PosterMaríaCastellóSolbes

InterimReport

2

Index

1. Thestartingpoint2. TheprocessfromDecembertoJune3. Evaluation4. Learningsaboutparentingandurbanism5. Horizonsandcontinuityoftheproject6. Bibliography

3

1_Thestartingpoint

Caring IN the city is a cross-project that combines participatory research andcollectiveartisticproduction.Itistheextendedversion(designedwiththeideaofbecomingEuropean)ofanongoingproject:LaTribudeArganzuela(TheTribeofArganzuela),whichhasbeengrantedwithfundsfromthecallUnaciudadmuchosmundos launched by Intermediae-Matadero (a Madrid City Hall’s culturalinstitution). In its first phase, Caring IN the city has accompanied the ongoing The Tribe ofArganzuelaprocessofthecreationofalearningcommunitythathascarriedoutaresearchandacreativeprocess.Thegroupbeganwithtwoquestionsasastartingpoint:HowarechildrenbeingbroughtupintheneighborhoodofArganzuela?Howcan we improve this situation? What public policies can be developed in thisdirection? Thisgrouphasdevelopedseveralworkshopswherewehaveexploredupbringingexperiences, families’ needs, desires and proposals. We have used several

4

techniques,fromparticipatoryresearchtodebates,walks,artisticproduction,etc.Inthisreportwedescribeourfindingsduringthisfirstphase.Thisfirstpartoftheprojectisalsonarratedinaradioprogramthatwasrecordedliveinaneventweorganizedinoneofthedistrictssquares,plazadelasPeñuelas.CaringINthecityhasdocumentedthisprocesswithvideointerviewsandstorytellingintheproject’sTumblr.Thiswaywewillbeabletodisseminatethisexperienceandreplicatetheprocessinothercontexts. In itssecondphase,starting inSeptember2016, theprojectwillgo from local toglobal. We will visit other related experiments that deal with care-work andparentinginSpain,andwilllaunchresearchonhowcare-workandparentingareorganized inEurope, comparing twodifferentmodels: southerncountriesversusnortherncountries.Thehighlightof thisphasewillbeavisit toFinlandwith theaimoflearningfromanotherIdeaMaker,YlvaRancken-Lutz,andherresearchonfirst-time parenting in urban and suburban settings in Sweden, Finland andDenmark.Withall theinformationgathered,wewillwriteafinalreportthatwillcollectourfindingsandwillproposeaseriesofpoliciesandrecommendationsinorder tomake care-friendly cities. The report alsowants to put in the spot thecreativemethodology and the cultural activity as away to engage people in theshapingofpoliticalideas. Contextandhypothesis SpainhasaweakWelfareStatethathasdeterioratedinthepastfewyearsduetothecrisis.Thecutsonsocialservices(day-carecenters,education,healthservices,etc.)haveprovokedareproductivecrisis, forcing families (andspeciallywomen)totakeovermostofthecare-work. Madrid has undergone a major transformation over the past two decades. Itsintegrationintotheglobaleconomyinthehandsofarealestateboomhasledtorapid economic growth, massive urban development, housing construction andmajorinfrastructuredevelopment.TheArganzuelaneighborhoodembodiesmanyof the contradictions and consequences of this transformation process. An oldindustrialneighborhood thathasseen theold industrial spaces transformed intoparksandgreenspaces,culturalandmunicipalinfrastructures,andintoresidentialareas.ArganzuelaisthesecondlargestdistrictinMadridinsizeandpopulation,anareaofthecitycenterinthecrossroadsofgentrification. In this context, raising children is a very complicated chore, forced to movebetweenprecariousjobsandlonghours,scarcepublicservicesandacitydesignedfor cars. Many families are faced with two alternatives: the outsourcing of care(mostlytootherwomen)ordedicationtothemexclusivelybyoneoftheparents(again,mostlywomen). Thecarework,essential forsustaininglife, it isthusperformedintheinvisibilityandlonelinessofhouseholds.Thefeministmovementsawinthisisolationafactor

5

of oppression of women. In successive waves, feminisms have implementedvariousstrategiestogetcare-workoutsidethehomeanddoitcollectively.Therehave beenmany experiences of these strategies, such as the collective kitchens,community laundries and nurseries that feminists involved in utopian socialismproposed; or the nursery schools organized by the feministmovement in SpainduringtheFrancoregime. However, breeding in common needs cities that are able to accommodate thesepractices. Feminism, urbanism and critical sociology have shown how cityplanningisnotneutralorinnocent,butisorganizedtofacilitatethemovementofcommoditiesratherthanpeople. Isitpossible,inthiscontext,tocreatespaces,narrativesandcommunitiestomakeparentingincommon?

6

2_TheprocessfromDecembertoJune

Juanita’swalk After fewmonthsengagedonmappingresources,groupsandassociationsof thedistrict,thefirststepoftheTribewasaneventonDecember12,2015,ElPaseodeJuanita (Juanita’sWalk). It consisted of a walk around the neighborhood in themorning,andaworkshopandalectureintheafternoon.

Juanita’sWalk,partlyfollowingtheJane’sWalkmethodology,chartedanitineraryofvariousresourcesandtroublespotsintheneighborhoodthatgaveuscausetodiscusstopicalissuesconcerningourdailyascaregiversindifferentneighborhoodsinthedistrictofArganzuela. Forexample,ourcurrentrealityislivinginaneighborhoodfullofroundaboutsandstreetswithseverallanes,designedalmostexclusivelyforcarswhichforcesusaspedestrianstotakealotofmicro-pathstoavoidtheseobstacles,whichmeansdelaysinspacesnotsoniceforwalking(seethetworoundaboutsSantaMaríadelaCabezaaddressedonthewalk).Thissituationworsenswhenwearewalkingwithsmallchildren

orstrollersandalsomakesitdifficultforoursmallerneighborstowalktoschool. On the same subject we noticed the high demand for nursery, primary andsecondary centers, as most of the existing buildings of this type are old and

