“We always try to do something new, what seems impossible or useless in the beginning and we found out that there are others who share the passion with us and who like to join.”
Petr Globočník describes himself as someone who tries to find solutions. A community worker with a background in social work, he runs the Libuše community centre in the Janov housing estate, the largest socially excluded locality in the Czech Republic. Since 2019, he and several colleagues have been engaging local residents, many of whom are Sinti Roma, in activities and renovations at the community centre.
He joined Community Alphabet (CA) in 2023 with a focus on improving relations between Roma and Czech residents of the housing estate who, in his words, live next to each other, not together. His initial plan had been to organize a one-off cultural event to improve neighbourly relations, but the CA experience and inspiration led him to empowering locals to change a public space using their own skills and ideas.
Petr grew up in the Janov housing estate, an area with 4,000 residents located within the city of Litvinov in North Bohemia. He left in 2007 and when he later returned, in 2012-13, he couldn’t believe what he saw in terms of social exclusion. During his childhood, he says, there hadn’t been such conflicts between the majority and minority populations. In the intervening years, poverty had gradually become more and more concentrated and entrenched. As people with financial means left the area, more poor people with multiple problems moved in, along with structural crime and drug lords. A network of “poverty businessmen” profiting from people’s misfortune came to dominate.
During his time away, Petr engaged in social work at the Chemnitz Jugendes Centre and was inspired by the Centre’s approach. He says: They focused on people, not filling out forms. He came back to his hometown with the idea of establishing a community centre in Janov.
Petr began discussing the idea with friends and soon, he had a small group of people ready to develop a community centre to tackle what they saw as a desperate situation across the entire city. At the outset they envisioned collaborating with the city, but before long they encountered a string of obstacles. They secured use of an unused building through the city government, for example, yet after one year the city cancelled the arrangement. They then turned their attention to small projects such as revitalizing a park or organising events around human rights films and gigs but found it a constant battle: the city government did not help us, no funding, everything was a problem. We installed benches and trash bins, and they said we have to arrange waste removal.
Petr decided to engage politically. I made a promise that if I am elected, I will come back to Janov. He was indeed elected to the city council in 2018. Unable to afford a flat, he found an abandoned house in the middle of the Janov housing estate and bought it. Acceptance from local residents came gradually: We were burglarized 7-9 times at the beginning. Now we’re part of the community and people tell us when something’s up.
Discussions with Janov residents from the majority population were difficult: They incorrectly connect the problems of the area with Roma. But it is actually about poverty. We have to explain the roots of the problems to them and it works, if we have enough time, we are able to explain to people and they listen from time to time. The challenge is to be patient, explain, there is a chance to change the situation of the area.
Petr joined CA in 2023 with an interest in the engagement and cooperation of people from different social classes and the possibilities and methods to increase their involvement in community activities. He sought to foster better relations between the Roma and Czech residents of the housing estate. At the same time, he wanted to empower local residents to assume leadership roles at the community centre: The goal is to not be in charge of the Libuše community centre in 10 years’ time. Have residents/local leaders take over, have it be stable and me just help with a few activities. Help them become givers, not just receivers.
Initially, the project he wanted to work on within CA was creating a cultural event, a one-day festival, with the help of local residents. But through the program, he found out that we can try much more. In CA he heard about different ways of engaging with residents that draw out their interests and skills – listening conversations, for example, and longer-term place-based improvement projects. He noted: experienced and inspired by the course, we decided to try to activate locals and together with those who want to, change a bit of public space…and activate some people.
Petr and his colleagues began by talking with residents on the street to learn more about their needs and developing a questionnaire that drew on examples shared in CA: First of all, we just walked around and talked naturally with people we meet on the street, then started interviewing them. Then we made a simple analysis of data we collected and then there was a public meeting where we decided what we want to change and how it can be possible.
They completed 30 listening interviews during the spring, which drew some residents into community activities. Some helped organize the festival, which drew about 200 people and was a colourful celebration of local culture. Just as importantly, people from the Roma community came into the hood council meeting. Five ladies, the biggest number in the last 10 years.
But during the meetings, some of the “poverty businessmen” also talked negatively about the work of the community centre: These guys come and act like they want to help, but not really, and when we start working in the streets, they are not happy. When we empower people, they don’t like that and talk badly of us – they say: ‘don’t go to Libuse, Petr’s white, he’s a bad guy…’ (because empowered people don’t need them). But our five-year history and our results cannot be demolished by bad talks. You can touch the bench [we built together] and see how Libuse has changed over time, we have helped many people in a million little ways, they know us.
