Next Economies Forum - United in Action - NEF2027

NEF is a convening space for everyone who envisions a socially and ecologically just economy. It is a space for those who are actively trying to create just economies in their lives, communities, and businesses by expanding and unfolding human potential and development. We realize that change grows stronger when we learn from each other and act together. We seek to create coherence among all actors in this convening space and in the broader ecosystem for a holistic transformation of the economic system that includes the culture and the mindset.

Click for more about our vision, purpose and values.

Being Well Catalysts is a member in the Partners council for the forum, reimagining wellbeing and health within future economic models. Feel free to reach to us with ideas, and preregister to the forum!

You’re Invited: Nasya Brunch Pop-Up

Join us for a special community brunch celebrating popular and Seyami home food from across the SWANA region, rooted in heritage, made for everyday life, and gentle on the planet.

Event details: 

Date: August 1, 2026

Time: 10:30 to 13:00

Location: De Voorkamer, Kanaalstraat 225, 3531 CJ Utrecht

About the food

Beyond what is often presented on global menus, much of the region’s everyday food is naturally vegetarian or vegan, affordable, and accessible.

Seyami comes from soum, meaning fasting in Arabic. For centuries, Christian communities in the region developed plant-based recipes for fasting periods, many of which later became part of everyday cooking.

At Nasya, we want to bring these dishes back to the shared table, not only as heritage, but also as food connected to health, sustainability, and fair access.

What to expect

Nasya is the pilot pop-up for a future not-for-profit café and restaurant concept. We have prepared a small selection of dishes and drinks inspired by different parts of the SWANA region.

Food is free. Each guest can enjoy up to two dishes and one speciality drink. Coffee, tea, and water are complimentary.

Tips and donations are welcome and will help cover ingredient costs for future Being Well Kitchen gatherings.

This gathering is a partnership between Being Well Kitchen and De Voorkamer, brought to life with the support of our volunteers.

At every event you meet great people, but how often do those connections last? ✨

That's what our Social Network Evening is all about. You make your own profile card, hang it on the wall, and discover who's behind every story, and connect! 

The best part? There's space to ask for a hand. Learning a new language, navigating Dutch bureaucracy, building your CV, finding a sports buddy, or just something you've been stuck on for ages? Write it down, because someone in the room probably has the answer or can help you.

Connections, support, and pizza 🍕 Open to everyone, and it's completely free!

25 juni 2026 18:00-20:30

De Uithoek, 2e Daalsedijk 2-B, 3551 EJ Utrecht

This event is co-organised with the Utrecht Youth Network!

Sign up via the Google form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd55cP583E9o_G6zw9-_Qoy1pipGUp7vpXJLym3mXcKf9ke4w/viewform 

Save the date

Climate Change for Planetary Health Day

Join us for the Climate Adaptation for Planetary Health Day on 8 June 2026, from 9:00 to 17:15, followed by drinks, at The Playground, Princetonlaan 6, Utrecht.

This interactive symposium is focused on Utrecht Science Park and surroundings. It brings together students, researchers, practitioners, and policymakers working on, or interested in, climate adaptation and health, combining interactive sessions, expert pitches, outdoor excursions, and space for new collaborations.

The day includes:

• A marketplace with topics such as urban heat, governmental cooperation, vector-borne infections, community involvement, climate adaptation measures, local up to national programmes, swimming, planetary health education

• Guided outdoor excursions at Utrecht Science Park including a biodiversity walk and a bike tour of climate adaptation measures

• A live biofiltration demonstration at a bioswale

• Facilitated workshops with discussions on health impacts of green spaces, an interactive stakeholder negotiation, serious games, a climate cafe, or opportunities for future collaboration. Or you can create your own workshop!

• A networking reception to close the day

For more details, check out the full programme attached to this email.

Participation is free, but registration is mandatory (spaces are limited). Use the relevant link below and indicate your workshop preference:

→ Professionals register here

→ Students register here

Looking forward to seeing you on 8 June at The Playground!

