Collaborative use plan: Multi-Purpose Cultural Center of São Bento do Norte, RN

As a B Corp, and even more so as a social business, Raízes Desenvolvimento Sustentável is concerned with positive impact. Not only for its own actions but also for those of its clients. That’s why building the Collaborative Use Plan for the Multipurpose Cultural Center of São Bento do Norte, in Rio Grande do Norte, was so special!

Between 2012 and 2014, São Bento do Norte received five new wind farms. Despite the enormous benefits of clean energy for the country, large projects like these cause negative impacts on the community in which they are implemented.

With this in mind, the BNDES has required companies to invest in social counterparts. In the case of São Bento do Norte, a previous diagnosis identified the lack of cultural spaces and activities as a major problem. This was also compounded by an increase in drug use among young people and a low culture of entrepreneurship.

São Bento Energia has therefore decided to invest in the construction of a Multipurpose Cultural Center. However, the success of the investment will depend on how well the space is used. An autonomous association has been set up among stakeholders who have volunteered to help manage the space.

Raízes was invited to generate a positive impact and support this group in the participatory construction of a Use Plan. So we drew it up as it needed to be: objective, assertive, and efficient.

As well as planning, Raízes’ work included supporting the creation of rules and agreements within the group. The actions focused on relationships and human development. We also helped articulate with other important external actors, such as partners.

_{*Certified B Corporations create better-quality jobs and improve the quality of life in our community. What’s more, as the movement has grown, it has become an increasingly powerful agent of change.}

_{More than 870 companies around the world are part of our community, which encourages companies to compete not just to be the best in the world, but to be the best for the world. Find out more.}