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During the event inspiring examples of new politics will be presented and there will be an open discussion on “How can I act so as to promote change in my community?”

Curitiba will be home to the First Political Participation Network Conference on November 30 and December 1. The central theme will be “New politics is Possible.” In the Network’s experience, new forms of innovative political interaction are those that experiment with intensifying the relationship between democracy and development in local communities. “The new possible politics is that which emerges from induced local development processes in cities, neighborhoods, and other places, and aims at tapping the synergies arising from converging action among government, private sector and common citizens,” comments professor and political analyst Augusto de Franco, adding that such new politics must hinge on the strengthening of civil society, citizen entrepreneurship and local population protagonism,  all of them connected by community development networks.

Created in April 2006 by the Fiep System, the Political Participation and Entrepreneurial Network is a non partisan institution that stimulates actions capable of impacting the way politics are conducted in the country. Based on social network principles, thousands of people are currently connected through the Internet and through activities carried out in person.  On the site www.redeempresarial.org.br alone there are more than 6 thousand people registered, from 25 different Brazilian states, and more than 200 thousand individuals have been somehow touched by actions resulting from Paraná’s Political Project for City Development, created and fostered by the Network.

In this sense, the event will serve to congregate the various segments of society and contribute to the dissemination of the ideas and join the forces. It will be an opportunity for dialog on the theme which is expected to lead to practical “how to” notions.  According to Rodrigo Rocha Loures – president of the Fiep System – it is time “to act”. He points out that entrepreneurs make all the difference when the subject is economics, but that nonetheless, “many don’t know that the business sector can also have a huge impact on politics.” For this reason, he advocates both. The entrepreneur’s business commitment, adds Rocha Loures, is critical in strengthening the organized civil society. The sector is being urged to attend the Conference too, and help build the political agenda for 2010.

 If talking about local development means talking about “the new politics, the Political Participation and Entrepreneurial Network is acting along these lines as it implements the City Development Political Project in several municipalities in the state of Paraná.

Building Democracy

Change in the social organization model with direct impact on an innovative power relationship  that  at the same time integrates and ensures the  involvement of several social segments – citizens, entrepreneurs, and public authorities – is emerging from this methodology for local development.

The idea behind this project is to have local communities working with a new vision of shared governance in mind, where the dwellers will take the first steps toward creating a better place to live in. United they discuss their problems and the possible solutions to remedy local shortcomings and try to establish partnerships with the private and public sectors in order to carry out the planned actions according to a positive agenda.

The inhabitants of the chosen communities will be instructed on a methodology to promote  local development,” explains Franco.

Empowered Citizens

All in all, there are 38 communities in the state, with more than 200 inhabitants that are currently creating a new space for interaction on behalf of a better place to live. The project has already been implemented or is still under implementation in the municipalities of Curitiba, Ponta Grossa, Maringá, Londrina, Guarapuava, Reserva do Iguaçu, Pinhão, Paranavaí, Campo Mourão, Cascavel, Toledo, and Marechal Cândido Rondon.

Some actions planned during the meetings are already being carried out in several communities across the state of Paraná. In Ponta Grossa, Vila Santana and Vila Barreto a band was assembled (photo) and it has already performed in the streets Carnival. For the president of the House of Representatives of Ponta Grossa, Sebastão Mainardes, this kind of project aids the public authorities when it comes the time to decide on what are the neighborhood’s priorities. “Usually, the inhabitants come to us with problems, but never with a solution. If instead they come up with a solution, then it is much easier to help them and to get it right,” he explains.

At Vila Barreto, in Londrina, the dwellers, aided by the public authorities and the State University of Londrina managed to create a project to revamp the neighborhood’s square (photo). “What is important is not to let the desire to see the neighborhood grow fade away. We can still do a lot, we can do anything we want,” reminds us Adreliane Maistrovicz, who lives in Vila Recreio – the first neighborhood to implement the methodology in Londrina. At present, other 7 neighborhoods have developed their own projects in the city and 9 more are waiting for their turn.

In Maringá, the inhabitants of the Ney Braga neighborhood have also carried out several actions planned. Local safety improved and public schoolchildren have been given talks on citizenship. “ All this resulted from their own actions (inhabitants) and this motivates them to interact more and look for improvements for the community,” explains Paulo Meneguetti, regional coordinator of Fiep/Maringá and also a member of the Network and a regular participant in the meetings of the Ney Braga community – the first in the city to engage in the project.