Attend the workshop, "Social prescription for Mental Health" where Being Well Catalysts and Rypple will tackle the core challenge of mental healthcare: shifting focus from expensive treatment and formal management to cost-effective, community-driven prevention. The session will be of 3 short case presentations and group discussions with community based mental health interventions that bridge communities with formal and informal care.

Our cases include different types of bridges like AI-assisted navigation (Hee Beak of OW Care), the food and arts (Bernadette de Heer of EMA), and tours (Nuthan Manohar of The Happiness tours) speakers will demonstrate their own examples of bridges and invite participants to reflect on their own journeys across such mental health bridges. 

This session, is about "Bridging". It will provide actionable insights for policymakers and leaders to reorient mental health care and cultivate community for a more resilient society.

This workshop is part of the Landelijk Congres Mentale Gezondheid (June 4th, 2026), organized by Missie Mentaal. 

Food connects us, comforts us, and tells stories about who we are. ❤️ Join the Being Well Kitchen's Healthy and Tasty Planet Cooking Club, a project of The Being Well Collective, for a special evening: "Comfort Food for Wellbeing"!
This unique event blends intimate storytelling with joyful communal cooking. We'll begin with a sharing circle ice breaker (Bring your own comfort food ingredient), then everyone will join our cooks to help in the kitchen; Together, we'll prepare delicious, tasty, Healthy, and Sustainable comfort food sides and desserts, learning and laughing along the way. 🥣🥖🥗
After nourishing our bodies, we will nourish our minds and spirits with stories, exploring personal stories of how food has been a source of comfort, resilience, and support for wellbeing and mental health. We will end the evening with a short concluding remark from a nutrition and mental health expert.

We will prepare free main dishes for everyone. This event is part of the Mental Health Week activities. The event is in collaboration with Missie Mentaal and the Alles is Gezondheid team, as part of the Mental Health Week. Thanks for our partner nutrition chef and wellbeing coach Margaux Raynaud for volunteering her time.

Why join? ✅ Connect deeply with others in your community. ✅ Share your own experiences (only if you feel comfortable!). ✅ Discover the powerful link between food, mood, and mental wellness. ✅ Enjoy a delicious, comforting meal made together.
Event Details:

• Date: Wednesday, June 3rd, 2026

• Time: 18:00 - 22:00

• Location: De Speler Buurcentrum, Thorbeckelaan 18, 3551 BR Utrecht

• Registration: Event is free - register in the Google form below. Bring in your comfort food/ingredient. We will need the icebreaker, and for cooking :)

Spaces are limited, sign up soon!

• Agenda:

• 18:00 Walk in and welcome

• 18:15 Ice breaker (Remember to bring your comfort ingredient)

• 18:30 Improvisation cooking sides and desserts together in groups (Remember to bring your comfort ingredient)

• 20:00 Eating together and sharing personal food stories

• 21:30 Concluding remarks from expert on food and mental health: Margaux Raynaud

• 21:45 Closing and cleaning

Come fill your cup (and your bowl!) with connection and comfort. We can't wait to share this experience with you!

Fill the form to secure your place! 

#ComfortFoodWellbeing #Utrecht #FoodAndMood #MentalWellness #CommunityKitchen #StorytellingEvent #BeingWellCollective #CookingTogether #HealthyTastyPlanet #WellbeingEvent #UtrechtCommunity #ShareYourStory

A mindful creative session combining breath, watercolor and gentle reflection.

Date & time

Wednesday, June 3 -  18:00 – 20:00

Location

Lola Lieven: Rodenrijsstraat 43, 1062 HD Amsterdam, Netherlands

Registration: Event is free but registration is required: https://Breathandcreate.eventbrite.ca

Event description

Join us for a calming creative workshop session where breathing and making come together.

Part of the Creative Reset Club series taking place at Lola Lieven every other Tuesday, in this hands-on session, participants will explore simple watercolor techniques and rhythmic painting as gentle ways to slow down, focus, and reconnect with themselves. The workshop combines guided breathing with creative exercises, turning painting into a meditative and playful practice.