7

overcrowded. People also mentioned the need for informal meeting places andpublicassemblyspacestoaccommodatediverseandintergenerationaluses. Thanks topeople in theneighborhood involved inpreparing thepromenadeandneighbors who joined spontaneously we were able to meet and share differentperspectives related to the living in the district of Arganzuela and living withchildren. MembersofElPaseodeJane,LaRevoltosacommoncitygarden,thefreenurseryElPalomar,NaciónRotondacollective,AMPA(Parent’sAssociation)CEIPMigueldeUnamuno, EVArganzuela Common Space and The Sanchita common city gardentookpartinthewalk. Workshop

Following the methodology of our fellow grant recipient Las Raras, we tried tocreate a relaxed atmosphere where the conversation could flow while we hadsome snacks and the childrenplayed aroundus.There’s a greatneed for spaceswherepeoplecanshareupbringingexperiences. Theaimoftheworkshop-discussionwasthat,oncedividedintosmallgroups,wecouldshareexperiencesinarelaxedway(tryingtoincorporatethechildreninthedevelopmentoftheactivity)aboutraisingchildrenintheneighborhood.Isolation,

8

loneliness,inhospitableneighborhoodswithinthedistrictand,ontheotherhand,thepresenceof familynetworks inupbringingandMadridRíobeing,bydefault,oneofthefreespacesmostused.Someoftheseindicatorswerementionedagainandagainindifferentgroups. Eachgroupchoseaspokespersontosharewhereitcamefromandwhatideashadbeenbroughtupduringthetalks. Atalk TheroundtablediscussionwesharedwithCarolinadelOlmo,authorof thebookWhere ismytribe?, sociologists InesCampilloandTomasCano,andarchitectEvaGarcia,wasonthechildcareandupbringingincities. Thediscussionbroughtuphowsocialorganizationisdeeplyhostiletobreeding,totheextent that it’sseenasaprivatematter thateveryonehas tomanageas theycan.We reflected on how public policies regardingmaternity and paternity areinsufficient and social services are scarce. The speakers emphasized the need todisconnectparentalleavefromemploymentasthelinkingofsocialadvancestothelaborfieldleavesoutthosewhoareunemployedorhaveprecariousjobs. Wealsodiscussedwhatafeministcitywouldbelikeandwhichissuessuchacityshouldaddresstobecomediverse,accessibleandwelcomingtoallkindsofpeople,usesandroutes.Afeministcityshouldtakeintoaccount,forexample,otherroutesbeyondhouseholdemployment;theofferingofpublicspacesinwhichtocombineparentingwithotheractivities;thatprioritizeswalking,bikingorpublictransportinpreferencetocars;ortomakefacilitiesandnearbysocialservicesavailable.

Whatismytribeandwheretowalk? OnSaturdayJanuary23wehadthefirstsessionoftheTribeofArganzuela/CaringINthecityproject. The meeting was in the terrarium at Intermediae / Matadero, a frequent andinformal placewhere families and caregivers like tomeet, especially on cold orrainydays.Thatday therewasaveryhigh turnout,withnewaswellas familiarfaces.Mostofthoseconcernedwereparentsoftoddlersaswellasbabiesandolderchildren. Westartedwiththedynamicsofknowledgeandcreativity intendingto illustratewhatourtribesarelikeandtheirplaceonthemapofthedifferentneighborhoodsinthedistrictandotherMadridneighborhoodssuchasRetiro,UseraandTetuan,fromwhichsomeparticipantsalsocame.Theaimwastovisualizethesimilaritiesand intersections between the features of our tribes and our daily routes inArganzuela.InadistrictaslargeasArganzuelatherearemanysub-neighborhoodswiththeirownroutes.

9

Theparticipationwasquitedynamic,evenwiththedifficultieswithconcentrationandattentioninsharingcommonspaceofwork/playwiththelittleones.Therewas an educator there to keep children entertained with stories and craftmaterials, but the toddlerskept comingandgoing to theirparentsbetweenplaysessions. Wedidn’thavetimetocoverthecreativedynamic,whereweintendedtogeneratestoriesfromourenvironmenttomakeourlifesituationsvisible.Wewilltakethatupinthenextsession! Aftersharingourtribesandpathsweassembledtodiscussourimpressionsofthesessionandideasforupcomingmeetings: ● Makesessionsshorterandmorefrequent.Therefore,everyonewasinvited

tothefollowingsessiontwoweekslater.● Sinceourworkiswithchildren,wehavetokeepinmindthatthey’repartof

theTribe,we are committed to designing our next sessionswith them inmind.

● Theveryhomogeneousprofileoftheparticipants.Thisisathemetoworkonandwewereconcernedaboutthisfromthestart.Weconcludedthatitisdifficult to fully represent the tribeofArganzuela, as theneighborhood isverydiverse.That’swhywehavetoworkonmeetingwithstrategicpeopleintheneighborhoodsinordertoconnectuswithotherneighbors.Anyways,wewill be “one” ofmany tribes. It’s nice to seehowour footworkmakesabstractideaschange!

10

● Weremindedourselvesoftheimportanceofconductingatechnicalanalysisof the needs of the district regarding parenting and childhood. For this,Pandora Mirabilia intends to initiate research with the support of thedistrictboard.

WhatIwouldlikemyneighborhoodtobelike? At the requestof theassembly, this sessionwas intended for the childrenof theTribetotakethefloor. We started refreshing some of the findings from the other two sessions. Werecalledthetwoobjectivesoftheprojectwhichare,inadditiontobuildingatribe:1.- doing a radio show/podcast and 2.- writing a report on needs related toparenting,childhood,andneighborhoodnetworks. Doingthingstogether isalwaysachallengebut it’salsothebestwaytogoabout

buildingacommunity. Manuela Marcos, children’seducatorofourtribe,proposedbuilding a model of our idealneighborhood using recycledmaterialsandplastic. Some ideas were brought up,such us: InterconnectedHouses; a zip line project tocross streets; Houses withsolar panels; Playhouses forchildren; Orchards, areas foryoga and barbecue on MadridRio.“Becauseinthedistrictwedo not need more buildings,

weneedtoinhabitthespaceswealreadyhave.” Thesessionleftuswithagoodfeeling.Wehadfun,wemovedaround,weusedourimaginations and we laughed. We welcomed new and familiar faces to thegatheringthatday. And as we ran out of time for the assembly, we called the next meeting forSaturday March the 5th at 11.30 at the same place with the idea, weatherpermitting,ofplayingandworkingoutside.

