In the project (Re)mapping Rotterdam, scientists joined hands in the Erasmus Initiative Vital Cities and Citizens, and cooperate with local social organisations in the field of diversity and inclusion. Not with the intention of telling them what to do, but by asking the question: what are your needs, terms, and conditions? An interview with dr. Isabel Awad.
Within the Erasmus Initiative Vital Cities and Citizens you are involved in the project (Re)mapping Rotterdam.
“This is one of our projects within the theme Inclusive Cities and Diversity, investigating the role of residents, policy makers, activists, companies, and the media on urban diversity. (Re)mapping Rotterdam is about rethinking our own city – the city where we work and, in many cases, live – based on efforts and struggles to make it more inclusive. The project also works as a framework to structure other team initiatives. Furthermore, it facilitates an interdisciplinary approach and, ideally, new possibilities for colleagues and students of our university.”
How do citizens fit into this project?
“We started with the idea of organizing networking tours to bring together colleagues, students, and representatives of civic organizations in the field of diversity and inclusion. But we didn't just set out to connect people – we also wanted to know how these groups define diversity and inclusion. So we conducted in-depth interviews with representatives from 27 civic organizations and asked them about the terms they think are meaningful, problematic, strategically useful, et cetera. In the tours, we specifically ask about the kinds of collaborations with the university that they value. And when is the role played by the university not all that constructive, which roles should we not play? What things do we have to learn as a university?”
Are we getting it right?
“Not always. In the southern part of Rotterdam some groups have given us the feedback: ‘Please stop sending us students asking questions. We want to establish long-term collaborations, but this doesn't come to fruition if we are repeatedly visited only to collect information and move on. We want our input to be valued and should be financially compensated.’ Another civic leader remarked: ‘We have had some positive experiences, but sometimes the university has very specific ways of doing, a rigid way of handling things. It would be helpful if they were more flexible.’ And we must realize that it is not an even field. Some of these organizations are prominent partners of the city, while others are struggling in terms of funding and other resources.”
''We want to underscore the value of their work. Countless people are devoting their time and energy towards making Rotterdam a better place''
Dr. Isabel Awad
“We are happy with our networking tours. We have learned from and facilitated contact with and among amazing people, dedicated to making life better for everyone in Rotterdam. This also includes colleagues and students concerned about these issues. Our tours have brought us to a rich variety of locations around the city, including Verhalenhuis Belvédère, Dona Daria, WORM, and Gemaal op Zuid. During our last tour, on March 31, we started in the Independent School for the City in the Schieblock, where we heard from Rotterdam Pride; SKIN, an organization that represents and supports Christian migrant churches; and WE, which is mostly dedicated to facilitating contact between refugees and other citizens. Then we moved to WORM. The speakers there work and volunteer for Humanitas’ Expertise Centre Sexuality, Sex work and Human Trafficking; and the Shelter City program, which hosts international human rights activists at risk. We ended with a borrel in the Wunderbar. It was fun and valuable. And the networking tours opened up new worlds for some of us. I trust these tours can foster more and better cooperation in the local field of inclusion and diversity. Also with respect to teaching, of course. I have personally already developed class activities with some of these partners.”
So, would you say Erasmus University is making an impact?
“For many reasons, I am hesitant to use the word ‘impact’. If the question is whether we are contributing to inclusion in the city, I hope so, a little bit. At least I think we are contributing to a better understanding between some of us in EUR and social actors worth learning from and working with. We want to underscore the value of their work. Countless people are devoting their time and energy towards making Rotterdam a better place. I wish we could do more to facilitate their efforts to make the city a fairer place. I think we are taking strides, but we cannot assess the value of projects like this in terms of cause and effect. Little of what we do can be measured in numbers or concrete, short-term, results.”
“Also, as a university, we need to do more to figure out what kind of impact we want to have and which one we do not want. For example, I think we should pay more attention to the gap between many of our students and large parts of the city. Students in international programs, visiting Rotterdam for a few years, commonly see it as the cosmopolitan city that is presented in tourist guides and in our own EUR marketing. But they may not know enough about Rotterdam to understand our, and their responsibility towards it. There is much more we could do in our curriculum to create responsible involvement with the city. Many of us at the university are in a very privileged situation, living in a bubble. An agenda of positive impact should involve taking more responsibility for this situation. This is not about “rescuing” or “saving” parts of the city. It is about reflecting on how our privileges are linked to gentrification, to the limitation of other people’s access to resources, et cetera. And then, figuring out how to undo some of those inequalities.”
''We need hope to continue working for a better Rotterdam. And we as a university could and should play a role in this process of change''
Dr. Isabel Awad
Speaking of international. You have also lived in several countries....
“I was born in Chile when it was about to enter a long period of military dictatorship. I spent part of my childhood in Mexico, went on to study Journalism and Aesthetics back in Chile and obtained my PhD at Stanford University, that is, in the middle of Silicon Valley. For my PhD, I worked with the Latinx community in San Jose, focusing on their struggles for social justice in the media and elsewhere. I became increasingly aware of my privileges. After my PhD, I decided to move to the Netherlands. This is a marked contrast with many people, who do not migrate so freely. In that sense, my own migrations have influenced my research orientation. I strive to devote energy and attention to helping reduce inequality and social injustice.”
Are you optimistic about diversity and inclusion in Rotterdam?
“I keep some hope. I even think there is some kind of momentum in the city. Black Lives Matter, Recht op de Stad and other efforts like these are forcing many to take these issues more seriously. The local government has been compelled to revise some of its policies. It is about to present a new ‘samenlevingsbeleid’ [policy to foster social cohesion]. We will see… We must remain vigilant, but also look for opportunities. We need hope to continue working for a better Rotterdam. And we as a university could and should play a role in this process of change.”
Biography Isabel Awad
The underlying concern of her teaching and research is an understanding of the conditions for democratic communication and social justice against a backdrop of social inequality. Much of her work focuses on how the (news) media contribute to the inclusion/exclusion of marginalized social groups and on the efforts of specific actors (journalists, activists, ordinary citizens) to navigate creatively within hegemonic media environments. Isabel is theme lead (on Diversity and Inclusion) within the Vital Cities and Citizens Erasmus Initiative. A native from Chile, Isabel obtained her PhD in Communication from Stanford University (USA) in 2007. She is the academic coordinator of the Media, Culture and Society Master program.
- More information
A lot of scientific research about city life speaks about citizens rather than with citizens. The research project 'My Rotterdam' wants to change that. Read more about this research project.
This research project is part of the Erasmus Initiative 'Vital Cities and Citizens'. The aim of this initiative is to strengthen the quality of life within cities.
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