We will begin with a short grounding moment and guided breathing exercise. From there, participants will explore watercolor strokes, flow, and pauses, followed by painting patterns inspired by breath rhythm. The focus is not on making “perfect” art, but on enjoying the process, regulating attention, and creating it in a relaxed, non-judgmental space.

No artistic experience is needed. All materials will be provided.

What to expect

●  A short grounding and breathing exercise

●  Introduction to simple watercolor techniques

●  Painting exercises connected to breath and rhythm

●  Painting with repetitive, calming patterns

●  Time for free creation and personal expression

●  A relaxed and supportive creative atmosphere

Who is it for?

This workshop is open to all neighbors, community members, creatives, non-creatives, beginners, and anyone looking for a quiet moment of connection and self-care.

Practical information

All materials are provided. No prior experience with painting, breathwork, or mindfulness is needed.

Event Context

From June 1 to 6, 2026, it is Mental Health Week. Throughout Amsterdam, there are free activities that week that you can easily join. From workshops and neighborhood lunches to walks and music festivals. Because a small moment of contact can make a big difference in how you feel. Have a look at the Amsterdam municipality website! There are many more initiatives supporting Mental Health in our city!

You're Invited: Bite by Bite Project Third Workshop!

After our two delicious workshops on planetary health recipes and food waste reduction, we are ready with the cherry on top of the cake. Join us for the final Bite by Bite workshop and be part of creating impactful change!

🗓 Date: Monday, 4 May

⏰ Time: 13:00 – 17:00

This last session will focus on:

Designing effective visual communication for sustainable and healthy diets.

Together, we will explore how to turn ideas into powerful infographics, posters, and visual tools that inspire others to take action on food and sustainability.

This workshop is co-hosted by the amazing team from The Online Scientist, with Liesbeth Smith bringing expertise in nutrition and science communication.

✨ Do you want to share your talent?

Your creative communication pieces could make a real impact! Selected outputs will be showcased during our public event and promoted on LinkedIn through the communication channels of our partners.

👥 Open to Utrecht residents & campus communities (UCU & Science Park)

👉 Register here

Let’s create change—bite by bite 🌱 

How can we raise awareness, inspire action, and foster dialogue around sustainable food in our communities? 🌍

🍽️ Join our 2nd Bite by Bite Workshop!

A big thank you to everyone who joined our first session, your energy made it truly special!

✨ Now, let’s keep going…

🌱 “It is not a waste”

🗓️ April 10 | 🕕 18:00

📍 Rosa Buurcentrum, Utrecht

Together, we’ll explore creative ways to reduce food waste and build more sustainable, healthy food habits, with hands-on inspiration from a cooking instructor on how to use leftovers.

🌍 Part of the Bite by Bite Project, a 3-workshop series to co-create ideas for a more sustainable food future in Utrecht. Funded by the Planetary Health Seed Grants from Universiteit Utrecht and UMC Utrecht.

🔥 These first two workshops are just the beginning, the perfect lead-up to our final session on May 4, where we’ll co-create with communication and visual experts to design impactful ways to engage our community around sustainable diets.

👥 Open to Utrecht residents & campus communities (UCU & Science Park) 

Please make sure to fill in the registration form to secure your spot!

The Bite by Bite project is a partnership between Utrecht University Medical Centre, Utrecht University College, The Pit, and Being Well Catalysts, funded by the Planetary Health Seed Grants.

You're Invited: Bite by Bite Project First Workshop!

Transform your plate, transform the planet.

Join us for an inspiring and interactive evening dedicated to healthy, sustainable food, and hands-on cooking. This is the first of three workshops for the Bite by Bite Project, aimed at fostering dialogue and action around sustainable food in the Utrecht city and campus communities.

What to Expect:

• Inspiring Talks: Hear from experts on the connection between food choices and well-being, the impact of coffee and cocoa, and social impact through food with Julieth Uriza (Nutritionist/Planetary Diet), and The Pit (Students let food stall).

