Community Spirit in Espoo development programme

The steering group is composed of elected officials, office-holders, a representative of the Youth Council, and expert members.

If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact Programme Manager Emma Aalto, emma.aalto@espoo.fi. 

Office-holders’ email addresses are usually firstname.lastname@espoo.fi. Elected officials’ contact information.

Chairperson of the steering group: Taru Salovaara (Social Democratic Party), deputy member Tero Rantala (Social Democratic Party)

Vice-chairperson: Hanna Hukari (Greens), deputy member Harshwardhan Saini (Greens)

Members:

Vanessa Kurri (National Coalition Party), deputy member Teija Sääksmäki (National Coalition Party)

Jenna Leppänen (Centre Party), deputy member Heidi Mannelin (Centre Party)

Terhi Suokas (Left Alliance), deputy member Marja Koskenalho (Left Alliance)

Olli Tiihonen, (Youth Council member), deputy member Iida Karjalainen (Youth Council member)

Programme owner: Merja Narvo-Akkola, Deputy Mayor for Growth and Learning

Petri Häkkinen, Chief Security Officer, deputy member Ari Oja, Police Coordinator

Martti Merra, Sports Director, deputy member Hilla-Maaria Suomi, Employment Director

Juha Nurmi, Director of Basic Education, deputy member Barbro Högström, Director of Swedish Education and Cultural Services

Sakari Jäppinen, Planning Manager, deputy member Liisa Ikonen, Planning Manager

Hanna Bäckström, representative of the Disability Council

Taru Ikäheimonen, Wellbeing Manager

Sanna Lindholm, Director of Immigration Affairs (acting)

Maria Tiilikkala, Senior Planning Officer, cooperation with communities and organisations

Marianne Sepponen, Senior Planning Officer, social inclusion

Kaija Viitakoski, representative of the Elderly Council

Upcoming meetings of the Community Spirit in Espoo steering group: 

Wednesday 4 March 2026

Tuesday 24 March 2026

Thursday 9 April 2026

Tuesday 12 May 2026

Wednesday 12 August 2026

Wednesday 16 September 2026

Thursday 29 October 2026

Wednesday 18 November 2026

Wednesday 9 December 2026

Past meetings:

4 February 2026, 19 January 2026, 8 January 2026, 2 December 2025, 20 November 2025, 21 October 2025

The minutes of the meetings are available in Finnish here:

The programme goals are long-term benefits and effects that the programme aims to achieve. The following goals have been set by the steering group and approved by the City Council:

1. Stronger sense of inclusion among residents and more opportunities for participation

   In Espoo, everyone has the opportunity to participate in everyday activities, services and the community according to their abilities. Through our programme work, we will create more ways for residents to participate and have their say, thereby strengthening their sense of inclusion. We want to ensure that all Espoo residents feel that they can take part in developing Espoo and their neighbourhoods, regardless of their background, language skills or personal situation. We will experiment with and promote participatory practices, such as participatory budgeting, methods of democracy and civic education, and dialogic approaches.

2. More encounters in residential areas, improved community spirit and reduced segregation

   We will reduce the segregation of residential areas by strengthening communities. Espoo’s residential areas will evolve as pleasant and vibrant communities where residents feel safe and proud of their neighbourhoods. We will look for and develop operating models that increase encounters and reduce loneliness. When people and families of different ages, backgrounds and cultures meet, the sense of belonging and trust grow.
   We will look for low‑threshold ways to encourage people to be active and to boost community spirit in their local environments. We want to support the development of local identities and residents’ attachment to their neighbourhoods. This will also strengthen positive images and the appeal of different areas. Attachment to local communities will also promote integration into Espoo and society in general. We will do this work together with residents, organisations, clubs and local operators.

3. More appealing local schools and reduced school segregation

   We will strengthen the wellbeing of children and young people in Espoo and help prevent social exclusion and school dropout by supporting attachment to school and a safe community. Through our programme work, we will help increase the appeal of local schools by finding effective methods and targeting communication appropriately. Our aim is to promote the development of a segregation knowledge base so that actions can be directed where they are needed. We also want to explore opportunities to develop schools into meeting places for local communities.