11

Inclosing,weleaveyouareflectionfromafamilyintheneighborhoodwhocameforthefirsttime:"Althoughweareawareofalltheproblemsoftheneighborhood(pollution, noise), compared to the other districts of the Centre, Arganzuela hasvery positive things, for example,mobility:we havewide sidewalks that Tetuánand other neighborhoods like Lavapiés don’t have, which is vital for us as ourtwinsneedadoublestroller”.

Tribuextends... Betweensessions,theTribeproject/CaringINthecitybegantospread:

● Wecreatedamailing list to send informationand reportsof the sessions,withtheaimofalsoserveasvirtualspaceforcommunication.

● Wehadmeetingswithour"advisorycouncil",agroupoffivepeoplewithwhom we have shared questions, suggestions, and different visions thathaveservedustohavefeedbackoftheproject,toconnectwithothertribesand toadaptandmodify theproject.Thisgroup is composedbyVeronicaMartinez,whoparticipatesinEVArganzuelaandtheAMPACEIPMigueldeUnamuno; Luis Benedicto, educator in Escuela el Palomar; Sonia Campo,sociologist and mother; Sara Martin, who accompanies projects inIntermediae,andAnaGarridofromEVArganzuela.

● Invited by Veronica Martinez, we went to the assembly of AMPA CEIPMiguelUnamunotopresenttheprojectandencouragethemtoparticipate.Therewemettwoveryinterestingprojects:Nivola,theschool’smagazine,apublication made by children; and Orejitas y orejones, a radio programmadebykidswithCharoSoria’shelp.

12

● Following a suggestionmadebyAnaGarrido,webeganparticipating in alocal group dedicated to making a map of resources and needs ofArganzuela. Subsequently, this group decided to join the participatorybudgetingprocess,inwhichwealsoparticipated.

● We met with the District Councillor, Romy Arce, and her adviser, ToniGarcia, who had keen interest in the project and were very receptive toreceiving proposals and suggestions for improving the district tomake itmore accessible for children.Wewere offered the possibility of having amunicipalspaceformothersandfatherstoattendwithbabiesfrom0to3years,similartothoseexistinginotherdistricts.

● Afterthismeeting,welaunchedaquestionnaireonparksandplaygroundsanddecidedtodevoteasessionoftheTribetothisissue.Thequestionnairewassentthroughthedistrict’sparentsassociations.Initweaskedpeopletotellushowistheir localparkis like.Bylocalwemeantheonepeopleusemoreoftenbecauseit’sclosetohomeorschool.Whatelementsdoesithave,whatthingsaremissing,whatimprovementstheyproposed,etc.?

WhatmyparkislikeandwhatIwishitwerelike? ThethirdsessionoftheTribetookplaceonSaturdayMarch5thintheRevoltosagarden(PlazadelasPenuelas),echoingtheproposalofsomemothersandfatherstomakeoutdoorworkshops.

13

The meeting went very well, we believe it was one of the best we have had,althougheachofthemhashaditsgoodpoints.Peopleshowedcommitmenttothegroupandtheproject.Also,beinginanopenspacehelpedustobreakthebarriersthatwehavealwaysfoundatIntermediae,especiallytheprofileoftheparticipants.Passersbywhootherwisewouldneverhaveheardthecallcamealong. WeweregratefulfortheinvolvementofSaraSamafromLaRevoltosagarden.Thespaceandworkingwiththesoilcreatedaveryrelaxedatmosphereandwasmuchlessstressfulthanothersessions. Manuela, our educator, was able to work much better thanks to the materialsprovided. At last we could combine the work of debate and communicationbetweenparentswiththemoreplayfulactivityofthechildrenwho,moreover,tolduswhattheylikedanddidnotlikenotaboutthepark. Whatdowewantourparkstobelike? ● Wewouldlikethemtobeintegratedintothecityandnotlikesmallcagesor

playpens.● Wewantshareableparksfortheuseofeveryone(adults,adolescents…)and

allkindsofuses(sports,walk,etc.).● We want green areas integrated into the playground, instead play areas

separatedbybarriers.● Inshort,wedon’twanttheparkstobedividedintozonesforspecificuses,

buta space for thecommunity.We love to thinkofparksas livingspaceswheremanythingscanhappen:gardening,meetingwithseniors,concerts,etc.

● Wewentfrombeingabletoplayinthewholecitytoplayingonlyinasmallspace.

● Wewouldlikethematerialsoftheparks,insteadofcementorplastic,toberecycled.

● Wewanttheplaygroundequipmenttobemoreversatile,allowingdifferentuses. For example, swings for children from 0 to 3 allow them to playindependentlyandnotrelyonanadult,astheydonow.

● Wewouldalsoliketheparkshaveashedtostoretoys, likeinEstoesunaplaza. So we don’t have to bring toys to the park and recycling isencouraged.

● We want the parks to have drinking fountains, like those in Retiro Park(withtwotaps,oneforhumansandtheotherforanimals).

● We need public covered spaces for winter or rainy days, now the onlyalternativesarecommercialspacesorMatadero,alreadyovercrowded.

● We would like recover some spaces that are there but are unused orunderused.

Forexample:

14

● RutilioGacísPark,whichisgreatbutisveryrundown.● An empty lot next to the Matadero greenhouse, which could be used for

gardening(nowit’susedtoputtheattractionsduringSanIsidroFestival).● JosédeVillarrealPark,which isabandonedbutveryattractive,because it

hasnocars.● Severalabandonedcoveredfoodmarkets(behindPlazadePeñuelas),which

aregreatbecausetheyarehaveroomforkidstorunandplay.● An empty lot in Juan Duque street, near La Riviera concert hall, that the

neighborhoodassociationisclaimingforneighborhooduse. Inshort,wewouldlike,insteadofhavingacitywithparks,aparkwithcityinit. Proposalonplaygroundsforparticipatorybudgets WedecidedtosubmitaproposalforimprovementofplaygroundsinthedistrictofArganzuela based on the information gathered at the meeting of the Tribe andthrough questionnaire. It should be noted thatwe had to leave outmany of therecommendations and suggestions we received out of the proposal to fit in theformatandtypeofexpenditurethatcouldbefinancedforthecall.Also,sincetheproposalwaspartial,necessarilytechnicalandspecific,wecouldnotincludemorecomprehensive or global recommendations that also involve mobility, urbandesign,thelayoutofthestreets,landuse,etc.So,wehadtoleaveoutthefollowinggeneralrecommendations:

● Cleangreenareasthatallowchildrentorun,aswellasshadedareastobeinsummer.

