Ep31: Make New Folks Welcome with Rebecka Blomqvist

TROUBLEMAKERS

“You are invited. By anyone, to do anything. You are invited, for all time. You are so needed, by everyone, to do everything. You are invited, for all time.— The Dismemberment Plan, “You Are Invited”

Bringing in new people is essential to any activist group that wants to grow in size and capacity, but recruiting is only the first step. Integrating people into an established group can be an even bigger challenge. In this episode, architect Rebecka Blomqvist shares insights on how both organisational and physical architecture can help create spaces where newcomers feel truly at home.

We explore:

• Why some groups struggle to retain new members and how deliberate attention and intentional design can make the difference.
• Surprising tactics like removing signage to spark authentic interactions, and the power of cozy spaces that calm the nervous system.
• The importance of one-on-one relationship building to help new folks feel seen and valued — and why this upfront investment can help people plug in faster and stick around longer.

Rebecka also invites us to imagine: what if activist groups and architects collaborated to co-create spaces that embody community, activism, and hospitality?

Connect with us:

Instagram: Troublemakers Podcast

Email: [email protected]

Connect with Rebecka: Blomqvist Architecture

Licensing:

Anyone can use this podcast for free, with attribution to Troublemakers Podcast. It is held under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License and can be used for radio or any other media.

Our podcast is inspired by the Beautiful Trouble toolbox.