Grassroots Initiatives Research Articles

An Unofficial UOC-OCU Dialogue as a Grassroots Initiative for Reconciliation of the Orthodoxy in Ukraine

Abstract Since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion, the religious issue in Ukraine has become much more acute. Since then and to the December 2023, about 900 parishes transferred from the UOC of the Moscow Patriarchate (UOC) to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), according to the official data of the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnic Affairs and Freedom of Conscience. But more than 8,000 parishes remain in the UOC despite the Russian aggression. For many citizens, it is unclear what else needs to happen for the Ukrainian Orthodox Church to unite with the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, or at least not falsely to leave the jurisdiction of the Moscow Patriarchate.

A REVIEW OF DIY'S DECENTRALIZATION OF THE URBAN SPRAWL PHENOMENON IN THE YOGYAKARTA METROPOLITAN AREA (KARTAMANTUL)

Decentralization in Indonesia has led to a shift in responsibilities from the central government to the regions. This has been observed in the distribution of jobs and population across metropolitan areas, such as in the Yogyakarta Metropolitan Area (Kartamantul). Kartamantul is a secondary metropolitan area in Indonesia where local governments have taken the initiative to jointly form a Joint Secretariat. The development of Kartamantul has expanded into the peripheral areas, as evidenced by changes in land use. This article examines the impact of decentralization by the Government of the Special Region of Yogyakarta on the phenomenon of urban sprawl in the Kartamantul Region. The analytical method used is descriptive analysis, with secondary data collection from previous research on decentralization and urban sprawl in Yogyakarta. The results of the analysis identify the characteristics of urban sprawl in Kartamantul based on three aspects: land use change, population growth, and economic growth. By 2017, there had been changes in non-built-up land use in the peri-urban areas of Yogyakarta, accompanied by population growth and economic expansion. The Joint Secretariat of Kartamantul has come up with solutions to address the urban sprawl phenomenon, such as the addition of Trans-Jogja routes reaching Bantul and Sleman regencies, as well as collaborative management of the Piyungan Landfill and Sewon WWTP. The conclusion of this research is that cooperation among regional governments through the Joint Secretariat of Kartamantul is an effective grassroots initiative. However, there is a need for the Joint Secretariat to be involved in spatial planning due to the complex development challenges in Kartamantul.

2196. Private Practice Dentists Answer the Dental Antibiotic Stewardship "Call to Action" with a Grassroots Initiative

Abstract Background In the US, 90% of dentists work in private practice (PP). We aim to describe how infectious diseases (ID) antibiotic stewardship (AS) experts collaborated with dentists to provide dental AS education. Methods Fifteen PP dentists completed a study conducted in 2021 by an ID-AS pharmacist and physician assessing their antibiotic use to identify AS opportunities. After learning dental AS from ID–AS experts, these dentists optimized and significantly decreased their antibiotic use. An AS “call to action” was launched in Sept. 2021 on how to expand our education to additional dentists to optimize antibiotic prescribing further. Dentists recommended ID-AS experts provide dental AS education to their long standing established local and national dental study club networks and other dental continuing education (CE) venues. Education focused on 5 areas: decreasing antibiotic use and durations, eliminating clindamycin and quinolones, incorporating shared decision making with patients, reviews of evidence based studies, and penicillin allergic patient management. Attendees were asked 3 questions prior to each lecture; 1. Have you heard of the term dental AS?; 2. Do you use clindamycin for penicillin allergic patients? 3. What is your standard duration of antibiotic therapy? Educational events were recorded through April 2023. Results ID-AS experts provided AS education to 3742 PP dental providers, students/faculty over 20 months (Table 1). Prior to our lectures, most (90%) dentists were unfamiliar with dental AS; 88% prescribed clindamycin for penicillin allergies and 7 days were the most frequent duration for antibiotics. Conclusion PP dentists and faculty embraced AS education. Dental study clubs/CE forums provide excellent opportunities for ID-AS experts to engage and educate PP dentists. Dentists who attended AS lectures strongly support a 1-hour AS annual CE, similar to annual dental opioid CE required by many states. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

