How We Can Help
At the Campus for Communities of the Future, affiliates work collaboratively to grow capacity for resolving complex social, economic, and environmental issues by supporting a culture of multisector collaboration between, and among, social enterprises, businesses, organizations, clients, citizens, and government.
We do this by providing learning opportunities, resources and frameworks, coaching, and opportunities for peer to peer knowledge exchange.
Our work focuses on working with existing, as well as aspiring, future focused leaders and organizations committed to ensuring an approach that builds on their existing assets and strengths to do more to balance economic and human values.
Our collective, decades of boots-on-the-ground experience has resulted in key learnings gained as the result of prioritizing the observation of success and innovation, rather than focusing on needs or weaknsess. Or, as Cormac Russell suggests, "Focus on what's strong, not what's wrong. This approach has provided a unique understanding of practical how-to's for sustainable, lasting impact in organizations and communities.
As illustrated in the graphic below, the most important of these learnings is that innovation and transformation result when time is invested in amplifying skills and capacity for collaboration. Ensuring skilled convenors and opportunities for knowledge exchange, as well as having a sense of hope and trusted relationships, provide the foundation for successful collaboration, innovation and ultimately systems change.
Three Steps to Transformative Impact
What we also observed is that many of the competencies (skills, knowledge, and atttitudes) that are required weren't typically included in existing learning opportunities. In large part this was because these skills were more about working externally with stakeholders (blue ring) rather than working internally as managers (orange ring). As result these competencies have become the basis for all of our formal and informal learning opportunities.
Additionally, we've found capacity in organizations and businesses was strong in some - but not all - areas required for innovation and transformation. As a result, we've developed an assessment tool for helping organizations and businesses determine their strengths as well as areas for improvement in order to enhance their ability to impact social, environmental and/or economic well-being.
Upcoming Learning Opportunities
Positioning for the Future: Cornerstones
Next Course: April 2024
How-to's for Positioning for the Future
Next Course: TBD
As we respond to an uncertain future of both challenges and possibilities, community, economic and/or environmental well-being will be dependent upon our capacity, as well as a culture, that emphasizes transformative change, innovation, and systems collaboration. This self-paced certificate course, consisting of four modules, provides an overview at a generalist level of key the components identified as being essential for future readiness: (1) community/stakeholder-led development, (2) strategic foresight (3) systems-thinking, and (4) digital optimization.
Even though we may agree we need transformative change, innovation, and collaboration, where do we begin to make it a reality? How do we address complexity and the collective responsibility needed to address our often broken systems. This course will be especially relevant for those seeking practical approaches, tools and resources to support a team or network to work with (1) citizens and other stakeholders at a broader level to address complex issues and are (2) committed to facilitating the trusted relationships and sense of belonging that is an essential foundation for transformative change, innovation and multisector collaboration. Emphasis will be placed on a stakeholder and/or community-led approach to planning that mobilizes multisector action.
We empower communities by supporting capacity for a whole-community, sector-connected approach to social, economic, and environmental well-being.
Individual and organizational future-readiness is supported increasing capacity for (1) community and stakeholder-led development, (2) systems-practices, (3) strategic foresight, and (4) digital optimization. We've learned these four components are necessary for the project and systems collaboration and informed decision-making we have experienced as being essential for transformative change and innovation.
Innovative projects require being bold, perseverance, tenacity and a sprinkle of panic.
-- Michelle Baldwin
Many situations in life are similar to going on a hike: the view changes once you start walking. You don't need all the answers right now. New paths will reveal themselves if you have the courage to get started.
--James Clear
Leadership today is about courage. Courage to realize our challenges are complex and no one individual, organization, or sector can resolve them on their own. That means we have to let go of the idea that we alone have the answers. Instead, we need to strengthen our individual and organizational competencies in order to become sector connectors who call meetings before we have the answers, aren't intimidated by messy, and can ensure a culture where all voices are heard. Only then, can our collective gifts, experience, and wisdom be focused on building a better future for all.
--Brenda Herchmer
In times of change it is the learners who inherit the future. Those who have finished learning find themselves equipped to live in a world that no longer exists.
-- Eric Hoffer
