The art of the possible: sacred values and the re-imagining of urban places

Do you work for a charity, institution or a local authority involved in urban partnerships? Are you an entrepreneur, researcher, or policymaker interested in innovative approaches to place-making? Then join this short course and explore the full potential of urban socio-ecological transformation.

What will you learn?

The two-hour session explores case studies and innovative practices of urban socio-ecological transformation. Following this exploration, you will learn how to open up new mindsets, partnerships and possibilities by intentionally combining social and ecological aims.

• What are the obstacles to re-imagining urban places and how to overcome them?
• What are the opportunities of urban transformation are how can these be maximised?

As participants, you will gain a better understanding of theoretical and practical approaches to socio-ecological transformation and come away better equipped with actionable strategies to implement in your own settings.

The session will benefit from the experiences of Faith4Change and how they navigated the changing dynamics and power shifts of urban place-shaping and developed new collaborative practices.

Who will you learn with?

Revd Dr Gill Reeve is Senior Chaplain at the University of Chester leading a multi-faith chaplaincy team that is focused on care and belonging for all faiths and none. Gill has spent most of her career in the NHS as a Speech & Language Therapist working with adults, and healthcare and wellbeing remain a keen area of interest. More recently, Gill’s PhD explored how performative sacred values can be enablers of socio-ecological, place-based transformation. Gill’s inter-disciplinary research describes how performative sacred values can be a catalyst for change. In 2018, Gill was ordained as a Pioneer Minister in the Church of England and spent her curacy in Liverpool, working closely in an urban network and with Faiths4Change, an environmental charity. Working as a Senior Chaplain in HE gives Gill the opportunity to explore how shared sacred values can act as a catalyst for place-based transformation in a Higher Education context through a variety of place-based projects and creative initiatives.

This session has been developed as part of the William Temple Festival of Public Theology which will take place on 21-22 June 2024. The Festival offers an innovative online programme of short courses about theology, plurality and activism in public life. Building on the earlier traditions of William Temple College, it draws on current research and expertise of scholars affiliated with the William Temple Foundation.

**This taster session is offered on a 'pay as you feel' basis. Your donations are much appreciated**