• Hands-On Cooking: Share your favourite traditional recipe! We'll provide healthy, local ingredients to co-create and improvise delicious, nutritious meals together. (Ready food will be available for participants who are fasting).

• Networking: Connect with like-minded individuals over dinner and become part of a community making positive changes.

• Contribute: Your co-created recipes will be featured in the project's booklet!

Event Details:

• Date & Time: Friday, 13 March, 2026, 17:00 – 22:00

• Location: Rosa Buurtcentrum, Malakkastraat 6, 3531 HM Utrecht

• Audience: Utrecht residents, Utrecht Science Park, and International Campus (UCU) communities.

• Cost: Free! Just bring your recipe and enthusiasm.

Ready to make an impact?

Please make sure to fill in the registration form to secure your spot!

The Bite by Bite project is a partnership between Utrecht University Medical Centre, Utrecht University College, The Pit, and Being Well Catalysts, funded by the Planetary Health Seed Grants.

Upcoming: Last co-creation session; prototyping two game concepts! No need to have joined previous events!

https://www.meetup.com/gaming-our-future-serious-games/events/312727475/ 

Join us for a hands-on, three-part design workshop where we will collaboratively invent "The Being Well Heroes End Game." Hosted by Being Well Catalysts, facilitators of systemic wellbeing and transformative change, this is a unique opportunity to build a serious game from the ground up.

Our mission is to create an engaging experience that empowers players to understand, navigate, and positively influence the complex challenges of the global polycrisis. We will ground our game world in a powerful, unifying concept: Buckminster Fuller's "Spaceship Earth," envisioning our planet as a shared, finite vessel that we must steward together.

Based on our earlier game; "The Wellbeing Heroes Order: Saving the Wellbeing Utopia", and facilitated by experienced systems and design thinking experts, this interactive series will guide us through a structured, creative process. Together, we will progress from a foundational concept to a playable model, defining the game's core mechanics and interactive elements, all aimed at fostering wellbeing and heroic agency for the crew of Spaceship Earth.

More information and registration: https://www.bwcatalysts.com/projects-and-impact/workshops-and-activities/serious-games-and-simulations/end-game

Join the Healthy and Tasty Planet Cooking Club, a project of The Being Well Collective, for a special evening: "Create your Favourite Food Space - A Collective Futures Workshop"!
This unique event is a partnership with L&D designer Marietta Benkhoff; it blends eating together, dreaming, and strategic planning.

We'll begin with a Potluck dinner where everyone brings one of their favourite dishes. Bring anything you like, or ingredients to make it (make sure it can be warmed or be prepared in 30 mins.

After eating together, Marietta will facilitate a fun workshop to co-create our future favourite food place where we can connect, learn, and enjoy healthy and sustainable food.

https://www.meetup.com/healthy-and-tasty-planet-cooking-club-utrecht/events/311838436/

Visit our stand in this year edition of the Europia Mundial Festival to learn about our activities, and try our health equity game; The Wellbeing Heroes order, Saving the Wellbeing Utopia 

More information about the event: https://www.allone.nl/europia-mundial/

Food connects us, comforts us, and tells stories about who we are. ❤️ Join the Healthy and Tasty Planet Cooking Club, a project of The Being Well Collective, for a special evening: "Eating together, connecting our worlds"!
This unique event is a partnership with Bloeifilm, it blends intimate short film screening with joyful communal cooking, learning, and co-creation.

We'll begin with the film screening, then sharing circle ice breaker (Bring your own connecting to strangers over food story) and QA with the film maker. Then we'll head to the kitchen; Together, we'll prepare delicious comfort food dishes, learning and laughing along the way. The day will also include a short talk from Margaux, our wellbeing coach and nutrition chef, about how cooking and eating together improve our wellbeing and connect us with ourselves, the environment, and others.

More information and register: https://www.meetup.com/healthy-and-tasty-planet-cooking-club-utrecht/events/311546994/