We are proud to share that Sarah Giest, board member of the Centre for BOLD Cities, has published a thought-provoking opinion piece in Trouw. In her article, Sarah highlights the crucial role of accessible local support services, such as community centres, in assisting citizens who struggle to navigate government systems, particularly in an increasingly digitalised environment.
Sarah argues that digital stress and barriers to accessing public services often leave citizens feeling excluded. To address this, she advocates for greater investment in personalised, neighbourhood-level assistance, ensuring that everyone, regardless of digital literacy, can effectively engage with government services. Community centres, she writes, are essential in bridging the gap between citizens and the (digital) government, providing much-needed human connection and support.
This call for inclusivity and accessibility reflects the Centre for BOLD Cities’ mission to critically assess the societal impacts of urban digitalisation and support citizen-centred approaches to governance. Congratulations to Sarah on this important publication, which raises awareness of a pressing issue and calls for actionable steps toward a more equitable society.