tigblogs

Jen's Journal

Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2011 - Dalian, China


Related to country: China
Translations available in: English (original) | German | Russian

Each time I attend a gathering with fellow Young Global Leaders, I can't help but feel like I am in a scene of one of those Superhero movies, where they bring together individuals with special powers and abilities who, together, join forces for a better world.

Here we are together in our group photo, wearing brightly coloured t-shirts that we were provided based on random selection. In our small groups, we had reflective discussion circles and were also given a unique martial arts lesson where we learned the power of a soft and open hand.

This year was especially unique, as I had a lot to share with the group in my role as a newly designated YGL Alumni! On our first day together, I was asked to speak and close a session on mentorship and how to gain the most from the YGL experience. My key message was about the importance of contribution to the community, and how we need to both be generous, while also being open to the generosity of others.

Our program also included an interactive dramatic arts presentation and workshop, where teams were challenged to address a conflict from the perspective of one of the characters.

Our Purple Group explored the character of a woman who was living alone in the United States, child and parents in Eastern Europe, and working without a legitimate visa. She was contemplating employment options and in a moment of deep isolation and rejection.

Our task was to create a series of three freeze-frame snapshots, illustrating the problem, solution, and the process to getting there. Here we see a woman who is faced with rejection, yet looking at an offer that would likely compromise her values and integrity.

What was fun about this excersize was the immediate bonding and team-building that took place in the process. It was also interesting to observe how other groups interpreted the challenges of the various other characters in the skit.

A critical milestone for me in Dalian was having an opportunity to showcase the Youth Effect publication, created by 21 Young Global Leaders since Davos 2010. This book and blog (www.youtheffect.org), is aimed at supporting decision-makers at more effectively engaging youth. The Youth Effect played an instrumental role in supporting World Economic Forum founder Professor Klaus Schwab in creating Global Shapers, a new community within the World Economic Forum to engage youth in their 20s. The Global Shapers are based in over 100 cities, as part of local hubs that are recruited through YGL curators.

While making a short presentation to our group about the importance of engaging youth, I could not help but feel as though I was part of an important milestone in history, as I truly believe that many other institutions will follow the lead of the World Economic Forum, prioritizing their own youth engagement strategies. I look forward to keeping track of this evolution and would also like to thank YGL supporters as well as one of my mentors, Kim Samuel-Johnson, who played an instrumental role in championing our effort.

Collaborating with fellow Young Global Leaders throughout the year contributes to growing excitement for the times when we come together in person. Over the past year, I've been working very actively as the Country Chair for Global Dignity Day in Canada. During our group session, we had a chance to encourage many others to facilitate the Dignity Day lesson plan in as many classrooms as possible on October 20th. In Canada, we have incorporated the Dignity principles as part of TakingITGlobal's national Defining Moments program. We have also registered over 56 people, including 30 schools, and expect to reach over 5,000 students this year.

We will be conducting a live video conference as part of our Canadian activities, in partnership with the Centre for Global Education, based in Edmonton, Alberta.

An unexpected surprise was being invited to co-facilitate a session on Managing Hyperconnectivity. I chose the breakout group on health and our discussions looked both at the issues of global pandemics and mental health. We imagined future scenarios where a new immunity drug could be created to protect people from any kind of virus, building a stronger resiliency to disease. We also spoke about how Social Media and digital connectivity can often leave people feeling a strong sense of isolation - or addiction to instant feedback and response. The emergence of the "hive brain" could result in a loss of individuality, memory and creativity while increasing stress and anxiety.  That said, the benefits could lead to greater efficiency, empathy and less reliance on central government control.  It was rewarding for me to be part of such a vibrant debate that allowed us to take a deeper look at the implications of hyperconnectivity on health.  Overall, I believe it is critical that we do not allow ourselves to lose our sense of self, in the midst of the non-stop stimulation and interactions our digital worlds provide access to.   

[breathe]

The theme of technology carried forward on the last day of the Annual Meeting of New Champions, where I joined the closing plenary session entitled "Mastering Quality Growth: Passing the Test of Technology". My session was moderated by Nik Gowling from the BBC, who offered us punchy questions with a great flow, allowing us to discuss how to foster new innovations, managing risks, privacy implications, and the evolution of cultural norms online.

