbourhood Public Square publication, co-authored and co-built by CIVIC SQUARE.

In the second part of our session, we shared stories and examples of the impactful role of elders within communities ranging from the Maasai Tribe in Tanzania teaching pastoral skills to younger generations through intergenerational storytelling, to initiatives like the Rural Baba Residence Project in Bulgaria fostering community cohesion through regional projects. These examples highlighted the role of the elders as crucial to community sustainability, influencing wellbeing by sharing cultural heritage and guiding younger members in both practical skills and moral values.