“We are Rosas”: a case study on how identity matters in local food groups

Sustainability transformations involve processes of social change that are carried by people. In the area of food systems, researchers have studied local food groups as an emerging phenomenon driving collective action toward systems change. A central question in this regard is how agency develops in a dynamic alignment between individual actors and collective action. Identity dynamics, as a result of social interactions at the individual and collective levels, help to understand processes vital to the functioning of local grassroots initiatives. This study provides an empirical examination of the interplay between individual and collective level identity in the formation, operation, and impact of local food groups. Using a case study of a food cooperative in northern Germany, we apply a conceptual framework around identification, verification, and formation dynamics. Results show that identity dynamics are well developed and important for the functioning of the food cooperative. Trust is central to the group, as it enables the various activities of the collective, which in turn is facilitated by the interaction and identity dynamics. Understanding initiatives not just as niches for individual political action or as alternative sources of sustainable products, but as social spaces of self-expression and community building, contributes to the discussion of how local initiatives can help to advance sustainability transformation.

Digital public health in Romania

Abstract The Romanian digital public health story is far from the end or its highest point. As in all cases, the digital public health advancements were led by the COVID-19 pandemic and the need to move everything into a digital format. This came, of course, with its hiccups and trials and errors, but in the end, it all led to considerable advancements in the public health system. One of the most significant achievements in recent years is the settlement of telemedicine services for family doctors. Initially, this was approved for the duration of the lockdown as a measure to limit the spread of the virus. Still, this measure was extended after pressure from professional associations and civil society. Another national digital public health agenda point is using electronic health records. The project was launched several years ago with the National Health Insurance House insurance card. It was now continued, with the work underway for its development. This would be a significant achievement as it would alleviate the public health system quite a lot, and it would allow health surveillance for chronic conditions with longitudinal data. Additionally, it could potentially reduce health spending as it would reduce unnecessary or doubled investigations and tests. Romania presented numerous initiatives on digital public health, but unfortunately, many were limited or renounced. A characteristic of the Romanian digital public health ecosystem is the presence of grass-root initiatives led by innovators and system disruptors, small private entities with a strong desire to solve systemic issues. This presentation will highlight how the COVID-19 pandemic enabled Romania to move forward with its digitalization and will advocate for continuous and sustainable future development of the national digital public health system.

Humanitarian response by grassroots associations during a military conflict

Purpose Conflict and violence are the main drivers of globally escalating humanitarian needs. Local grassroots initiatives are pivotal in distributing humanitarian supplies in the acute response phase until more established humanitarian aid organizations can enter. Nevertheless, scant research exists regarding the role of grassroots associations in providing humanitarian assistance during a military conflict. The purpose of this paper is to understand the role of grassroots associations and identify important themes for effective operations. Design/methodology/approach This paper adopts a case-study approach of three Ukrainian grassroots associations that began operating in the immediate days of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The findings are based on analyzing primary sources, including interviews with Ukrainian volunteers, and are supported by secondary sources. Findings Grassroots associations have local contacts and a contextual understanding of population needs and can respond more rapidly and effectively than large intergovernmental agencies. Four critical themes regarding the operations of grassroots associations emerged: information management, inventory management, coordination and performance measurement. Grassroots humanitarian response operations during conflict are challenged by personal security risks, the unpredictability of unsolicited supplies, emerging volunteer roles, dynamic transportation routes and shifting demands. Originality/value Grassroots responses are central to humanitarian responses during the acute phase of a military conflict. By examining the operations of grassroots associations in the early months of the 2022 war in Ukraine, the authors provide a unique perspective on humanitarian logistics. Nonetheless, more inclusive models of humanitarian responses are needed to harness the capacities and resilience of grassroots operations in practice.

