The 5th Metropolitan Social Forum (FSM), promoted by the Citizen Accord for an Inclusive Barcelona, was held today at the Citilab in Cornellà. The meeting brought together representatives from public administrations, social entities, professionals, and community agents to share experiences, debate common challenges, and move towards coordinated and more effective social action in the metropolitan area.
Under the slogan 'From the neighborhood to the metropolis: proximity strategies for social cohesion', the event focused on shared work regarding the main metropolitan social challenges. Emphasis was placed on the role of proximity policies, community action, and public-social cooperation, as well as territorial experiences that contribute to strengthening social cohesion, coexistence, and access to opportunities in the different municipalities of the metropolitan region.
Raquel Gil, Deputy Mayor of the Barcelona City Council, highlighted the need to reinforce metropolitan commitments in the face of challenges such as population aging, territorial inequalities, housing access difficulties, homelessness, new vulnerabilities arising from economic and technological changes, or the social impacts of the climate crisis, which do not stop at administrative borders.
Sonia Fuertes, Commissioner for Social Action at the Barcelona City Council, reaffirmed the commitment to the Metropolitan Social Forum and the drive to establish the Metropolitan Social Innovation Laboratory. This space aims to identify emerging challenges, share knowledge, evaluate best practices, and transform collective intelligence into a useful tool for innovation and building better social responses at a metropolitan level.
Other representatives participating in the Forum included Joana Piñero (Cornellà de Llobregat City Council), Carles Martí (Generalitat de Catalunya), Elisabet Tejero (AMB), Rosa Fumàs (L'Hospitalet de Llobregat City Council), Begonya Gasch (Fundació El Llindar), Fernando Díaz (Fundació Acollida i Esperança), and Pilar Núñez (Taula del Tercer Sector).
The event featured round tables and debates on housing and social cohesion, training, employment and community rooting, and community connection, coexistence, and diversity. Experiences were shared on residential inclusion, prevention of housing loss, educational and employment pathways, digital skills training, community governance, interculturality, and care.
The conclusions will guide the future lines of action for the FSM, consolidating it as a permanent space for debate and collective construction of responses to the territory's social challenges. Established in 2022, the Forum brings together municipalities and third-sector entities to promote more coordinated and effective social policies.
