Young Professionals - Leading the Change

Social Processes and Tools for Change

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Welcome to the "Social Processes and Tools for Change" group on Intersect. This is a place to exchange ideas and resources about how people communicate, self-organise and learn together.

Members: 65
Latest Activity: 9 hours ago

Networks, Communities of Practice, Systems of Emergence

In spite of current ads and slogans, the world doesn't change
one person at a time. It changes as networks of relationships
form among people who discover they share a common cause
and vision of what's possible. This is good news for those of us
intent on changing the world and creating a positive future.
Rather than worry about critical mass, our work is to foster
critical connections. We don't need to convince large numbers
of people to change; instead, we need to connect with kindred
spirits. Through these relationships, we will develop the new
knowledge, practices, courage, and commitment that lead to
broad-based change.

But networks aren't the whole story. As networks grow and
transform into active, working communities of practice, we
discover how Life truly changes, which is through emergence.
When separate, local efforts connect with each other as
networks, then strengthen as communities of practice,
suddenly and surprisingly a new system emerges at a greater
level of scale. This system of influence possesses qualities and
capacities that were unknown in the individuals. It isn't that
they were hidden; they simply don't exist until the system
emerges. They are properties of the system, not the individual,
but once there, individuals possess them. And the system that
emerges always possesses greater power and influence than is
possible through planned, incremental change. Emergence is
how Life creates radical change and takes things to scale.

Margaret Wheatley and Deborah Frieze

To download the full text of this article check out:
emergence_web.pdf

Or check out the Berkana Institute.

Discussion Forum

tools for change 5 Replies

Started by Joseph Nicholls. Last reply by Joseph Nicholls Aug 26.

What is Facilitation? 10 Replies

Started by Billy Matheson. Last reply by Caren Aug 1.

Getting to Maybe 5 Replies

Started by Billy Matheson. Last reply by Billy Matheson May 10.

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Comment by lee0007 on December 3, 2009 at 3:38pm: On the topic of tools to help people communicate, self-organise and learn together we believe we have something to offer. Check out our Time Trade Community Marketplace We've just released the Beta but we'd appreciate your feedback & need people - supporters of social justice and change - to help champion this type of volunteering & community resilience in your area.

Comment by Ben Barrett on December 3, 2009 at 1:34pm: Good group idea. Thanks for your link suggestions Maggie.

Comment by Rachel Ruckstuhl-Mann on November 9, 2009 at 10:17am: Hello, just came across this website today.

http://www.opengreenmap.org/home
Thought it was a great resource, but couldn't find any NZ marks on it...

Comment by lee0007 on June 25, 2009 at 2:14pm: @ Billy Nice reminder of why I love living here in Aotearoa - I relate to all of the groups on the "out" of US social entrepreneurship. I think what makes us different here in NZ is that the concepts of Whanau and community are alive and well - therefore it's not about what youthink or say but what you actually do that counts. Is any one else here building an online Time Trading system? We should talk

Comment by Billy on June 25, 2009 at 1:23pm: In terms of the process of forming links between disparate groups with common cause and vision, these two posts on Poptech about Social Entrepreneurship and who is included and excluded from the communities creating change, may be of interest.

Comment by Jasmine Cargill on June 19, 2009 at 3:46pm: Training in The Art of Hosting and Harversting Conversations that Matter is taking place in Wellington 27 - 30 August, followed by The 4 Million Dreams Gathering for New Zealand, 4 -6 September in Taupo.

See here for more details:
http://www.artofhosting.org/events/

From the invitation:

Innovating from Within: the Art of Hosting & Harvesting Conversations That Matter is a participative training
experience for all those who aspire to learn how to work with groups, committees, teams and communities in more interactive,
engaging and effective ways. We invite leaders, facilitators, trainers, teachers, consultants, politicians, entrepreneurs, social
innovators, community and youth workers – anyone who wants to experience a different perspective of leadership, which sets
free other people’s creativity and intelligence in order to achieve better cooperation and results together.

The training will provide opportunity to learn about:
• Designing and leading conversations and meetings that result in clear thinking, intelligent solutions and group coherence.
• Hosting powerful questions and harvesting conversations as a core leadership practice and skillset for leading change.
• Interactive processes that produce new learning, restore trust and create shared commitment to wiser action.
• How to apply these tools to your work and communities, developing your skills and practices well beyond the workshop.
• The fundamental organising patterns that invite profound shifts in how we might live and work together.

How it works:
Our learning will grow out of participant contributions and presence – we will support each other as co-learners.

We will learn by observation, experience and practice, using interactive processes to build a safe and inspiring learning
environment – we will explore and practice the approaches of Open Space Technology, Appreciative Inquiry, Circle work, World
Café, storytelling and other participatory methodologies.

Stepping boldly in to experiment and apply these tools that make up The Art of Hosting and The Art of Harvesting to your own projects-in-progress, as well as develop and continue a new practice that will last well beyond this training.

We challenge you to come learn in community where we will be building an Art of Hosting practice group here in New Zealand.

Comment by Billy Matheson on November 26, 2008 at 2:27pm: One of the communities I am involved with that uses a version of 'Open Space Technology' is called Heart Politics. They are having their 20th anniversary gathering this January. If you're interested you can check it out on www.heartpolitics.org.nz

Wikipedia also has a page on Open Space Technology with some good links .

Comment by maggie b on November 25, 2008 at 6:04pm: oh..and this: http://www.toolsofchange.com/English/firstsplit.asp

Comment by maggie b on November 21, 2008 at 5:46pm: I came across this resource in the last couple of days of my crazed research life....
http://www.dialogueproject.net/resources.shtml
a great resource for lots of different dialogue/conversation based work...

Comment by Anna Carter on July 30, 2008 at 10:13pm: Is anyone familiar with open space or have participated in an open space event? I would be interested to learn more about the process.

Here's a link I came across yesterday http://www.openspaceworld.org/cgi/wiki.cgi?AboutOpenSpace