Role of Informal Institutions in Climate Change Adaptive and Mitigative Measures: A Case Study of Jirga and Ashar Movement

This research delves into the significant role of informal institutions, notably the Ashar movement and the Jirga, in addressing climate change adaptation and mitigation. Operating within traditional frameworks for conflict resolution, these structures play a vital role in fostering societal harmony and environmental stewardship. Focusing on Baluchistan, Pakistan, where the Ashar movement originated, the study examines its grassroots initiatives in combating issues like deforestation. The Jirga, as an essential component, formulates resolutions that blend tradition with modern challenges. Employing qualitative analysis and case studies, the research underscores the impact of these informal institutions. It highlights the necessity for greater synergy between informal and formal mechanisms to bolster climate resilience. Advocating for policy recognition and integration of community-driven efforts, the study emphasizes the pivotal role of grassroots initiatives in effective climate governance.

Cossackhood in Contemporary Russia: Attaining Social Status

In contemporary Russian society, a transformation of the social structure is taking place. The formation of the Cossack social group is an important aspect of this process. The revival of this social group throughout the post-Soviet period has led to polarised interpretations, ranging from characterising Cossacks as "costumed" individuals to being bearers of Russian military cultural traditions in modern society. The significance of the social status of Cossacks is amplified in the face of modern geopolitical challenges and the Russian society's search for its own identity.
 The aim of this article is to determine the foundations of Cossack group formation and the expectations that, from the Cossacks' perspective, are necessary for the preservation and strengthening of the group. The methodological framework of the study is based on the ideas of actor-network theory by B. Latour. The empirical research hypothesis posits that the process of Cossack group formation has undergone several stages, from recreating elements of folk culture to implementing the historical Cossack service function into the life of modern society with blurred boundaries between social strata. The involvement of Cossack military societies in the Special Military Operation has influenced the adaptation of cultural patterns related to the Cossack service function. The hypothesis was tested using a mass survey through questionnaire methods in thirteen Cossack military societies. The survey results show that the majority of Cossacks, including some non-registered Cossacks, support the main directions of the State Policy Strategy regarding the Cossacks. However, Cossacks' expectations from the state include the adaptation of traditional Cossack military service patterns to the conditions of modern society and the requirements of military service. The readiness of Cossacks to move in this direction is evident in the formation of voluntary Cossack units participating in the Special Military Operation. Nevertheless, this grassroots initiative of Cossack societies requires state resources as the dominant actor in the Cossack revival process. These resources include the establishment of Cossack units in accordance with the tradition of Cossack military service within the structure of the National Guard, a different approach to the education of youth in Cossack schools with a stronger military component, and the re-establishment of traditional Cossack camps for regular military training of registered Cossacks, among other things. Such service activities by registered Cossacks will also require the development of corresponding preferences and privileges for registered Cossacks.

Breaking through banal consumerism? Representations of postconsumerist perspectives in mainstream press media

Current calls for deep societal transformation stress the need to go beyond green consumption and aim for the reduction of material consumption. Such a shift is enacted by grassroots initiatives around reuse, repair and sharing. However, the possibility of postconsumerist perspectives and practices to reach a broader audience is affected by discursive opportunity structures (DOS) formed in public debate. To understand the DOS it is relevant to pay attention both to the continuous normalisation of consumption and to the ways in which alternatives are represented. To develop new analytical tools for examining what postconsumerist initiatives are up against, we introduce the concept of banal consumerism: mundane, habitual expressions that reproduce consumer culture. Through an empirical study of Swedish daily newspapers, we construct the basis for a typology of different expressions of banal consumerism. We find several expressions, of which the massive advertising of consumer goods is the most common but editorial material also plays an important role. This largely disabling DOS is then put in relation to the potentially enabling opportunities entailed in the existing media coverage of postconsumerist initiatives, practices and perspectives. The results show that postconsumerist initiatives and practices are newsworthy and presented as commendable. The fact that high levels of material consumption negatively impact the environment and life on the planet is widely accepted. To argue for degrowth or criticise consumerism is, however, controversial. Thus, support for postconsumerist practices coexist with massive expressions of banal consumerism, creating a complex set of DOS for the postconsumerist initiatives to navigate.

