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Campus for Communities of the Future
Campus for Communities of the Future
…collaboration, innovation and systems change

  • CAMPUS FOR COMMUNITIES 
    OF THE FUTURE                        

    ​​
    ​...we empower communities by supporting capacity for a whole-community approach                          to social, economic, and environmental well-being.
  • Project and Systems Collaboration
    ​Community-Led Development
    ​Strategic Foresight
    ​Digital Optimization


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.

More Information?