Social-political asset

The principal actors

When analyzing an urban context, getting to know its organizational structures, its actors and its social asset is as important as knowing the morphological characteristics of it.

Vimodrone is a Municipality of Milan’s hinterland, hence it is subject to the authority of Città Metropolitana di Milano and Regione Lombardia. Moreover, it has signed three important intermunicipal agreements that, in different ways, influence the political structure of the Municipality: 1. Centrale Unica di Committenza (Unified Central Purchasing Body). In 2020, the Municipalities of Vimodrone, Cassina de’ Pecchi and Rodano signed an agreement about the unified management of acquisition of works, goods and services. Vimodrone is the leader institution. 2. PLIS east delle Cave: an agreement for the coordinate management of the supramunicipal park “Le Cave” that is shared between Brugherio (MB), Carugate (MI), Cernusco sul Naviglio - lead institution (MI), Cologno Monzese (MI) and Vimodrone (MI). Vimodrone’s mayor is the new president of the Park institution (since November 2020). 3. Social District East Milan: an intermunicipal integrated system for social services intervention constituted by the Municiaplities of Pioltello, Rodano, Segrate and Vimodrone. Furthermore, Vimodrone has strong political and identity links with the Municipalities of “Martesana area” such as: Segrate, Cologno Monzese, Cernusco sul Naviglio, Carugate, Bussero, Cassina de’ Pecchi, Pessano Con Bornago, Cambiago and Gessate. Perhaps, the most relevant shared project is Spazio Giovani Martesana. Moreover, the city has a very active third sector constituted by many associations and organizations of different type, that work to improve the quality of life in Vimodrone or to provide services to the population. The most interesting projects promoted by these associations are: “coltivAZIONE”, “Orientamento al Futuro” – both directed towards young people – and “La Biblioteca a Casa Tua” that will be better analyzed in the next pages. The actors of the economic sector, on the contrary, do not seem so many and so active. Two are the commercial associations that area present in the Official Vimodrone’s Association Register (As. Com.Art and Unione Commercianti), however they do not have any website or social media page, and they have not organized or promoted any relevant project in the last years. Nevertheless, two very interesting realities have been found in the Municipality: Azienda Agricola Terra Terra and GASP. The lack of cohesion and proactivity of the retailers of the city is a relevant issue to be tackled to promote a future project.

Lastly, Vimodrone has a high number of associations dedicated to socio-cultural or sport activities and contribute to the promotion of the city, to its livability and to the quality of the life of its resident. The high number of associations (the ones showed in the next pages are only the most relevant ones in the area) shows the attention that Vimodrone’s citizens have towards their city, however the few number of initiatives make us believe that they still do not have the coordination and organizational capabilities to develop more ambitious projects.

In conclusion, Vimdrone has an high human capital in term of associations and organizations, however the scares cooperation between actors reduced their ability to impact on their context. Promoting cooperation and building a shared future vision for the Municipality is a key aspect to enable those actors and promote their active participation in the life of the city.