Opening up creative resources

Towards age-friendly communities through rhizomatic thinking and doing

Bibliographic Data

ID21600825
AuthorsMarielle Schuurman (Department of Public Health, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands), Barbara Groot (0000-0001-7495-3048, Department of Public Health, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands, corresponding author), Tineke Abma (0000-0002-8902-322X, Department of Public Health, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands)
Year2025
Volume33
Issue1
Pages70-95
Publication date2025-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueEducational Action Research (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0965-0792 • E-ISSN: 1747-5074
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/09650792.2024.2370277
PMID39877130
OpenAlexW4400094356
LanguageEN
Citations received4
References cited40

Globally, many complex issues, like the ageing population and health inequalities, require attention. People are experimenting to combat these issues in their local contexts through bigger or smaller networks; however, much of the knowledge about these initiatives remains localised and elitist and omits the voices and perspectives of citizens. This article identifies the characteristics of a more horizontal, emergent and plural epistemology to mobilize knowledge. We used local networks building age-friendly communities in the Netherlands as a case study. With members of 110 local networks, we worked with a new methodology called dynamic knowledge synthesis to create fruitful interactions and learn with stakeholders, including older citizens, in a learning community. Four working principles helped us, namely (1) a rhizomatic design based on multiplicity, heterogeneity and non-linearity of knowledge; (2) fertile soil nurtured by the talents and wisdom of participants through participatory arts-based methods; (3) so-called ‘wicked skills’ of a forester 2.0 to facilitate learning; and (4) an ecosystem metaphor as a boundary object to understand local networks. We invite colleagues to experiment with dynamic knowledge synthesis to connect on different levels, with particular attention to the inclusion of citizens in creating sustainable local communities

Citizen journalism · Engineering ethics · Environmental ethics · Learning community · Participatory action research · Pedagogy · Political science · Population · Public relations · Sociology · Community Health and Development · Engineering · Innovative Approaches in Technology and Social Development · Sustainability and Climate Change Governance

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