So we found out we still need to be careful, and continue the trust building process. We discover more about citizens’ relationships in the hood and bring people together.
In parallel, Petr and his colleagues held regular meetings with the project team, which included professionals from Architects without Borders, the regional architects’ office and the Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design in Prague as well as sociologists, evaluators, other experts, stakeholders and members of the city government. Petr had invited the architects to join his efforts after meeting them in a different housing estate in a nearby city, where they were leading a participatory public space improvement project. He found they had the same aim – enhancing public space with local residents – and the architects were excited to add their expertise to his work in Janov. In project team meetings, they suggested various participatory approaches and at the community meetings, they were able to translate residents’ ideas into feasible changes.
The community meetings culminated in bench building workshops, where residents and architects worked together to install two benches in public spaces in Janov: We finished 2 benches in public spaces, which was a huge success because there were no benches for decades. Even the city government allowed it, made it happen, which is great, because before they were against benches. This is the biggest change of all.
Importantly, it seems that Petr’s efforts have begun to break down barriers. He says: Surprisingly we have found a few people from the majority who seem to be able to cooperate with Romas, and a few Romas who seem to be able to cooperate with the majority. It has only been just a couple months, so we have almost proven there is a chance for change and community work can be a key here. We are also happy because finally the town hall has started to cooperate with architects.
However, the situation with the city continues to be difficult: The relationship with the city representatives is quite complicated, as they mostly regard Romani people as some kind of difficulty that needs to be dealt with. In spite of this, we try to participate in meetings organized by the city and bring knowledge from practice to this platform.
Reflecting on his own role and how it has changed, Petr noted that he was the coordinator, community worker at the start, but then I became a diplomat, guide, explorer…
He has absorbed learning on different fronts: I had plenty of new experiences, inspirations, ideas (many serious ones) thanks to VIA program. I learn more about my town, about people, about their problems and about myself. I’m learning how to be patient and how important it is to know that we are not alone. I also learn to ask for help and not to do everything by myself. And that it’s not always necessary to stick to the original plan, being open to other paths and seeing the path as the goal itself.
Discussions during CA around bias, power and privilege also helped Petr gain perspective: During the street conversations, some neighbors started acting strangely and I realized it was influence of mafia guys. He was upset, but the learning from the tension and conflict and privilege sessions during CA helped him understand the situation: they look at me differently because I’m white and I have a different starting point than they do. It helped me realize my position.
He also became aware of his own bias against government officials (council, school board). Now I try to understand them and see gray areas, not just black or white. They are more or less part of the community. I now feel everyone is important and if we want deep change, we have to include everyone, even policemen. We have to bring e.g. police, school, fire brigade on board. Maybe they will change some of their own biases…
Petr’s efforts to create understanding between Roma and Czech residents in Janov are drawing attention to the issues faced by residents of socially excluded localities among top officials.
In June 2024, Czech President Petr Pavel spent an afternoon at the Libuše community centre at a roundtable discussing these issues with local leaders. “The composition of the panel was diverse and in less than two hours we discussed the new Affordable Housing Act and other proposals to reduce tensions in socially excluded localities within the Ústí Region, Karel Karika, a Czech MP who is a member of the Committee on National Minorities and a member of the Committee on Social Affairs, Security and Socially Excluded Localities, told news server Romea.cz. He highlighted the importance of efforts such as Petr’s: I spoke about community work in excluded localities, which I consider the best way to empower the residents of these areas and their involvement in decision-making processes – without this, the problems of excluded localities cannot be effectively solved,” Karika said.
One month later, Petr was one of 150 community activists from border regions honoured by Czech President Petr Pavel at a special event at the presidential chateau.
Looking ahead, Petr plans on continuing to empower local residents: We have a network of residents that we stay in contact with, we want to activate them, show them grant opportunities, and have them work together on small issues. Us as guides and let them develop their own community.
Petr tries to bring majority and minority together over common issues, to Libuse, which can serve as a neutral space. He is trying to break down stereotypes little by little – on both sides.
Summing up his approach going forward, Petr said: Each person is unique. Maybe I can listen to each separately and bring to the table what they have in common. For example, the majority says Roma leave garbage about, I can point out that Roma are also upset about garbage problems.
Now, I think the quantity of participants is not important – if 1 person comes, we can begin with 1 person. I try to share this attitude with community members: we are 5 people but we can move mountains.
Watch a video about Petr’s work.
