Update September 2025
Every so often, I try to write a short update on the things I have been up to over the past weeks and months. These are just some of the things that stood out to me.
June: Imagination with Ruha Benjamin at Arminius, Rotterdam
In June, I attended the Imagination event at Arminius in Rotterdam, and it was a truly thought-provoking evening. The venue itself carried a sense of history, but it was Ruha Benjamin who gave the evening its energy and focus. As Professor of African American Studies at Princeton, she spoke about her latest book Imagination: A Manifesto and encouraged us to see imagination not as an escape from reality, but as an essential tool for creating change.
Ruha Benjamin at the podium in the Arminius Church in Rotterdam
What resonated with me most was her emphasis on imagination as a strategic site of struggle, something we need to actively protect and cultivate if we hope to dismantle systems shaped by racism, patriarchy, capitalism, and colonialism. Her words made clear that envisioning alternatives is not just important, but urgent.
The event was part of the programme of ‘De Dependance’, an organisation that arranges a lot of thought-provoking talks and other events. If you are based in Rotterdam, I highly recommend them
It was inspiring to be reminded that imagination is not a luxury but a practice, and one that can be transformative when we engage with it collectively.
June: Green Threads Meetup, Rotterdam - What’s That Green?
At the end of June, I joined the Green Threads Meetup in Rotterdam, and it was an excellent experience. The gathering took place at Het Nieuwe Café and brought together a diverse group of people interested in urban greening and sustainability.
Participants shared their projects and ideas with real enthusiasm, and it was inspiring to see how many creative approaches exist for making the city greener and more resilient. The mix of perspectives, spanning design, ecology, and community engagement, made the discussions both rich and practical.
This event was part of the What’s That Green? community that I am part of and who I wrote my recent article for.
Unfortunately I can’t go to the next event in Rotterdam, but keep you eyes open for more local meetups
July: University of Amsterdam Placemaking Summer School visit
In July, I had the opportunity to participate in an event that I found really energising. From the very start, there was a sense of familiarity and warmth, particularly in reconnecting with the organisers, Joop, Jesse and Jeroen, with whom I had visited Madrid.
The programme is built around place-based research and collaboration. Students are encouraged to investigate a specific location, engage with local residents and stakeholders, and design small interventions that respond to what they find, in much the same way as the Urban Life & Placemaking programme
Jeroen & Joop discussed how participation, design, governance, and ecology intersect in public spaces, and looked at examples where research and practice had come together effectively. This provided a clear foundation for the work that followed.
UvA Summer School students discussing ways to research their challenge
Later, I discussed with the students about their cases and how they might go about investigating the issues they were tasked with. Their ideas were detailed and thoughtful, and it was encouraging to see how quickly they developed ideas for possible improvements. The discussions balanced analysis with imagination, and even in the early stages the proposals showed a sensitivity to the needs of the community and the potential of the space.
What impressed me most was the collaborative atmosphere. The students were eager to share insights, question assumptions, and learn from one another. I hope to be involved again in the future.
September: Urban Life & Placemaking Year 2 kick-off
Last week marked the kick-off of the new academic year for Urban Life & Placemaking at Breda University of Applied Sciences, and it was an inspiring way to begin.
For the first time, our second-year Leisure & Events students joined forces with students from the Minor in Inclusive Placemaking. This created a diverse and interdisciplinary group, bringing together different perspectives and skill sets. Throughout the year, they will be working on a series of placemaking cases across Breda and Rotterdam, exploring how urban spaces can become more inclusive, engaging, and meaningful.
The projects will be carried out in collaboration with partners such as Urban Living Lab Breda, InclusiveCity, Breda Stad in een Park, and others. These partnerships give students a chance to engage with real-world challenges and to see the impact of their work beyond the classroom.
The week was made even more special by the presence of Sudebi Thakurata and Probal Banerjee of Depicentre Consulting. Over the course of three days, they guided the students through a creative and participatory programme. Highlights included designing a place-based tour of selected Breda locations, allowing students to connect with the city in new ways, and preparing a potluck meal inspired by those very locations. These activities encouraged reflection on how stories, food, and shared experiences can all play a role in placemaking.
The kick-off week not only introduced students to the year ahead but also set the tone for collaboration, creativity, and learning through practice. It was exciting to see how quickly the group came together and how much enthusiasm they brought to the process.
With this strong start, I am looking forward to an engaging academic year filled with discovery, experimentation, and connection.
Urban Life & Placemaking and Inclusive Placemaking students working with Sudebi Thakurata