Unity Rounds Offer Forum for Conversations on Racism, Social Justice, and Health Equity

Recent events of racial injustice have heightened awareness about our nation’s history of systemic racism. This evolving understanding has fueled an overdue commitment to address modern structures and personal biases that perpetuate oppression toward people of color and marginalized communities. In response, administrative and nursing leaders in an urban healthcare facility designed Unity Rounds (UR), a multidisciplinary forum to promote awareness and create sustainable change through educational offerings and guided discussion related to health equity and racial justice. UR is a grassroots initiative developed for members of the Hematology / Oncology / Hematopoietic Stem Cell program, with the intent of serving alongside larger-scale efforts to promote health equity and address underlying issues of structural racism and implicit biases in the healthcare landscape. This article describes the development, implementation, and program evaluation of the initial offering of Unity Rounds.

Ukrainian Organisations and Associations That Shape the Image of the Ukrainian Minority in Poland

The aim of the article is to analyse Ukrainian organisations, associations, and festivals that shape the image of the Ukrainian minority in Poland. Results. Consideration of the topic of the article, and specifically the research process requires reference to a number of basic assumptions, the basis of which is certainly the conviction that every person, regardless of his nationality, is a social being who, assigned to a particular group, functions as a community, forming more or less permanent ties with it. Various theories and methodological assumptions are used to properly present the issues contained in the article, including the normative approach, the discourse around the functioning of national minorities, the historical approach, as well as the functional approach, especially concerning the subject of assimilation of cultures and the mutual interpenetration of what is Ukrainian and Polish, come to the fore. The scientific novelty of the article is a comprehensive study of Ukrainian organisations and associations in Poland, shaping the image of the Ukrainian minority in Poland (on the example of 1991–2019), both in terms of successful cooperation and existing problems. Conclusions. The construction of good-neighbourly relations between nations rests on two pillars: the activities of state institutions and direct relations between citizens of neighbouring states. Negligence in either of these spheres is reflected on the nature of such relations. Lack of action on the part of the authorities in this regard can negatively affect the activity of citizens, in turn, stopping only at the declarations of politicians, in the absence of grassroots initiatives makes such relations, only an empty form without substance. One of the most important examples of grassroots initiatives are various types of organisations, associations, which are created, among other things, to work for the preservation of the cultural identity of the Ukrainian community in Poland and the development of cooperation between Poland and Ukraine.

Forest Pedagogy towards the Problem of Polish Educational Monoculture: Projective Pilot Studies

The development of topics related to the idea of sustainable development, ecology and the climate crisis is increasingly supported by Polish educators, psychologists and therapists. At the same time, forest kindergartens as well as various grassroots initiatives based on the methodology of outdoor education are developing in Poland. The long-term achievements of practitioners - most often employees of the State Forests - for whom the forest education of the society has been one of the priorities since the early 1990s, deserves special appreciation (Wierzbicka and Czołnik 2022). In 2021, Forest Pedagogy was initiated in Poland as an interdisciplinary problem area, aspiring to a scientific sub-discipline (Paluch and Klimski 2022). The first contacts between foresters and educators gave rise to the question: Can the forest become a real “pedagogical medium” (Rykowski 2022), understood as an educational environment? What became clear was the problem of the similarity of the forest monoculture (management forests dominating in Poland) to the educational monoculture of the school and academic classroom system. Each monoculture is created with the view of matching the production demand for relatively identical objects – on the one hand, these can be trees “for boards”, but on the other hand, young people subjected to a systemic process of “labour force allocation” (Parsons 1969), serving the development of consumer attitudes. In both cases, the goal is to accelerate production, artificially stimulated competition, preventing the attainment of full maturity, or replicating an unambiguous and one-dimensional picture of the world. A symbolic illustration of the last phenomenon are the findings of a qualitative pilot study in which two groups of students completing a Forest Pedagogy course were asked to design a forest kindergarten. As it turned out, the respondents most often drew ordered elements of the urban playground infrastructure: swings, slides and sandboxes, in the vicinity of the building of the local kindergarten, which dominated the drawing. What is particularly poignant, in the analysed drawings the forest was only a symbolic background.