● Benchesandtablestositdown,eatandrest.● Secureareaswithoutfences,topromotetheautonomyofthechildren.● Enableparkstobecommunityspacesforpeopleofdifferentages(children,

adults,theelderly,youngpeople...),withopenspacesanddifferentareasfordifferentuses (sandboxes forkids, swings, areaswith tablesandbenches,garden,etc.).

15

The proposal was submitted and completed at district meeting with neighborsdedicated toparticipatorybudgets,where itwasdecided that itwouldbeoneofthe ten proposals promoted collectively. In the first round of the process, theproposalwasamongthe15mostvotedproposalsforArganzuela.However,itnotmanagedtoreachthesecondphaseofvotingbecausethetechnicalstaffofthecitycouncildecidedtodismissit,arguingthattheinstallationofmanyofthefountainsweweredemandingwasalreadycoveredincludedinthecitycouncil’sbudgetfor2016. The feasibility report is silent on the rest of measures included in theproposal. TheproposalcanbereadinDecideMadrid’swebsite(aCityCouncilplatform): ImprovementoftheparksandplaygroundsoftheArganzueladistrict https://decide.madrid.es/participatory_budget/investment_projects/4744

Firstradiosteps! The idea of this fourthmeeting, on Saturday, April 2, was to begin to enter theworldofradiocreationtodevelopthepodcastthatwillreporttheoutcomeofourinvestigation. This timewe have the collaboration of PatriciaHorrillo, journalistfromRadioGuerrillaandtheeducatorManuelaMarcos.

16

Therewas a low influx of people, but verydedicated.As always in our sessions,long-term and new participants came. For starters, we split into two groups:parentsinonegroupandchildrenintheother.

Groupofparents Atthebeginningwegaveabriefdescriptionofhowtobuildthepodcastfromthenexttwosessions.Andwhyinsteadofradiowe’regoingtoworkwithrecordingsmadeonmobilesandrecordingdevices. Forthefirstpartoftheworkshop,weaskthemtothinkofcontrastingsoundstocreate a soundscape through their voices. From thatwe can hear “what is” and“whatwewouldliketheretobe”intheneighborhoodofArganzuela. Wesaid, first, soundsof theneighborhood thatwe likeandwedonot like.Theylistedmanymoreofthese(cars,traffic,etc.)butstillcameupwithsomepositivesounds,whichalsoindicatehowwewishthecitywere(morenoiseofkidsplaying,watersources,birds,etc.). For thesecondpart,weaskedthemto thinkof theusualsoundsofourdaily life(gettingup,coffeepot,alarmclock,metro,bedtimestories…)tocreate“Yourdayin5 sounds”.Besides imagining them, they recordedon themobile and then sharethemwiththegroup.Theycouldfindtheactualsoundtheywantedorrecreateor

17

dramatize them themselves. In thecase that theywereverycomplex, theycouldusetheword.Theresultswerequitecool. They weren’t toomany of us and some parents with small kids couldn’t give a100% during the whole activity, but overall, people were very cooperative andparticipated brilliantly in the exercise. The experience served to recordewill beheardinmanyalocution(albeitveryshort)forthefirsttime.Allseemedtobeateaseandpartofthedynamicsraised.Theywereactiveandrespondedpositivelytoproposalsform. Theexercisesservedasan introductiontoradio,but theywasn’tenoughtimetotalkabout theoutlineorhowwewant theprogramtobe. It’salsodifficult todothis kind ofworkwith such turnover of people, some coming for the first time,otherswaitingforthekids,etc. Thechildrengroup We started asking some kids about what they understood by “journalist”:“Someone who makes papers”, “People who make the news”. Buildingmicrophoneswithdifferent objects, the older kids told the younger oneswhat ajournalistdoesandhowweweregoingtoplayjournalist foraday.Wecreatedamailboxwithquestionstopreparetheinterviews.Thekidsreallygotintotherole(though for the younger ones was more abstract but they also enjoyedthemselves).Withmicrophonesmadeofdifferentmaterials,usedas if theywerereal,wewent to theMataderoPlaza to interviewsomepassersby.Thequestionsrangedfrom“Howoldareyou?”to“Whatdoyoulikeabouttheneighborhood?Itwas interesting togooutand tobepresent in theoutdoor facilitiesofMatadero.People saw us, asked question, and younger and older kids created teams tocollaborate with each other. We did two valid interviews, to use in our futurepodcast. Joining groups together!We didn’t havemuch time left little and the kidsweretiredandhungry,butitwasverygoodtohearthepieceseachgrouphadcreated,especiallytheEverydaySoundspiecefromtheadultgroup.Wewouldhavelikedtodoapractice recordingaltogetherbut there justwasn’t time for everything, andthelittleonesweretiredaftersomuchactivityweaddressed.Finally,wemadeadynamicactivityofexpressionofemotionscoordinatedbyCharoSorianothatlefta good taste in everyone’smouth. It’s now time to think about thenext steps incontinuingtobuildourpodcast.

ClosingdayChronicleoftheTribeofArganzuela OnSaturday,April23th, to close theactivityprogramof theTribe,weagreed tomeetatthewestendoftheneighborhood,theareaadjacenttoParquedeAtenas,between the streets of Virgen del Puerto, Linneo and Juan Duque. Although

18

attendance was low, the resulting group was extremely dynamic. Unfortunatelyparentswithsmallchildrenleftearly,astheEmotionalMapwasdesignedforkidsof7yearsandolder,whowithouthelp, couldget into the issueofemotionsandchoosethestickersautonomouslyorinagreementwiththerest.

