Welcome to December 2006!

OFFERING 2006 A FAREWELL

As 2006 bows, we do look back and acknowledge missed opportunities, for the sake of clearer senses.

We also give thanks for all that was born. We honour all that passes within our hands to care for and to respect.

We enter the New Year and times of uncertainty knowing that we are not alone. There are many who share our journeys; there are many who stand in silence in our emotional worlds.

We take responsibility for our freedom and in return enter that magical space of resonance.

Joy, Rabea

Si deseas recibir el boletín en español suscribete con Roger Granada a este correo e: roger@pioneersofchange.net ¡Gracias!

In Focus: New team cultivating the Pioneers of Change Network

The Cultivation Team offers interested Pioneers an opportunity to craft the network they need to see. It is a global team that cultivates, governs and supports specific operations for the network globally. The people in the CT serve from where they are based and connect together through virtual and probably at least one physical meeting throughout the year. If the prospect of nurturing the network appeals to you, think about participating next year!

Passing the kindling, the 2005-2006 Cultivation Team - Danielle, Felix, Moraan, Pablo and Sera - reflects: "It has been a rich year for us, both in experiences and new connections. Being the Cultivation Team proved to be a great way to open up our worlds and to work together with inspiring colleagues with different experiences, networks, skills, knowledge and cultures. We hope we have put some new structures in place for the next Cultivation Team to build on and expand, so that each Pioneer will reap the benefits from this work in the coming year. We wish the new Cultivation Team all the best for the coming year and hope they will have an amazing experience, holding this wonderful work."

We would like to take a moment to introduce this year's CT.

Maria Glauser (London ­ UK) is this year's Local Networks and Communities of Practice Cultivator. Maria has published on the learning and knowledge-sharing practices of the indigenous groups in Paraguayan Chaco. She has been co-director and host of The Hub London since October 2005.

Lesley Williams (London - UK) is your Member and Participant Cultivator. Lesley is curious about the process and factors that allow people to realize their potential and passionate about assisting people from all walks of life to do so. She has worked with various learning networks including AIESEC, Nexus and Young Professionals Forum at the Gordon Institute of Business Science, Young South African Women in Dialogue, Common Purpose, Toastmasters, Pioneers of Change, the South African Business Club, and The Hub London.

Mark Siebert (Munich - Germany) is the CT Host / Board Liaison and oversees the Network's finances. Mark works for Siemens Business Services in several management divisions and is at work on his PhD in semantic search and knowledge creation. He is interested in both social software and social investment.

Jens Trotzky (Luebeck - Germany) is the on-line tools cultivator for the CT. Jens is completing his last three university degrees. He has advanced technical skills and is currently exploring the best way to blend his love of work with his love of harmony and close relationships.

Cristina Leal (Brasil) is providing Global Programmes Support. Cristina is passionate about exploring sustainable ways of living, and seeks to understand this in a broad and integrated sense. Her professional experience has been mainly in the management education field and she is investing time and energy now to find innovative and entrepreneurial ways to realize her passion in her work. Cristina will be welcoming you to Brasil for this year's Summer School, so mark your calendars!

Rabea Chaudhary (Berkeley - USA) is the Newsletter editor. Rabea is interested in self-determination and so has decided to study archetypal counseling psychology. She is interested in that wild field where democracy, diversity, and accidents contact the collective heart. If you have an event or announcement that you would like to share with your Network please send it to rabea AT pioneersofchange dot net.

If you have a specific project or question you may want to get in touch directly with the person hosting a certain area of interest. For general information you can reach the CT at: info AT pioneersofchange dot net

A special thanks to Pablo and Moraan for smoothing the transition, and to Sofia Bustamante for hosting the CT team-building.

Events

Workshop: What is Systemic Change? 16 January 2007, The Hub, London

This evening seminar offers an explanation of what is meant by the term ‘Systemic Change’, and some insights on how to approach change interventions in a systemic way. The format of the seminar will be - a presentation, where your host will offer his learnings, insights and questions on the topic of systemic change, drawing on his experiences of participating in the Pioneers of Change community and his work in change interventions with several multinational companies, organisations and communities around the world - a facilitated, open discussion on the implications of these and other definitions and tools for systemic change for our ‘work in the world.’ 6:00 to 9:00 PM. Cost: £5 To reserve a spot please contact Alok at alok AT pioneersofchange dot net

Conference Call on Communities of Practice with Etienne Wenger 17 January 2007 "Community of practice" is Etienne Wenger's term for the living system of ongoing apprenticeship. Wenger's work, well-respected in the business and academic communities, emphasizes the importance of learning communities that are committed to being and practicing in the world together. This will be Etienne's second conference call with the Pioneers. For details subscribe to the Network Dialogue mailing list at http://lists.pioneersofchange.net/mailman/listinfo/networkdialogue

Workshop: Dialogue Games February 16 - 17 2007, Fulda, Germany

Learn about the power of questions & create your own dialogue game! We will explore the following questions and topics: How do I start hosting conversations using games? How could using dialogue games serve you and your work? How could you also unfold dialogue in your work and life? Bring back your own personal Question Game Strengthen your facilitation competence For more information please contact Carsten (carstenohm AT carstenohm dot dk) and Felix (felixitator AT web dot de)

Announcements, Ideas & Invitations

Eid ul Adha Celebrations After an enjoyable Christmas and Hanukkah with your families, this year you have a chance to learn more about your Muslim neighbours and share a celebration. Eid-ul-Adha is December 30 - January 1, depending on your location. Check http://www.islamicfinder.org/ for nearby communities. Expressing your interest in this community-building holiday is a great way to deepen your ties and understanding.

