Welcome to July!

Recent terrorist attacks in London yet again shine global attention on violence as a means of communication for advancing different change agendas. With all the media attention the tragedy in London received, there have been many conversations, discussion and reflections worldwide on how humanity can deal with the complexities of solving tough problems without the violence and self-destruction prevailing as acceptable means, and the need to understand the causes and contexts of terrorism and our connection to it. London Pioneer, Zaid Hassan shared his thoughts on the recent events from London where he lives. They can be found online at http://pioneersofchange.net/library/articles/london

June saw important Pioneers of Change gatherings taking place in London, and at The Shire in Nova Scotia on the fringes of the Shambala Institute and Global Village Square. These meetings brought together members of the Chaord Group to tie together ongoing conversations about matters pertaining to Pioneers of Change and the future direction and structure of the Network. Announcements on the outcomes to these meetings will be made to the global PoC Community in due course.

Pioneers continue to create inspiring innovations tackling issues that matter most to individuals and communities around the world. We are continually updating the list of Ventures and Initiatives launched by members of this community on our website at http://pioneersofchange.net/ventures/

Finally, a new section has been added to the Pioneers of Change website with information on the Associates Network, which brings together a small group of Pioneers hoping to pool their skills and resources to provide services to organizations around the world. Our aim is for the Associates Network to grow to be a significant channel for Pioneers to contribute to making an impact in the world, while enabling the PoC Network to become more financially self-sustainable. For more information, see http://pioneersofchange.net/services/

We hope you enjoy this newsletter and the information in it. We love hearing from you about what is useful and what you would like us to add. Always feel free to pass on something that might be meaningful to someone you know, and if you have ideas or questions please feel free to contact us at cultivation@pioneersofchange.net

Best Wishes,

Sera & Dumi

(Cultivation Unit)

IN FOCUS:

The Generative Dialogue Project http://www.generativedialogue.org/

The Generative Dialogue Project (GDP) envisions the emergence in fifty years’ time of a global system that operates equitably and sustainably, informed by a collective sense of the common good. In support of that vision, we seek to develop and advance the use of dialogic change processes that can produce the deep societal shifts required to create global problem-solving systems capable of addressing the complex challenges that threaten our future—problems such as environmental degradation, poverty and disease, deadly conflict, and deepening political, social, economic, and cultural divides.

The GDP is a community building and action research project. Its core focus is on the connection between personal and societal change and the potential for transformative dialogic processes to produce deep change globally. It seeks to create the following outcomes:

• Advanced practitioners of dialogic change processes will have deeper process understanding and achieve greater impact in their work on a wide range of global issues, through peer-to-peer learning opportunities provided by the GDP
• The process understanding developed within the GDP practitioner community will have broad dissemination across diverse issue areas and practice disciplines through the activities of GDP community members within their networks and through project outputs such as reports, cases, a Fieldbook, open workshops, and project communications
• The spread of dialogic approaches to problem solving will reach a tipping point at which dialogic change processes are understood and effectively practiced across the full range of global governance institutions, including business, government, and civil society

Pioneers of Change at the Community Commons Conference, New York City, June 2005

Pioneers of Change was represented at the Community Commons event, a conference hosted by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the Equator Initiative. Activists, program officers and partners from organizations representing over 40 countries around the world shared of the various initiatives and projects their organizations and members were undertaking to address some of the development challenges facing the planet. Pioneers of Change was represented by Cultivation Unit member, Dumisani Nyoni.

The Equator Initiative is a partnership that brings together the United Nations, civil society, business, governments and communities to help build the capacity and raise the profile of grassroots efforts to reduce poverty through the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity.

http://www.undp.org/equatorinitiative/

Pioneers of Change at the Shambala Institute’s Authentic Leadership Summer Program, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, June 2005

The Annual Leadership Program of the Shambala Institute took place in Halifax again this year, with members of the Pioneers of Change community participating and helping to lead different components of the Institute. Cultivation Unit (CU) member, Sera Thompson and former CU member and co-founder of Pioneers of Change, Marianne Knuth were part of the hosting team for the program. Mille Bojer and Zaid Hassan co-hosted a module on “Solving Tough Problems” with Adam Kahane, author of a book by the same title. Several other Pioneers participated in different components of the event.

The Shambhala Institute creates powerful learning environments that support the deeper understanding, strength, and skills leaders need to catalyze and sustain positive change in today's complex world. The Institute is committed to joining vision and practicality, and to addressing the tough challenges facing organizations, communities, and societies. To learn more about the Shambala Institute and their programs, visit http://www.shambhalainstitute.org/2005/index.shtml

Changing the Game Workshop – Boston, MA, USA

Changing the Game, a workshop module developed by Pioneers of Change finally reached the USA. In early June, 12 Pioneers gathered in Boston to explore ways in which they can facilitate change in their organizations and systems through the Changing the Game workshop. Participants left very energized and a series of follow up events are planned with the hope of developing a healthy Pioneers network in Boston, and to continue some of the conversations initiated in the workshop.

The Changing the Game workshop module was developed as a result of an article written by Mille Bojer with contributions and comments from a host of Pioneers. The article can be found online at http://pioneersofchange.net/Members/Mille/changingthegame

Events

Exploring The Ecology of Business: Using Dialogue & Collective Intelligence London July 16, 2005, 10.00 - 16.30

We need to move upstream in our whole process of thought. To exercise Corporate Responsibility is to take account of the significance and implications of our actions in a much wider context than traditional business measures typically would allow for.

