Focolare Movement

LoppianoLab 2013: Safeguarding Italy and Building the Future Together

Aug 15, 2013

Work and Legality will be the main theme of the fourth edition of a workshop on Italy, promoted by the Lionello Bonfanti Industrial Park, Cita Nuova Press Group, Sophia University Institute and the International Focolare Centre of Loppiano (September 20, 2013 – September 22, 2013).

The doors of LoppianoLab will be open from September 20, 2013 until September 22, 2013 at Loppiano, near Florence, Italy. Then, the workshop will continue which began in 2009 in the north of the country and involved more than ten thousand Italian citizens in promoting projects and round table discussions on civil society, the world of economics and work, young people, culture and training. Throughout the year proposals that emerge have become civil work sites where, with the input of local citizens projects and proposals have been developed in response to emergencies being faced by the country: legality, work, interreligious dialogue the educational crisis. Paolo Loriga, editor of Citta Nuova magazine, explains: “It is inevitable that some burning issues will be at the central in this year’s programme. The four promoters of the event: Lionello Bonfanti Business Park, Citta Nuova Press Group, Sophia University Institute and the International Focolare Centre of Loppiano will offer their own unique contributions. They will also be involved in coming up with a map of new paths and new trails that will be proposed for Italy’s hopeful future. Results of the many projects that have been developed over the past year by young people, trainers and entrepreneurs will also be collected and assembled. Two training courses of Civil Economy and Communion will attend the workshop, a network of companies that have generated jobs and innovation and a workshop on social information. Several projects on legality will be presented, which were carried out by networking with many citizens and local associations in Milan, Naples and Sicily.” The title of the event “Safeguarding Italy and building the future together” expresses an urgency to care for the country while remaining open to Europe and the Mediterranean regions, highlighting instead the networks of interdependence that connect the revival of a region and an industry to the people and communities that live and work there.    The Lionello Bonfanti Business Park will once again host the Expo of businesses connected with the Economy of Communion, providing exhibition areas and meeting rooms also for private enterprises and non-profit businesses that work in the area of sustainability and responsible economy. This year’s annual convention will focus on the topic: “The Economy of Communion at a time of crisis: hoping and beginning again with new experience and new ideas.”

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