We believe that only together can we build a strong and future-proof city. And that was clearly palpable during last week's AGM.
The first collaborations have since emerged and were enthusiastically shared (more on that soon). That increases the confidence that together we really can make a difference.
At the same time, there was space for honest conversations about the challenges that come with it. About funding. About equality. About how we prevent cooperation from coming down to philanthropy or an attitude of ‘we know what is good for you’. Those very conversations are essential.
Because the NAV is not about walking away when things get tough, but about continuing to seek each other out until we find a way together that works. Based on reciprocity, trust, and the willingness to learn from one another.
A fine example is the collaboration between Neighbours Network Amsterdam and SportCity. Perhaps not an obvious match, but by getting to know each other better they discovered a shared goal: strengthening strong, connected communities. They are now joining forces from two locations. We look forward to seeing what this partnership will bring. That is precisely what the alliance is all about: finding each other, strengthening one another and building solutions for the city together. 💪