You are invited to a dialogue at the very edge of new thinking on this subject - exploring the ecology of business.

For more information, see the attached invite in pdf-format on http://pioneersofchange.net/localnetworks/london/events/ecolbus. The fee for this event is £25, no VAT. To register contact Leon Olsen at leon@pioneersofchange.net.

Waterlution @ The Shire Nova Scotia, Canada August 17 - 21

What happens when pioneers gather around their passions to create a space of learning? We invite you to engage with the land and water of The Shire - an ecological and creative learning centre in Nova Scotia - to inquire into what we can learn from Water to inspire our leadership in our work. Hosted by Waterlution and The Shire, we call on those who are touched by water in some way in their lives and those who have water-related considerations in their work. Waterlution@The Shire is a training/retreat space and an opportunity to cultivate your personal and professional leadership, and co-create a healthier and more sustainable relationship with water - in your companies, organisations and communities. Download the invitation and registration form from www.waterlution.org or contact karen@waterlution.org, tatiana@waterlution.org, or tim@oftheshire.org.

Between Integration and Isolation Rotterdam, The Netherlands 7-11 September 2005 [Please Note the NEW DATES]

A Learning Journey about the Challenges and Opportunities of Immigration in 21st Century Europe

The learning journey will enable stakeholders to deepen their understanding and develop their own practices further. We will also explore the possibility for new networks to emerge, which can create and inspire new insights, better tools and alternative approaches. Participants are brought together in order to go through a learning process together with the aspiration of sharpening and reframing their understanding of what it means to live with cultural diversity. See http://pioneersofchange.net/communities/integration or e-mail moraan@pioneersofchange.net

The Art of Hosting Johannesburg South Africa September 21-23 2005

How can we create safe learning spaces where strategic and meaningful conversations take place in order to create comprehensive and innovative solutions for the problems that our world, organisations and communities are facing today? How can leaders encourage collective intelligence and creativity to emerge? We offer The Art of Hosting that can help you to explore and develop your own competencies. We invite leaders, trainers, teachers, entrepreneurs, politicians, consultants, pioneers - people with the courage to let go of control in order to achieve better cooperation and results. See http://pioneersofchange.net/localnetworks/johannesburg/events for the full invitation. Contact sera@pioneersofchange.net

Learning journey on Sustainable Development Brazil 2-12 October 2005

Pioneers of Change in Brazil is offering a Learning Journey on Sustainable Development to be held from 2-12 October 2005. The learning journey is a 10-day experience, starting in an eco-village close to São Paulo to set the context for personal, organisational and societal sustainability. We will participate in a deep ecology experience to enable us to understand our connection to nature and identify how we can personally live more sustainably. We will spend a few days in São Paulo to participate in a cross-sector dialogue and fair and explore the various dimensions of sustainability in one economic sector. We will then travel to Curitiba, a city famous for its integrated social, economic and environmental actions to deepen our understanding of sustainability on a municipal level. We will end the Learning Journey with a day and a half to reflect on the experience, plan next steps and share how each can take personal responsibility for shifting the systems in which we operate to create a more sustainable world. Throughout the journey there will be space for personal and group reflection, meditation, sharing experiences, action planning and cultural events. For more information, visit: http://pioneersofchange.net/communities/sustainability/learningjourney

Subscribe to: ljsust@yahoogrupos.com.br.

London Network meetings @ The Hub

The London Network is up and running now - we are meeting the 3rd Tuesday of every month at The Hub (near Angel tube) – Check out the London Network Events page for updates with details of each meeting, visit: http://pioneersofchange.net/localnetworks/london/events

Invitations & Announcements

Diversity Caravan

The Diversity Caravan is a virtual and physical project where people are invited to post sustainable change projects on a web site. Later a physical caravan will drive to the selected places (starting in South Africa) and document the projects by film, photo, texts or other material. With this documentation material the ideas can be shared with the rest of the world. Networks can be formed, leaders can get inspired, projects can be analyzed, and there are probably many more possibilities.

You can get involved by joining the mailing list by e-mailing caravan-join@lists.pioneersofchange.net or joining the physical caravan, please let me know if you're interested in any or several of these options.

More information please visit http://pioneersofchange.net/ventures/caravan/

Social Entrepreneurship in Sweden In October 2004 “Association for International Social Entrepreneurship” (ASIE) was formed in Stockholm, Sweden. As a non-profit NGO it will act to support and create entrepreneurial initiatives within the area of sustainable corporate and social development, in the OECD regions as well as a part for poverty combating. AISE arrange different events such as Klubb Social, UtvecklingsBar and lunch meetings. A Learning Journey and an exchange program between South Africa and Sweden exploring Social Entrepreneurship is being planned. The website www.aise.nu will soon be launched. In the meantime, contact harry@mcneil.se for more information!

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@pioneersofchange.net

SMALL PRINT

What is Pioneers of Change?

Pioneers of Change is a global learning community that fosters understanding, capacities and relationships needed by younger practitioners committed to stepping forward and creating the change they want to see in the world. A Pioneer is anyone who sees that something isn’t working in the status quo and is questioning underlying assumptions and moving into new territory to create shifts in systems.

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

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