For a full viewing of our session, you can check it out on YouTube!


Tags:


Tidbits from The Art of Possibility



I just finished reading a book called ‘The Art of Possibility’ written by authors Rosamund Stone Zander and Benjamin Zander who I heard speak at a conference a few years back.   I really enjoyed the ideas explored in the book and wanted to pull out and share a few impactful quotes that really resonated with me:

“It’s all invented anyway, so we might as well invent a story or a framework of meaning that enhances our quality of life and the life of those around us.” (p.12)

We can ask ourselves the following question “What assumption am I making, that I am not aware I’m making, that gives me what I see?”

We can follow-up with the question “What might I now invent, that I haven’t yet invented, that would give me other choices?”  (p.15)

“It feels safer to deal with reality as though it were fixed, as though people, ideas, and siutations can be fully known and measured.  We grow up in a world of measurement, and in this world, we get to know each other and things by measuring them, and by comparing and contrasting them.” (p. 18)

“In the realm of possibility, we gain our knowledge by invention.  We decide that the essence of a child is joy, and joy she is.” (p.20)

“On the whole, resources are likely to come to you in greater abundance when you are generous and inclusive and engage people in your passion for life.” (p.21)

“Yet it is only when we make mistakes in performances that we can really begin to notice what needs attention.” (p. 31)

“The only grace you can have is the grace you can imagine.” (p.52)

“I settled on a game called I am a contribution.  Unlike success and failure, contribution has no other side.  It is not arrived at by comparison.  All at once I found that the fearful question, “Is it enough?” and the even more fearful question, “Am I loved for who I am, or for what I have accomplished?” could both be replaced by the joyful question, “How will I be a contribution today?” (p.57)

“Naming your activities as a game breaks their hold on you and puts you in charge.  Just look carefully at the cover of the box, and if the rules do not light up your life, put it away, take out another one you like better, and play the new game wholeheartedly.  Remember, it’s all invented.” (p.59)

“Naming ourselves as a contribution produces a shift away from self-concern and engages us in a relationship with others that is an arena for making a difference.   Rewards in the contribution game are of a deep and enduring kind, though less predictable than the trio of money, fame and power that accrue to the winner in the success game.  You never know what they will be, or from whence they will come.” (p. 63)

“A conductor can be easily seduced by the public’s extraordinary attention to his unique offering and come to believe that he is personally superior…yet…a leader who feels he is superior is likely to suppress the voices of the very people on whom he must rely on to deliver his vision alive and kicking.” (p.67) The power of a conductor derives in the ability to make other people powerful. 

“A monumental question for leaders in any organization to consider is: How much greatness are we willing to grant people?” (p.73)

“Things change when you care enough to grab whatever you love, and give it everything.” (p.74)

“Humour and laughter are perhaps the best ways we can “get over ourselves.” Humour can bring us together around our inescapable foibles, confusions, and miscommunications, and especially over ways in which we find ourselves acting entitled and demanding, or putting other people down, or flying at each other’s throats.” (p.80)

“We portray the calculating self as a ladder with a downward spiral.  The ladder refers to the worldview that life is about making progress, striving for success, and positioning oneself in the hierarchy.  The downward spiral represents, among other things, the slippage that occurs when we try to control people and circumstances to give ourselves a boost.  When this leads to conflict, we are likely to think that we have run up against difficult people and have learned an important lesson.  We become heard-headed and practical.  Inevitably our relationships spiral downward.  As the calculating self tumbles out of control, it intensifies its effort to climb back up and get in charge, and the cycle goes round and round.” (p.83)

“One game I frequently assign comes in the form of “Have the Best ____ Ever.”  This is to encourage people to create an experience that is extraordinary satisfying regardless of the circumstances around them.” (p.84)

“Whenever somebody gives up their pride to reveal a truth to others,” I told him, “we find it incredibly moving; in fact, we are all so moved that even the cameraman is crying.” (p.89)

