At Malmi, a new way of low-barrier participation has been introduced, where residents can meet and speak with the city's experts. At the Evening Ear events, city residents can share their thoughts, wishes and concerns with the representatives and experts of the City of Helsinki.
—The core idea behind the Evening Ear events is for us to have low-barrier meetings with residents. Residents' thoughts and wishes are taken forward within the city, which increases opportunities to influence various matters. The most important thing is that we listen to what residents have to say, says Kirsti Kallansalo from the City of Helsinki.
The core idea of the Evening Ear events is to meet and listen to city residents. The listeners vary across Evening Ears events to ensure that people from all sectors are invited to listen. The listeners are experts in different fields. A private tent, tables and chairs are reserved for the Evening Ear event, as well as coffee catering. The listeners present can be identified by the passport around their neck. The location of the Evening Ear event varies so that the events are held in connection with those taking place in Malmi.
Topics that come up in the Evening Ear events are documented in both written and digital form by the listeners. Emerging issues are promoted both concretely and in further discussions in Malmi coffee events organised by the northeastern borough liaisons and in the Malmi network’s morning coffees events.
The next Evening Ear event will be held on Thursday 13 March from 3 to 6 pm at Ala-Malmin tori. Listeners include Borough Liaison Kirsti "Kipa" Kallansalo from the northeastern region, Project Engineers Salla Ahokas and Outi Rissanen of the City Executive Office’s neighbourhood construction unit, and Senior Instructor Tarja Taimisto of the Syystie Service Centre.
