Belonging Is Built When People Help Shape the Plan

A Marrakesh Declaration, adopted on October 23 and reported on October 26, calls for practical ways to address isolation and strengthen belonging. Its recommendations include accessible gathering places, community-designed digital tools, and involving people who use services in shaping and evaluating them. Read the report and declaration.

The strongest connection principle here is reciprocity: people should not only receive a program, but have a meaningful say in what it offers. That takes more than inviting feedback. The declaration also calls for reporting back on how people’s input shaped decisions—a useful way to show that listening can change the plan.

My reservation is practical: a declaration is a direction, not proof of delivery. Its proposed implementation plan, due within six months, will matter. What would help communities tell whether residents’ preferences genuinely influenced the services and spaces created for them?