The Cities by People: Learning to Co-Create Circular and Nature-Positive Futures initiative has successfully concluded, bringing together citizens, families, educators and sustainability practitioners for an inspiring day of collaboration as part of the New European Bauhaus Festival.
Organised by Syxis, in collaboration with Biblioteca di Segrate, Luciana Virna Scalone and the REBOAT Project, the event demonstrated how creative participation can help communities imagine and shape more sustainable, circular and inclusive urban environments.
A different way to talk about sustainability
Instead of traditional presentations, the event invited participants to experience sustainability through action.
Using storytelling as a co-creation methodology, children and adults worked side by side to imagine future cities, explore environmental challenges and collectively build new narratives around circularity, community and belonging.
The workshop showed that meaningful conversations about sustainability become more engaging when everyone has the opportunity to contribute, regardless of age or background.
Co-Creation as a tool for community engagement
One of the strongest messages emerging from the event was the value of co-creation in strengthening local communities.
Participants naturally collaborated, exchanged ideas and developed shared solutions, demonstrating that participation is most effective when people become active contributors rather than passive listeners.
This collaborative approach reflects the principles of the New European Bauhaus, where sustainability is built together through creativity, inclusion and a stronger connection between people and places.
Connecting creativity with circular economy
The initiative also highlighted how creativity can support the understanding of complex sustainability challenges.
Thanks to the contribution of the REBOAT Project, participants explored real examples of circular economy and waste valorisation, discovering how discarded materials can become valuable resources through innovative and community-driven approaches.
By connecting storytelling with practical sustainability examples, the workshop encouraged participants to look at cities, materials and everyday objects from a completely new perspective.
Why this experience matters
Cities by People confirmed that engaging citizens requires more than simply sharing information.
Creative methodologies, collaborative learning and intergenerational dialogue can generate stronger participation, encourage new ideas and foster a greater sense of belonging within local communities.
The experience demonstrated that everyone can contribute to building more sustainable and nature-positive cities when given the right tools and opportunities to collaborate.
Download the event report
To document the experience and share its outcomes, Syxis has published the Cities by People Event Report.
The report explores the workshop methodology, the co-creation approach, the integration of circular economy concepts through the REBOAT Project, the key lessons learned and practical recommendations for organisations interested in replicating similar participatory initiatives.
Download the report to discover how storytelling, creativity and collaboration can support community engagement and sustainable urban transformation.