New issue of Swapathgami Shikshantar, the Udaipur-based People's Institute for Rethinking Education and Development, has published a new issue of its online magazine, Swapathgami. View the magazine at http://www.swaraj.org/shikshantar/swapathgami_english6..pdf

Pioneers in the UK Midlands Are you interested in a Local Network for Pioneers of Change in the West Midlands UK? If you would like to receive an invitation to a local get together in the West Midlands then email Odilia via the contact page at www.seachangeconsultancy.com

The Hub - London is Hiring What is The Hub? The Hub’s business is social innovation. Our core offering is flexible membership of inspirational and highly resourced habitats in the world’s major cities for social innovators to work, meet, learn, connect and realise progressive ideas. We connect everyone from values-driven professionals and small social enterprises to Leeds City Council, Tate Modern, Demos and UNICEF. Check out http://the-hub.net/

You're offering to pay me to do innovative, meaningful work? I'm so ready to get involved! What are the positions?

Curator A core strategic role relating to leadership and project management involved in starting future UK Hubs, and the development of our social innovation support strategy. The role combines service, event and experience design with business modelling, project management, research, fundraising and production. You will work closely with an inter-disciplinary team of professionals to evolve the theory and practice of designing and curating physical spaces and services that inspire and support social innovation. If you are... able to adapt fast to complex and competing challenges and opportunities, have experience in designing and producing public facing events, experiences and installations, as well as experience in project, financial and relationship management, have a strong social ethic and are connected to innovative thinking and practice in the social economy, and relish the opportunity to play a core leadership role in a fast-growth social enterprise, please send your CV and a covering letter to: jonathan.robinson AT the-hub.net by Monday 15th January 2007.

Host and producer The Host works to maximise the quality of our members experience, knowledge sharing and connections, supports the needs of members and visitors, sets an example in relation to the culture and habits of The Hub, and coordinates our marketing and attraction strategies. You will coordinate space management and operations at The Hub in London, which includes servicing and nurturing our physical space, managing contracts with suppliers, coordinating space improvements and overseeing our financial systems. You'll coordinate the production and delivery of hub events as well. If you are... exceptionally enthusiastic and able to manage demanding, competing and sometimes stressful tasks, relish inspiring and supporting a diverse inter-disciplinary community of 120 social innovators, have exceptional people skills, are welcoming, interested and enjoy hosting conversations, meetings and events, are experienced or talented in event, space and ICT management, and crave the opportunity to play a core role in a fast-growth social enterprise, send your CV and a covering letter to: maria.glauser AT the-hub.net by Monday 15th January 2007.

Other Announcements

The organisation Global Exchange facilitates topical "Reality Tours" in many countries worldwide. According to Global Exchange, "Our intention is to educate people about how we -- both individually and collectively -- contribute to global problems, while realizing our ability to generate solutions." See the 2007 calendar at http://www.globalexchange.org/tours/byCountry.html

Peace and Conflict Resolution in a Globalised World: Issue of Culturalism. January 4-6, 2007 Jaipur, India. http://www.humiliationstudies.org/news/archives/001403.html

International Conference on the Environment : Survival and Sustainability 19 to 24 February 2007 Nicosia, Cyprus http://www.neuconference.org/

New Frontiers in Arts Sociology: Creativity, Support, Sustainability March 28-April 1, 2007 Lueneburg and Hamburg, Germany http://www.new-arts-frontiers.eu/live/index.php

Social Connections: Identities, Technologies, Relationships 12 to 14 April 2007 London, United Kingdom http://www.britsoc.co.uk/events/Conference.htm

Financial Matters

Pioneers of Change is an independent network that believes it is critical to retain a free and unbiased position. We also believe that financial barriers should not be a constraint to learning and engaging. As such we work hard at ensuring that our learning is available to as wide and diverse an audience as possible.

We invite you to make a donation to support us in our work. We encourage you to think of this donation as an investment into learning that has the potential of enriching all of our lives. If you have any ideas of individuals or organizations that might like to support us, let us know, sera AT pioneersofchange dot net

Small Print

What is Pioneers of Change?

Pioneers of Change is a global learning network supporting practitioners in their mid-20s to mid-30. Founded in 1999, by a group of people from 16 countries and now includes participants from around the world.

Pioneers are people who questions underlying assumptions and move into new territory in order to create the change we want to see in the world. We include social entrepreneurs, member of the business, government and non-profit communities, as well as artists, teachers, and free agents from a variety of cultural and social backgrounds.

When you join Pioneers of Change you explicitly commit to the following principles:

Be yourself Do what Matters Start now Engage with others Never stop asking questions

For more information on Pioneers of Change, see http://www.pioneersofchange.net

To have something included in an upcoming Newsletter contact rabea AT pioneersofchange dot net

Si deseas recibir el boletín en español suscribete con Roger Granada a este correo e: roger AT pioneersofchange dot net ¡Gracias!

If you would like to help translate this newsletter into your own language and make it available to others, please email femke AT pioneersofchange dot net

Thank you!

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