Theactivity allowedus to get toknow through theparticipatingneighbors,whotookitonthemselvestobethestorytellersoftheirexperiencesandfeelingsabouttheneighborhood,inadditiontodescribingthetransformationsthattheirstreetshavegonethroughandthe“hottest”areasforcaringforandsocializingwithkids. Theseneighbors themselveswere surprisedbyhowpowerful it is to tell peoplewhodon’tknowaboutyourneighborhoodspace.Itmadethemstopatlandmarksanddiscovernewperspectiveswhileshapingthestoryastheywentalong. Itwasadelight tohave thisopportunity todo this activity, andget toknow theneighborhoodlikeaneighbor.Theweatherwasidealandthekidsreallygot intotheactivity,asyoucanseeonthemapsabove. Theactivitywastowalktheneighborhood,mapinhand,withalegendindicatingdifferent moods, each represented by a color. The participants stopped at eachsignificant space in the neighborhood and collectively we assigned symbolsaccording to the legend. At the end, each participant chose his favoriteneighborhoodplaceandputtheirinitialsonthemap. We alsomade some recordings of what seemed important to us to express theneighborhoodintheformofsoundsaswellofthestoriesthattheneighborstoldus.

19

The result of this sound space will be collected in the podcast that we areproducingandpresentingpubliclyinJuneinIntermediae,withintheprogrammingpresentationoftheresultsoftheUCMMcall. WorkshopvoicewithCoroFón

Intheafternoon,wemetinIntermediaewithmembersofthechoirCoroFón,whoin a display of generosity, good vibes and professionalism gave us a playfulworkshoptofamiliarizeuswithourvoicesandmelodiesthattheyhadchosenforustodevelopouranthem. Starting from a simple chorus, small groups composed verses to reach the finallyrics(fullyopentosuggestions!). Thelyricsarebasedonclaimsandproposalsthatwehavebeencollectinginthesemonthsofresearchandactivities. Anthemlyrics Wearefromhere,wearefromeverywhere You’llseeusinArganzuela Wedanceinthestreets

20

Greenerandlesspolluted HavingaHighSchoolclose Sowedon’thavetogetupearly Wearefromhere,wearefromeverywhere You’llseeusinArganzuela Roundaboutswithziplines withbikesandcommongardenstoplant Widesidewalksbytheschools Towalkfreely Wearefromhere,wearefromeverywhere You’llseeusinArganzuela Thetribewalksasfriends toschoolwe’dliketowalk Coveredspacesinwinter andparkswithoutpootostepon Wearefromhere,wearefromeverywhere You’llseeusinArganzuela Wewantgleamingparks withfountainswherewecandrink Wewantalibrary andenterthemarketfinally Wearefromhere,wearefromeverywhere You’llseeusinArganzuela

Otheractivities RadioworkshopinMigueldeUnamunoSchool OnApril27thweheldaradioworkshopatMigueldeUnamunoSchool,organizedwith the parents association. Along with Patricia Horrillo, we proposed thechildrenthattheybecomeradioreportersandexperimentwithsounds. Wesplitintosmallgroupsandplayedwiththemtorecreatethesoundsrelatedtothe topics covered in the school’s magazine Nivola and proposed that theyimaginednewsounds. Roundtable'Isthistownforme?'

21

On10th Juneweorganized, togetherwithEVArganzuela, the roundtable talk 'Isthis townforme?'withanoutdoorcinemasession.WetalkedwithcityplannersMartaRomantownandVeronicaMartinezaboutcitymobilityandchildren.Afterapicniconthegrass,wewatchedadocumentaryfilm,BikesVSCars. We talked about how public space has been privatized, and how a spacewheremuchofthesociallifetookplacehasbecomeaplaceofpassageinwhichcarshavepriority.Also,howbreedinghasbecomeanindividualprocessthathasbeenlockedin homes. The streets areno longer a playful space for children,whohavebeencommittedinthreemainareas:Thehome,schoolandplayground. We talked about how children do notmake their own journeys like going fromhometoschool,andhowthismakesthemloseautonomyandabilitytolearnandappropriatethespace.Allthesechangeshavehadanimpactinraisingchildren,inwhich they are overprotected and treated to avoid any risk.Veronica andMartatold us about different initiatives that seek to promote child autonomy andmobilityinspace,suchasschoolpaths.

Andweclosewithaparty! PartytimefortheTribe!Sowedecidedtoholdaradiopartythe25thofJuneinthestreetforthechildrenoftheneighborhood,linkingseveralofthecentralpoints

22

thathavestructuredtheprojectsinceitsinception.Itwasadaytogatherthefruitsofourlaborandsummarizeconclusions,evenifthey’restillopen. Thedaybeganwiththesetting-upofthespace.Intermediaehelpedusmakethesquarewechoselookcoolandpretty,withtheinstallationofanawningtoprotectusfromthesun,amailboxtocollectsuggestionsandhugepostersofthetribewhodecoratedthespace.

PlazadelosComunes,Anticapitalistlocale,generouslylentussomelogisticsupport:chairs,tablesandaportablebatteryforPatriandJuanCarlosfromRadioGuerrillasotheycouldinstalltheportableradiostudio.Inaddition,thedaybeforewehadpreparedtheappetizer:severallitersoflemonadetodrinkandsnacks,melonandwatermelon,fortheguests. Graduallythepublicandthefirstguestsstartedarriving.PatriandJuanCarlosopenedtheprogramwithabeautifultuneforLaTribuandaninterviewwithSilviaandIrene,theprojectcoordinators.GraduallyvariouspeopleinvolvedatdifferentstagesoftheTribetookpartoftheGuerrillaradioshow,includingArloandAlma,twokids;Charo,fromtheParents’AssociationofMigueldeUnamunoPublicSchool;Angelfromcitizen’scollectiveEVArganzuela;Sara,SelinaandPaquifromOneCity,ManyWorldsIntermediaeproject;ToniGarciaandRomyArce,fromthe

23

DistrictBoard…Inaddition,welistenedtoaudioclipsfromdifferentmomentsoftheproject:thewalkthroughtheLinneoneighborhood,MartaRomanandVeronicaMartinez’stalk,theradioworkshopatMigueldeUnamunoPublicSchool... Inparallel,westartedtheactivitiespreparedbythefriendsoftheLaRevoltosaGarden,whichhadorganizedascarecrowworkshopfortheyoungones.Inaddition,someneighborsplantedflowersandaloeinsomeemptytreepits,whilelittleonesroamedthesquarearmedwithwaterpistols. Aftertheactivitiesinthegarden,friendsofCoroFónchorusgaveadynamicvoiceworkshopwitheveryonepresent,whichendedwitharenditionoftheAnthemoftheTribetoputthefinishingtouchtotheradioprogramandtheday. WiththisstreetmeetinginPlazaPeñuelas,oneofthegeographicmidpointsofthislargedistrict,wewantedtocelebrateayearofresearchandmeetingswiththedifferenttribesofArganzuela.Wehopethatthisfinalcelebrationmaybeonemorelinkinthechainofrevitalizationoftheneighborhoodregardingchildrenandchildcare.

