There's a "problem-hit" part of Grimsby. But the BBC picked it out for THIS in particular.
... And there's a bit in Jon Alexander's brilliant book, Citizens, where Jon encourages us to clear dog sh*t off our own doorstep instead of waiting for someone to do it for us. If we all did that, imagine how our streets would look...
The same Jon emailed me to say, "You HAVE to have Josie Moon on your podcast...
Josie is half of the brains behind East Marsh United - which is the project behind the trees being planted in the BBC video clip referenced above - and continues to play a big part, along with many others, in being the energy and drive that keeps it going. But if you go to the "EMU" website, you won't find Josie's face for quite a while... keep scrolling... keep scrolling...
Josie is an incredibly modest force of nature. She tells me all about the groundbreaking work that she and her partner have done in establishing a community group from the East Marsh of Grimsby, dedicated to transforming where they live for the better.
Very experienced and visionary British charitable trusts and foundations such as Esmee Fairbairn and the Tudor Trust have seen how impressive EMU is, and what a beacon of hope it is for Citizenship all across the country, and are supporting it financially to keep going.
This is an inspiring conversation in which Josie talks me through the five key things that EMU does:
1. celebrating homegrown talent
2. creating new opportunities
3. looking out for each other
4. making homes work for its community
5. giving local people a voice
It is a fantastic example of how grassroots organisations can bring people together, inspire and foster change, and adapt a hopeful and proactive approach to business, local community and society more widely.
Listen up for some radical, humbling and wonderful ideas to spice up how you and yours work together.