Between Us: The Design of a Community Care and Listening Space.
The design of a care space that weaved a community support network through listening.
PORTAFOLIO
My Rol: Creator and Manager of Community Projects
The Challenge
During my role as Cultural Promoter at the Casa de la Cultura de la Comuna 8, my work went beyond the administrative. In daily conversations, I began to notice a pattern, a silent but profound need: many women from the community approached me looking for a refuge to talk. They shared hard life stories, marked by domestic abuse, loneliness, poverty and their children's problems. The challenge was that, although their stories were repeated and they were neighbors, there was no bond of trust between them. I identified a painful lack of support networks and the absence of a safe space where they could be heard, validated and empowered together. The challenge was not to execute an existing project, but to create one from pure listening, without a formal requirement, to weave a community where before there was only isolation.
My Strategic Solution
From this latent need, my role transcended cultural promotion to become the creator and manager of the "EntreNosotras" program. I proposed and designed from scratch a free weekly safe space, with a collaborative strategy focused on the integral wellbeing of the participants.
- Co-creation of a Holistic Methodology: My first action was to bring together the talented workshop leaders of the Casa de la Cultura (experts in dance therapy, healing plants and ancestral knowledge). Together, we co-created a program that united body, mind and spirit, giving the women practical tools for emotional management, self-knowledge and mutual care.
- Experience Design and Close Communication: I was in charge of all management and communication. I designed visual manuals for each session that I sent through a WhatsApp group, detailing the topics and materials they would need. This fostered a sense of ownership and preparation, making communication part of the ritual of care.
- Digital Adaptation and Scalability: The arrival of the pandemic represented a threat, but I transformed it into an opportunity. I led the transition of the program to a 100% virtual format. This not only ensured its continuity at a time of maximum isolation, but also broke down geographic barriers, opening the call to women from all over the city and ensuring that quotas were sold out as soon as enrollment opened.
- Creation of Memorable Milestones: I understood the importance of closing rituals. I organized and managed events of high emotional impact, such as an outing to a temazcal, to deepen the bonds created and celebrate the group's personal and collective transformation process.
Impact Results
The success of the program exceeded all expectations, demonstrating the profound need that existed in the community. By transitioning to the virtual format, the program experienced a growth of over 80%, going from 25 face-to-face participants to 45 women enrolled. The great reception and high retention rate allowed the project to run for three consecutive semesters, becoming a flagship initiative of the Casa de la Cultura. However, the most important achievement was the creation of a real and tangible support network that transcended formal meetings; the women began to weave ties and support each other in their daily lives.
