Hohm – Wooddijan H

Ambassador: Roman Gioglio.1
Tyler Atler

Emma Hendrickson
Alex Howlett
Liz Vukovic

       Hohm’s history has been greatly impacted by the two tribes that first settled the area: The Huma’s and The Mih’s. The Huma’s were a fishing tribe that relied on the river as their main food source, while the Mih’s settled the river valley due to the fertile soil as they pioneered an agrarian society. Tensions began to rise between these groups and “The Great War” broke out. After the destruction of everything the two tribes once knew, the elders of the two tribes understood the value of coming together in the valuable river valley and ended “The Great War,” establishing the first modern city in the valley: Hohm, 500 years ago, calling the citizens “the Hohmies.”
       Because of this, Hohm is greatly tied to the sub-tropical river system that flows through the city. The river has traditionally represented opportunity and life for many of those indigenous to the area. After the Hohmies settled this river valley, their advancements expanded quickly. Rich in natural resources, as seen by the beautiful present-day national park outside city proper, this area had fertile river valley soils along the banks that were seen as inexhaustible and a gift from the gods. This river also represented a connection to others for trading and access to fish stocks. As time passed, the Hohmies developed a large functioning city with established access to the ocean, great agricultural yields, a thriving cohesive culture united by their heritage, and economic subsistence. However, as greater trade routes were established on land and water, interaction with more advanced societies began to creep in. With the promise of the river, surrounding areas began to migrate into this area putting a strain on road systems, the river, and residential development.
       The influx of diverse culture and greater migration brought ideals different from the agrarian and river lifestyle that ruled the land for hundreds of years. Education and rising above the agrarian threshold became valued, and growth became the priority over a thriving cohesive community. Residential slums began to appear, infrastructure has begun to fail, cultural riffs have emerged, financial turmoil has set in due to the lack of security from less land ownership, education fell into turmoil from the influx of people and the bringing of new cultures and ideas, and the river has become grossly polluted from sewage and growing industry that appeared due to a cheap workforce. The indigenous Hohmie culture still remains, but without the river lifeline and the influx of new ideas it, the voices of the indigenous are not being heard.
       The political delegates for Hohm make a great effort to be heard and represented on a national level but are largely ignored due to their lack of education and wealth. With the failing state of the river, Hohm remains on a downward spiral falling into the globalized structure of “growth.” Currently, the residents of Hohm are turning to entrepreneurship and real-estate in an attempt to renovate the abandoned built capital that plagues the community. Unfortunately, residents lack the financial resources to keep their businesses afloat. This is not only due to Hohm’s declining economy, but also due to firms from neighboring communities coming in and attempting to buy up all of the unclaimed real estate to expand upon their own communities. Without the strong river system and cultural cohesion that the Hohmies have relied on for hundreds of years, Hohm in the midst of a crisis that unless intervened upon could mean the end of a once thriving community.

Community H: This rapidly developing urban community is located in a historically-marginalized part of the nation.

Population size = 2,000,000 residents (exact census figures unknown due to some transient and unplanned housing structures, the population is estimated to be growing annually at 4%).  

Natural: 2 An increased rate of population in-migration has increased the community’s size and density and is causing negative impacts on the environment. One of the nation’s most significant river systems runs through the city, which is currently highly polluted due to poor water management and a failing water treatment system.

Cultural: 5 The many ethnicities of people migrating to the city have made for a rich diversity of cultures coming together in markets and community gatherings, but this diversity also presents a barrier to broader city cohesion and has strained the community’s basic physical infrastructure and traditional political systems.

Human: 3 The few with a strong formal education are having success and joining the middle and upper classes of the community. The vast majority are not part of this movement and are being priced out of the growing urban area into slums. The poorest residents in this community have migrated from other rural areas in the nation to find opportunities. The school systems are unable to match the demand in student enrollments and cannot adequately pay teachers.

Social: 5 Traditionally this community had high bonding social capital, but increasing in-migration of new residents is straining these bonds. However, there is an increasing number of local, grassroots efforts to connect different groups and ethnicities.

Political: 4 Citizens’ trust in the local government’s ability to provide basic services has waned in recent years. With a significantly growing population base this city’s two national representatives should have a strong influence over the national government located in community A, however, these delegates are significantly poorer, lacking in formal education and marginalized from other national delegates.

Financial: 5 While the vast majority of residents are below national poverty line standards, a local, middle-class of business owners, entrepreneurs, and real estate professionals is emerging within the city, but they have growing competition from large, outside firms based in communities A and C who are also investing in and purchasing urban real estate. The ability for residents to acquire bank loans and engage in broader market opportunities differs sharply by socioeconomic class.

Built: 3 This city has highly overburdened road and water systems which fail at certain times of the year. Schools are being built rapidly but cannot match demand. Slums are growing rapidly as more and more people move closer to the city, especially alongside the river.