The honesty of our economic times is hard to avoid. I personally know many businesses and individuals faced with the sad reality of poor leadership decisions by business and government the world over. But I encourage us all to focus on the positives, find opportunity where you least expect it, give back to those around you and pursue the passions that lie at the heart of what you’re capable of—driving us all to better days ahead.

I came across a series of linked articles originating from a post I read by Julia Levitt on Worldchanging. Can our existing connections, our inherent need for a sense of belonging be the catalyst for change from the financial ruins of many? Can we use creativity to redesign and rethink to reuse and recylce what we originally created in ways that contribute to positive change?

Home for a Change

I love homes and I love to renovate. A good home is like a good brand. Cohesive from the inside out and ripe with opportunity. One of the biggest opportunities lies in how creativity plays into their design, how they’re built and the elements selected to furnish and finish. What I love most is what a home represents—a safe haven, a place to grow, a chance for community, a place of belonging.

The first article Julia Levitt referenced was based on a report by Jennifer Guerra of National Public Radio, about artists in Detroit that are buying up foreclosed propertises and turning them into ‘cultural havens.’ A story about how one couple bought into a run down and less than desirable neighbourhood and began recuiting artists from around the world to buy houses in the community and rebuild. Some of these homes were left standing as nothing more than shells. Now with creativity not only are they providing positive change to the community but homes that were previously drawing power from the grid, are now being built with solar, wind and battery power to be self sufficient and in fact power the home next door as well.

Changing Purpose

From housing industry devastation to retail industry collapse. As more and more retailers close their doors, the purpose of shopping malls is sure to change. What was once part of the next big development in the ever growing urban centers is now becoming a ghost town of vacancies. the shopping mall as we once thought it—a place for stuff. Is now being redefined. 

As we all look to our neighbours and our immediate community to help each other pull togther for a common resurgence, we see community centres, librarys and meeting places return to the authentic roots of what they were in days gone by. The classic hardware store, the milkman and the local market. How do these businesses fit within the confines of mall culture? Morgan Greenseth sheds a ‘hopeful and creative’ light in The Future of Shopping Malls: An image Essay.

Rethinking Our Connections

So if we’re RE-building the homes in our community, RE-malling the shops in our community what opportunities are left connecting us? How about REinventing the roadways between one another?

#4 on TIME.com’s list of 10 Ideas Changing the World Right Now is using the endless infustructure of car ladened roadways as a valuable existing ’system’ connecting our communities—but not for cars. Rather for light-rail, power grids and datalines. REusing the conections that exist in ways more sustainable and valuable than their current purpose.

How are you REconnecting with the people in your communities? And how are you working together to REthink and REcreate opportunity and positive change? Go on get cREative!