Karoline Huth (Psychological Methods, UMH, AMC) & Eline Hansen (CUS, UvA)
Social cohesion as a political project can often overlook, and sometimes undermine how social connections organise themselves in the everyday, particularly in neighbourhoods which are understood as being ethno-culturally diverse. The Kolenkitbuurt in Amsterdam is undergoing a second phase of urban renewal, during which social connections and feelings of security in your future are often disrupted. Simultaneously, encouraging social cohesion has been front and center of urban renewal policy in the neighbourhood for the last twenty years. We believe during the change process, social cohesion as known in the community is at risk due to external influences which aim to undermine it/shape it in a different way. Therefore, using the CUS seed grant, the immediate goal of this project is to start a conversation around social cohesion, mental health and urban change through the co-production of a short film. Using interviews, common dialogue and surveys, we aim to capture the current status of social cohesion and its association with perceived stress of youths in the neighborhood. In the long term this project tries to develop a dialogue between researchers and local and national stakeholders around this issue.