Financial Literacy among Women: An Analysis of the Etikoppaka Toy Industry

Numerous scholarly works have thoroughly investigated the disparity in financial risk-taking between genders. It has been observed that women exhibit a lower propensity to invest in high-risk financial assets, which can be attributed to their relatively slower accumulation of wealth over an extended period of time. It aims to understand how financial literacy can enhance women's economic empowerment and independence. The research delves into the imperative need for financial literacy among women in the two-centuries-old Etikoppaka handloom industry. It explores their socio-economic transition within the internationally acclaimed toy industry of Etikoppaka in India. The study focuses on the Etikoppaka handloom industry, comprising two categories of women: formal employees earning wages and informal workers supporting their husbands without monetary compensation. An exploratory research design was applied to arrive at the inferences. Data is collected from 40 females actively engaged in the toy industry, supplemented by two focus group discussions with stakeholders. The data was analyzed using two financial models, i.e., Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, 2011 (OECD) basic principles of money. Financial literacy is crucial for women's empowerment in the Etikoppaka handloom industry. Formal sector women have better understanding of financial concepts than informal sector women. Customized programs that consider local culture and involvement of civil society organizations and grassroots initiatives are necessary for positive economic outcomes. This study's outcomes have significant implications for policymakers, industry leaders, and civil society organizations working towards women's economic development in the handloom industry.

Typology and social network of grassroots initiatives that promote agroecology in Mexico

ABSTRACT The study aims to typify the diversity of grassroots initiatives in Mexico, the circumstances (e.g. historical, social, ecological) in which they emerge, and the roles and power relationships they establish with different stakeholders to promote agroecology. It addresses the need to comprehend how grassroots initiatives contribute to social change and the massification of agroecology in Mexico. Analysis was done using PCA and social network analysis from 167 surveys. Results show that grassroots initiatives impact 18 indigenous groups in the center and south of Mexico, and focus on eco-friendly production, social justice, popular education, and food markets. Initiatives started because of three tipping points that responded to neoliberal policies, relocating local food and massifying agroecology. There are 13 types of stakeholders that promote agroecology and influence grassroots initiatives.

Dryland Water Resource Conservation and Conflict Management in Loisukut Sub-catchment in Laikipia North Sub-country, Kenya

The study examines access to water, use and management of water resources and conflicts in the Loisukut sub-catchment in Laikipia North Sub-Country. Additionally, the study provides information on grassroots initiatives that seek to improve and ensure equitable management of water resources by establishing connections with significant stakeholders. The study is supported by information acquired through the distribution of a questionnaire to various stakeholders, water users' groups, and communities. The study's conclusions indicate a relationship between water availability, consumption, and management that has a significant impact on water conflicts. The discrepancies in access to water are due to ineffective water management initiatives. The study recommends watershed conservation and diversifying pastoralists' economic opportunities will have positive effects on the environment, economy and society.

Activism and ‘lived religion’: challenging the anti-refugee attitudes in Poland

ABSTRACT This article addresses the role played by religion in humanitarian aid for refugees and migrants of various faiths in predominantly Catholic Poland. Although the country has accepted small numbers of refugees for years, the discussion about their presence as well as the state of the asylum system has captured the attention of the general public in 2015. The European ‘refugee crisis’ sparked a fierce debate, further aggravated by the parliamentary and presidential elections that took place that year. The Roman Catholic Church was quite vocal in the debate, with representatives’ attitudes ranging from supportive to ambiguous and outright hostile. In this article, we focus on the grassroots initiatives at the margins of the Church that challenged the negative narratives and helped refugees and migrants. Based on empirical research we analyze the proclamations and activities of these actors. We show how the ‘refugee crisis’ became a “moment of ethics” (Zigon 2008) that encouraged people to help others in need. We explore how the diverse support for the refugees established a space to conceive of religion and moral values as they are lived (McGuire 2008) and translated into activism.