24

3_Evaluation LaTribu inArganzuela aroseas aprocessof creationand research inwhich thecaregivers and families were the protagonists. Their experiences would be thestartingpointand,throughartisticpractice,wewantedimagineotherpossibleandmoredesirablewaysofbringingupchildren. We believe these initial objectives have been more than fulfilled, althoughthroughouttheentireprocesstheprojecthaschangedandwehavehadtoadaptourpremisestotherealityoftheparticipants. For example, after the experience of Juanita’s walk and the first session, werealizedwe had a adult-centered starting point. The activities thatwe proposedweretoolonganditwasdifficultforfamiliestoattend.Inaddition,initiallywehadconceived the presence of children in the sessions in a separate space with a

caregiver, while the adultsworkedanddebated. Theparticipantsdidseetheselimitations and asked us toincorporatethechildreninthesessions. We decided torestructure the workshop:they would be shorter (twohours), less ambitious andmore targeted. With the helpof the educator ManuelaMarcos we proposeddynamics where childrenwere the protagonists. Welearnedtomakeroomfornewthingstohappen,toadaptthedynamics on the fly, andassume certain level of chaosand improvisation, inevitablewhen adults and children aretogether. But above all, wediscovered that theparticipation of children,withtheir boundless imaginationandwillingnesstoexperiment,enriched greatly theworkshops.

25

Another limitation we found was the homogeneity and lack of diversity of thegroup that attended the workshops. Overall, participants were middle classheterosexual couples, college educated,with liberal professions, etc.While therehasbeenafairlybalancedparticipationbetweenwomenandmen,wewishwehadbeen more diverse families: LGBT families, single parents, grandmothers andgrandfathers,auntsanduncles...Wealsowishedthatpeoplefromdifferent,socialclassesorageshadparticipated. Althoughoneofourinitialgoalswaspreciselytoavoidthishomogeneityandtrytoforma socially diverse group,we recognize thatwehave failed to involve othersocialsectors.Webelievethisisduetoseveralreasons:theCulturalCenterwherethesessionsareheld,MataderoMadrid, and the languageandaestheticsweuse,somehowpredeterminethetypeofaudience.Awareof this,wetriedtoopentheproject, holding sessions outside Matadero, in the Peñuelas Square, or going toMigueldeUnamunopublicschooltopresenttheprojectanddoaworkshop. Ontheotherhand,wemustbear inmindthat theprojecthas justarrived in thedistrict:establishingtiesandbuildingacommunitywithdifferentgroupsisalongprocessthattakestimeandthatcannotbedoneinafewmonths.Inthisregard,itshouldbenotedthatthisisasharedproblemwithmanyotherpoliticalandsocialinitiativesofthedistrict(andthecityitself),whichalsotendtobeformedbyfairlyhomogeneous groups and that find great difficulties to appeal to migrants andimpoverishedpeople,forexample.

26

Wealsohadtoadapttotherealityoftheparticipantsourinitialgoalofcreatingasolid and constant group that would participate throughout the process.Attendance to the workshops was uneven and the composition of the groupchanged in every new session, in which new faces and familiar faces mixed.Participationintheworkshopsisnoteasytocombinewithfamilyobligationsandvicissitudes(sometimeskidsgetsick,haveabirthday,orgooutfortheweekend...).Evenso,peoplethathaveattendedhavebeenverymuchinvolvedinthedynamicsweproposed them.Also, sendingarticlesabout the sessions through themailinglisthasservedtokeepeveryoneuptodateabouttheproject. In this sense, we can say that the group of people that have attender theworkshopshaveformedaloose“tribe”,consistingofmanyofthe“tribes”thatcanbefoundinArganzuela.Indeed,oneofthethingsthatwehavenoticedisthatwecouldnotaspiretobeTHEtribeofArganzuela.Ononehand,thedistrictissobigthat is verydifficult to run intoeachother. Secondly, as theparticipants toldus,therearemanyothertribes inthearea.Thus, theprojecthashelpedustoget toknowthesedifferenttribesandputthemintouch. Infact,oneofthevirtuesofthisprojecthasbeenitsabilitytoinvolveandentanglemanyoftheinitiatives,organizationsandgroupsoftheArganzueladistrict.Thus,wehavemadeallianceswithEspacioVecinalArganzuela,withtheurbangardensof La Sanchita and La Revoltosa, with Miguel de Unamuno School Parents’Association, with the free nursery El Palomar, with the local ParticipatoryBudgeting, with the District Board and with the social center La Plaza de losComunes. Therehave alsobeen veryproductivemeetingswith otherprojects ofthecallUnaciudad,muchosmundos,especiallywiththeDiálogosElectroflamencosprojectanditschoirElCorofón.Manyoftheseallianceshavebeenpossiblethankstoour"advisorycouncil", formedbypeople involvedinmanyoftheseinitiatives,whichhavehelpedustocontactthem.Wehavealsoworkedwithgroupsoutsidethedistrict,suchasRadioGuerrilla,NationRotondaorPaseodeJane. In short, thisprocesshasbeen forusadiscoveryof the “tribes”of thedistrict, awayoftakingrootintheneighborhood.WenowhaveamuchmorecomplexandrichviewofArganzuela,especiallyfromchildren’spointofview.

