3rd Spaces

The 3rd Spaces proposal emerges from the identification of three main challenges: echo chambers, limited safe spaces, and a lack of connection to communal wellness. First, echo chambers refer to environments where a person only encounters similar beliefs and opinions, and is not encouraged to learn from different backgrounds that are not their own. This allows other identities to exist in isolation, which can be a challenge to democracy, as it promotes a narrow sense of community and nationhood that generally excludes marginalized populations. Echo chambers can occur both physically, through the segregation and gentrification of neighborhoods, and digitally, through narrow algorithms that limit diverse representation. The second challenge affecting 3rd Spaces is the lack of safe spaces for dialogue and community-building. There is a lack of investment in creating and preserving community centers, such as green spaces, libraries, food banks, and other public locations. These spaces are essential to community-building as they offer a place for connection and enjoyment that transcends access barriers. Finally, the third challenge is the lack of promotion of communal wellness practices. This refers to the prevailing view that health, in a physical, mental, and emotional sense, should be a solely individual pursuit. Health is an essential condition for communities to prosper, and 3rd Spaces can offer resources that people would normally not be able to access, especially in places where public health facilities are operating at capacity and private health spaces are expensive. Community-building strategies can provide basic services that the population considers a priority, while also fostering health as a space to create and nurture connections.

The 3rd Spaces proposal consists of both creating and restoring public spaces to provide the infrastructure for community events that promote three specific pillars: Physical Health, Nourishment and Growth, and Arts and Culture. Physical Health spaces promote collective forms of movement such as sports events, exercise, or gardening and agriculture. Nourishment and Growth spaces focus on events that provide mental health and overall wellbeing, including food banks, secular support groups, and conversation spaces that encourage people from different backgrounds to engage (i.e., language cafés). Lastly, Arts and Culture spaces include festivals (such as dance, music, film, and food), open mics, workshops, and traditional celebrations.

3rd Spaces aims to highlight the uniqueness in each community, which is why the content provided at the spaces must come from the talent and knowledge of existing community members. However, implementing the program will require alliances with local governments, professionals, investors, and the community itself. An example of this is accessibility to transportation. For special events, 3rd Spaces could offer shuttles or organize a carpool system. 3rd Spaces should also include children and promote education so that the implementation of the programs can be continued through generations.

By implementing 3rd Spaces, communities will benefit from providing resources that improve overall community health and relieve pressure on over-capacitated public health services. At the same time, by highlighting community talents and allocating infrastructure for connections, 3rd Spaces hopes to establish a culture of representative leadership by training people to continue these initiatives across generations. Lastly, by fostering spaces for open dialogue, 3rd Spaces will likely contribute to improving rates of democratic participation by creating a sentiment of community care.