This initiative brought together Merveille Tawab, a researcher in territorial and associative project management, Sylvie Lardon, a research director at INRAE and associate professor at AgroParisTech, along with students from IADT (Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Institute for Territorial Development). The students facilitated the various discussion tables.
Alongside deputy mayors Anne Le Bras, Louis-Emmanuel Bodinat, and Claire Lopez, numerous local stakeholders participated in the discussions. These included representatives from associations such as Le Kiosque, the cinema Le Monaco, and Passerelle, as well as residents, local government agents, and Jean-Pierre Treille, a cutler long committed to promoting Thiers's know-how.
Using maps, statistical data, and their field experiences, participants imagined and mapped out different scenarios. The objectives were to strengthen Thiers's territorial identity, better understand and reduce socio-territorial disparities, and foster connections between neighborhoods and the city's various components.
This meeting resulted in rich exchanges, fueled by the diversity of profiles and perspectives. It also highlighted a shared motivation and attachment to Thiers, with a common desire to reflect on its future.
This initiative is a fine illustration of the strength of the collective. By combining university research, public action, local expertise, and citizen engagement, this approach contributes to a better understanding of the territory and to envisioning its future together.