27

4_Considerationsonupbringing,urbanplanningandcities Supportnetworksforupbringing:thetribes Duringthesemonthswehavelearnedthattheneedforadensenetworkofsupportandassistanceisespeciallyneededintheearlyyearsofbreeding(whenthebabyisfrom0to3yearsold).Caringforababyisaverydemandinganddifficulttaskthatis hard to combine with the heavy rhythms of work and daily life. Therefore,caregivers(whoaremostlywomen)feelisolated.Manypeoplewhohaveattendedthe workshops of the Tribe with children of that age shared that feeling andexpressed the need to share experiences and meet with families in similarsituations. InMadridnurseryschoolsareascarceandexpensivecommodity,andalternativeoptions (nannies and babysitters, unpaid leaves from work, alternative schools,etc.)areeconomicallyunaffordableformuchofthepopulation.Thosewhocannotafford these options rely on the help of grandmothers (and, to a lesser extent,grandparents),ordecide thatoneof theparents,usually thewoman,will reducetheirworkinghoursordirectlyleavetheirjobstotakecareofthechildren. Inthefirstyearsofababy’sage,manymothersandparentsfeelhelpless;havetheneedtoshareexperiences,todiscusstheirdoubtsabouthealthissues,education,andcare.AstheauthorCarolinadelOlmosays:nowadaystherearelittlefamilyorneighborhood networks that can fulfill those needs. Women, who used to bedepositories and disseminators of such knowledge, have been stripped of thisfunctionandreplacedbyamyriadofexperts:parentingbooksandmanuals,gurus,breastfeedingcounselors,etc.Thissituationof isolationandhelplessnesshas ledtotheopeningofawholemarketniche.

28

Wehavealsoseenhowthissenseofisolationisattenuatedwhenchildrenbegintoattendschool.Thereit'seasiertomingleandbond,andtosocializetheupbringingwithotherfamilies.Childrenmakefriends,attendschoolactivities,gototheparktogether, celebrate birthdays... Aswehave seenwithMiguel deUnamunopublicschool, parents associations are a great space to create “tribes”: families get intouch with other parents, organize joint activities, collaborate to improve theschool,etc. Itshouldbenotedthattheseassociationsareusuallyaspacewithanoverwhelmingfemalemajority.However, once the school ends and holidays begin we see an obviousincompatibilitybetween theworldofwork and school. If during the school yearfamilies can jugglemoreor less the takingcareof thechildrenandhavinga job,when the holidays begin families have a hard time to arrange the care of theirchildren.Thepossibilityofanupbringing thatexceeds thecurrent isolation, inwhichcareandresponsibilitiescanbeshared,wouldneed:

− A changeofmentality regarding theupbringing and care of children. It isnecessarytostopseeingchildrenasaprivateproblemthatparentshavetosolveon their own. It is necessary to assume that care andeducation aresocial issues that not only affectmothers and fathers, and that care-workhastobefairlyandequitablydistributedbetweenwomenandmen.

− Togeneratecommunitystructuresandnetworksthatenabletherebuildingofsocialtiesandovercometheindividualistisolation.

29

− Toradicallytransformtheworldoflaborsoitadaptstoourbasicneedsandtocare-work,nottheotherwayaround.

− To transform cities so they can be at the service of people, taking intoaccounttheirdiversityanddifferentneeds.Facilitatethatwecanmovebyfootorbypublictransport,createpublicopenspacesthatmakeencounterandcoexistenceeasier,etc.

Childrenandthecity "Weusedtobeabletoplaythroughoutthewholecityandnowwecanjustdoitinsomesmallspaces,likeplaygrounds".Thisphraseofoneoftheparticipantsintheworkshops illustrates how in a few decades the urban landscape has changedradically.Childrenhavepracticallydisappearedfromthestreets,aspacethattheyusedtoexploreandenjoyontheirown. Todaythestreetshavebecomeplaceswheretheyalwaysmoveaccompaniedbyanadult.Nowadayschildrenareheldintwomainareas:homeandschool.Asiftheywereaprotectedspecies,childrenarekeptoutsideinsmallreserves:playgrounds.These "corralito parks", as one of the participant called them, are squeezedbetweenbuildingsandcars,andonlyallowafewtypesofgames. Howhasthischangehappened?Ononehand,urbandevelopmenthasprioritizedcars and transportover anyotheruses: the streets are filledwith cars andhavethus become more dangerous. In addition, the growth of cities has led to thesegregationof residential areas, industrial areasandworkplaces.The lackof lifeandactivityonthestreetsmakesthemmoredangerous.Itisdifficulttofindthosesafetynets formedby the informal surveillanceexercisedbyneighbors that JaneJacobsdescribedinTheDeathandLifeofGreatAmericanCities. Also,cities-streets,publicspaces,facilitiesandinstitutionalbuildings,shops...-arenot designed for children (or formany other groups). Their presence is seen asannoyingandasanuisance.

30

Thisprocesshasbeenaccompaniedby theextensionofamodel thatencouragesoverprotectioninbreeding.Childrenareseenasascarceandpreciouscommodityandparentstrytoavoidallpossibilityofriskintheirlives.Childrenshouldnotgooutaloneonthestreet,nothingdangerousshouldhappentothem,etc. Whatconsequenceshavethedisappearanceofchildrenfromthestreets?Asurbanplanners Marta and Veronica Martinez told us, children are not responsible fortheir travels and do not develop skills such as orientation or space observation.Thismeansa lossofautonomy: theyarenotable togoanywherealone,havenoabilitiestoorientthemselvesiftheyarelost.Thefeelingofbelongingtoaplaceisunderminedbecausetheyareunabletoexploreitfreely. Moreover, this lackofautonomyhasacleargenderbias.Parentsaremuchmorepermissivewith boys thanwith girls. Girls are introduced into the public spacewiththemandateofself-protection.AsMartaRomanandBegoñaPernasexplaininthebook¡Hagansitio,porfavor!:"Sincetheyaregirls,womeninternalizetheriskandlearnthattheirbehavioriscrucialtoprotectthemselves.(...)Thesestrategiesare almost as victimizing as the crime itself: stay lockedup, don’t gowhere youwant”. Thismodelalsohasconsequences forparents.Whiledecadesagochildrenspentmuch of their time playing in the street without adult supervision, nowadaysparentsmustnowdevotemuchoftheirtimetowatchthemwhiletheyareplayinginthestreet,ortoentertainthemathome.Parentshavenewcareresponsibilitiesthatincludetransportingchildrenfromhometoschool,thepark,schoolactivities,etc.