Antiracism across the curriculum: A grassroots faculty initiative

In the summer of 2020, a group of 16 faculty and staff working at a small, regional public college that is part of a large state-wide university system created a grassroots initiative to normalize the teaching of race, racism, and antiracism across courses in a variety of disciplines. In this article, we provide an overview of the program along with case studies written by four faculty who transformed their courses to center antiracist content. We conclude with an analysis of the challenges faced by these faculty throughout the process, focusing on how this work requires transforming content through a paradigm shift and considering the greater sociopolitical and emotional climate. Despite limitations, we conclude that the initiative has had a significant impact on our college, ensuring that an increasing number of students on our campus encounter antiracist content across the curriculum.

Cellulose-Based Hydrogel Capsules to Address Soil Erosion Following Wildfire

While natural forest fires promote regrowth and restoration within an ecosystem, a major cause for concern in Canada is deforestation due to an increased prevalence of wildfires brought about by industry practices and climate change. This has become even more evident recently with the wildfires burning in remote areas of British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, and Quebec, creating smoke-related air pollution observed in many communities throughout Canada and the United States. Entwistle, Alberta, specifically, experienced severe wildfire during late April to early May of this year (2023), leading to numerous resident evacuations while firefighters worked to contain the blaze. Our proposed grassroots initiative involves the use of biodegradable cellulose-based hydrogels to promote water retention and soil health in the fire-ravaged forested areas of Entwistle, Alberta. Cellulose is the most abundant renewable biopolymer and is utilized for the synthesis of bio-based hydrogel. It is a green and sustainable material, giving it a biocompatible advantage over petroleum-based and synthetic hydrogels that possess toxic effects. It is derived from plant material and is fully biodegradable. Soil becomes dehydrated as a result of wildfire, with decreased water content and microbe presence leading to soil erosion and deeply impacting regeneration of forests. This has negative impacts on the broader environment, as well as on humans and non-human animals. The use of hydrogels to restore and maintain soil moisture levels, pH, and microbial environments is a novel approach to better maintain forest health from a One Health perspective.

Learning from Other Communities: Organising Collective Action in a Grassroots Food-sharing Initiative

This paper illustrates the work of creating, infrastructuring, and organising a food-sharing community from the ground up. Drawing on Participatory Action Research (PAR) and a three-year engagement with FoodSharing Stockholm, the paper shows how the processes of starting up a grassroots initiative are shaped by participants’ direct experience and knowledge of similar initiatives. The analysis draws attention to: (1) how central activities such as recruiting volunteers, choosing digital tools, and establishing partnerships with food donors are conceived and organised, (2) the concrete challenges of sharing surplus food, such as adopting a distribution model, and negotiating fairness, and (3) how governance and decision-making models are adopted and (re)negotiated over time. The paper introduces the term Collective histories of organising to capture the impact that learning from previous experiences can have on communities’ efforts to set up and run; and re-orient design visions towards the consideration and adoption of existing sociotechnical practices, rather than always aiming at novel digital explorations. We outline three emerging dimensions that can characterise “Collective histories of organising” as a concept, (1) configuring capacities, (2) configuring sociotechnical practices, and (3) configuring participation. The paper contributes practical sensitivities to build, sustain, and infrastructure surplus food-sharing initiatives, where these three dimensions are discussed as central concerns designers and other food-sharing communities could learn from.

A tale of three associate professors: A grassroots approach to supporting women in higher education

In higher education, gender imbalances continue to persist, particularly at senior academic levels and in university leadership. To explore practical ways to address this disparity, a grassroots initiative was established at an Australian University in 2015 and has grown into an ecosystem of mentoring and support for career advancement of academic women. Challenges and successes of the initiative from 8 years of operation are presented through a teaching case accompanied by teaching notes, including different benefits of grassroots initiatives for gender equity to both organisation and individuals. JEL Classification: M14, J16