"In order to respond to challenges at the local level, it is important to have individual encounters, which is why we work at the neighborhood level. Before our Neighborhood Day, I didn't know the people, but since then, I greet them and there is the beginning of a conversation." Rina Rabau Nkandu, Alderman for the City of Mechelen responsible for social cohesion, education, participation, communication, seniors and accessibility, shared this reflection at an event titled Fostering Inclusive Communities: Leveraging Social Cohesion for Thriving Societies. Hosted by the Bahá'í International Community’s Brussels Office and the Office of Public Affairs of the Bahá'í community of Belgium, the event explored the need to create inclusive spaces where individuals from various backgrounds feel a sense of belonging and can actively contribute to community progress. 

While emphasizing the importance of understanding the local reality of a neighborhood to effectively address ongoing challenges, Didier Vanderslycke, Coordinator of ORBIT VZW, an organization that fosters coexistence and democratic cooperation among people of different backgrounds, said "It is important to meet and get to know each other, but we will now focus more on working together in solidarity. We will look around the neighborhoods, the cities, what is a problem here, what is an obstacle, what is a threshold. And how can we work together to find a solution?" And Philippe Seidel Leroy from AGE Platform Europe, a European network that promotes solidarity between all generations and the participation of older people in society, added “If we say ‘more inclusive’ for the elderly, that means more inclusive for everyone.”

By focusing on the interplay of European Union, national, and local policymaking, the event underscored the significance of ongoing conversations and collaboration among residents and institutions to strengthen social cohesion at the grassroots level. “Organizing these events is crucial for establishing inclusive and creative environments where policymakers from all levels can interact with grassroots organizations. By doing so they can draw insights from community perspectives and shape policies that embrace diversity in a more collaborative way”, said Sarah Moser, representative of the Office of Public Affairs of the Bahá’ís in Belgium.

The event underscored the critical role of social cohesion in shaping resilient and thriving societies, emphasizing the need for concerted efforts to create inclusive spaces where all individuals can actively participate and contribute to community well-being.