31

To reverse this situation is essential to encourage children’s freedom andautonomytomove.AssomemothersexpressedinourroundtableonChildrenandcity, it isnoeasy task, since today is ananomaly seea child aloneon the street.Therefore, it isnecessary that thesemeasuresbeassumedcollectively, involving,forexample,theeducationalcommunitysothatchildrencanwalkalonetoschool. Recommendationsforthedistrict Herearesomeoftherecommendationsandproposalsthatwehavecollectedthesemonths in order to make Arganzuela a more welcoming and children friendlydistrict. Mobilityandaccessibility Itisnecessarytoreducethespaceavailableforprivatetransportandtoprioritizepublictransportandcycling.Thisinvolvesreducingthenumberoflanesforcarstoreplace them with bus or bicycle lanes; to prioritize journeys on foot in urbandesign;ortosetlimitstotraffic.Thesemeasures,inadditiontoimprovingmobilityintheneighborhood,contributetolowerlevelsofpollution. To promote the realization of school routes in all schools the district, so thatchildrencanwalkontheirowntoschool. Mark and signal the entrances to schools, reduce the traffic in those areas andincreasethesidewalksinthoseentrances. Parksandgreenspaces Arganzuelahastheadvantageofhavingextensiveandwell-equippedparkssuchasMadridRioorTiernoGalvanPark.However, formanypeople theseareasare faraway from home and they can only visit them in the weekends. Therefore, thedistricthastoimproveitsproximityparks,thosethatareclosetofamilies’homesorschools. Theparkshavetobespacesthatallowintergenerationalmeetingsandencounters.To do this, they need to be open and unfenced spaces, to have shaded and restareas,tobeequippedwithwaterfountainsandtohaveextensivevegetation.Thefacilitiesandswingsshouldbeversatileandallowmultipleuses. It is necessary to regulate and support theurban gardensof thedistrict, so thatthey canbemaintainedand taken careof.Thegardensareprivileged spaces forrelationship and community building, favor the encounter between people ofdifferentgenerationsandallowgirlsandboyslearnabouttheenvironment,totakecareoftheplants,tocultivate,etc.

32

Facilities Arganzuela requires educational facilities that respond to the needs of apopulation of 150,000 people. The construction of a new high school andmoreelementaryschoolsisnecessarybecausethedistrictschoolsareovercrowded. Weneedmorepublicand freepreschools forchildren less than3yearsold. It isnecessary to increase the number of vacancies because nowadays there are toofew.These schools need to be educational projectswith qualifiedpersonnel anddecent working conditions, open to the participation of the educationalcommunity. It is important tohavemore flexible schedules inorder tomeet thediverseneedsofthefamilies. Itisnecessarytoexpandtheoptionsforraising-upchildrenoutsidethehome.Forexample, covered spaceswhere families can gowhen it rains or it’s cold,wheretheycanstaywithoutpayingafeeandwherepeopleofdifferentagescanmeet.Or,another example: the City Hall can also assign municipal spaces for families tocometogetherandsharethecareofchildren. Inthisregard,wethinkthattheproposalofEspacioVecinalArganzuelatoreformthe former Market of Fruit and Vegetables, now abandoned, is very positive. Itpretendstocreateacommunityandculturalcenterfortheneighborhoodthatcanbecomeanintergenerationalmeetingplaceforcommunitybuilding.

33

5_Nextstepsandfutureoftheproject Having concluded the first part of the project Caring IN the city, focused ondocumenting the process of The Tribe of Arganzuela, we now face the secondphase. In it we will explore different experiences of raising children in urbancontexts in Europe: what public policies are underway, how parents organizethemselves, how care-work is distributed, etc. In September we will visitexperimentsthatdealwithcare-workandparentinginSevillaandBarcelona,andfly to Finlandwith the aim of learning from another IdeaMaker, Ylva Rancken-Lutz, andher researchon first-timeparenting inurbanandsuburbansettings inSweden, Finland and Denmark. This process will be summarized in videochroniclesandareportthatwillalsoincludeaseriesofproposalsinordertomakecare-friendlycitiesandcarecommunities. AsfortheprojectTheTribeofArganzuela,weareexploringdifferentpossibilitiesto continue with it. We are looking for financing to expand it to otherneighborhoods and districts of Madrid, to replicate the experience with othergroupsandmakerecommendationsforchild-friendlydistricts. Once we finish our research in 2016, we would also like to continue with it toexploreother care-workandparentingexperiences inotherEuropeancountries,aswellasthepublicpoliciesthatareunderway.WewouldliketolearnthestateofthisquestioninEuropeandhowothermodelsfunctiontoknowwhatmeasurestoadopt.Thesewaywewillhaveabroaderpictureof“careissue”inEuropeandwillbeabletoraiseawarenessontheimportanceofplacingitoutsidetheprivatespaceandatthecenterofthepolitical,socialandeconomicdebates.

34

6_Bibliography Col·lectiu Punt Sis, “¿Qué aporta la perspectiva de género al urbanismo?”,Feminismo/snº17,junio2011. Davey,Moyra(ed.),Maternidadycreación,Alba,2001. DelOlmo,Carolina,¿Dóndeestámitribu?,ClaveIntelectual,2013. Fraser,Nancy,Fortunasdelfeminismo,Traficantesdesueños,2015. Fraser,Nancy,“TraslamoradaocultadeMarx”,NewLeftReviewnº86,mayo-junio2014. Hayden,Dolores,TheGrandDomesticRevolution:AHistoryofFeministDesignsforAmericanHomes,Neighborhoods,andCities,MITPress,1982. Hiria kolektiboa, Manual de análisis urbano. Género y vida cotidiana, ServicioCentraldePublicacionesdelGobiernoVasco,2010. Jacobs,Jane,Muerteyvidadelasgrandesciudades,CapitánSwing,2011. Rich,Adrienne,OfWomanBorn,Virago,1981. Román, Marta y Pernas, Begoña, ¡Hagan sitio, por favor! La reintroducción de lainfanciaenlaciudad,CentroNacionaldeEducaciónAmbiental,2009. Tonucci, Francesco, La ciudad de los niños: un modo nuevo de pensar la ciudad,FundaciónGermánSánchezRuipérez,2004. VVAA, Urbanismo y género. Una visión necesaria para todos, Diputació deBarcelona,2006. VVAA,Nociones comunes. Experiencias y ensayos entre investigación y militancia,Traficantesdesueños,2004. LatribuenArganzuela. PhotoalbumofTheTribeinArganzuela.