“Being present to the way things are is not the same as accepting things as they are in the resigned way of the cow.  It doesn’t mean you should drown out your negative feelings or pretend you like what you really can’t stand.  It doesn’t mean you should work to achieve some “higher plane of existence” so you can “transcend negativity.” It simply means being present without resistance: being present to what is happening and present to your reactions, no matter how intense.” (p.100)

“Presence without resistance: you are now free to turn to the question, “What do we want to do from here?” Then all sorts of pathways begin to appear…You can leave behind the struggle to come to terms with what is in front of you, and move on.” (p.101)

“Mistakes can be like ice.  If we resist them, we may keep on slipping into a posture of defeat.  If we include mistakes in our definition of performance, we are likely to glide through them and appreciate the beauty of the longer run.” (p.102)

“This attitude is difficulty to maintain in our competitive culture where so much attention is given to mistakes and criticism that the voice of the soul is literally interrupted.  The risk the music invites us to take becomes a joyous adventure only when we stretch beyond our known capacities, while gladly affirming that we may fail.  And if we make a mistake, we can mentally raise our arms and say, “How fascinating!” and reroute our attention to the higher purpose at hand.”

 

“Closing the exits means staying with the feelings, whatever they are.  It means letting them run their course, as a storm sweeps overhead showering rain and thunder, only to be followed by clear patches of blue.” (p.104)

“The more attention you shine on a particular subject, the more evidence of it will grow.  Attention is like light and air and water.  Shine attention on obstacles and problems and they multiply lavishly.” (p.108)

“Radiating possibility begins with things as they are and highlights open spaces, the pathways leading out from here.” (p.109)

“Speaking in possibility springs from the appreciation that what we say creates a reality; how we define things sets a framework for life to unfold.” (p.110)

“Being with the way things are calls for an expansion of ourselves.  We start from what is, not from what should be; we encompass contradictions, painful feelings, fears and imaginings, and – without fleeing, blaming, or attempting correction – we learn to soar, like the far-seeing hawk, over the whole landscape.  The practice of being with the way things are allows us to alight in a place of openness, where “the truth” readies us for the next step, and the sky opens up.” (p.111)

(p.114) giving way to passion, has two steps:

  1. The first step is to notice where you are holding back and let go.  Release those barriers of self that keep you separate and in control, and let the vital energy of passion surge through you, connecting you to all beyond.
  2. The second step is to participate wholly.  Allow yourself to be a channel to shape the stream of passion into a new expression for the world.

“because the straight-edged organization of our cities and towns – as well as many aspects of our daily lives – tends to mirror our perceptual maps, urban life may magnify the boundaries that keep us in a state of separateness.  Places in the wild draw many of us to experience a vitality greater than our own, but it may take an act of surrender to let the gates give way between ourselves and nature…I found that it was the momentum of nature that showed up on the canvas; not the object, the lines or the colour, but dynamic forces, geometric vibrancy, the passion of colour.” (p.114)

“Enrollment is the art and practice of generating a spark of possibility for others to share.” (p.125)

 

“A ‘no’ can so often dampen our fire in the world of the downward spiral.  It can seem like a permanent, implacable barrier that presents us with limited choices: to attack, to manipulate our way around it, or to bow to it in defeat.  In other words, a ‘no’ can seem like a door slamming instead of merely an instance of the way things are.  Yet, were we to take a ‘no’ less personally, and ourselves less seriously, we might hear something else.  We might hear someone saying, ‘I don’t see any new possibility here, so I think I’ll stick with my usual way of doing things.’ We might hear within the word ‘no’ an invitation for enrolment.” (p.126)

“The life force for humankind is, perhaps, nothing more or less than the passionate energy to connect, express, and communicate.  Enrollment is that life force at work, lighting sparks from person to person, scattering light in all directions.  Sometimes the sparks ignite a blaze; sometimes they pass quietly, magically, almost imperceptibly, from another to another.” (p.139)

“A vision is an open invitation and an inspiration for people to create ideas and events that correlate with its definitional framework.” (p.171)

“As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. Marianne Williamson (p.179)

The following final two paragraphs that I am pulling are from page 183 from the last chapter of the book about Telling the We Story:

“The WE story defines a human being in a specific way: It says we are our central selves seeking to contribute, naturally engaged, forever in a dance with each other.  It points to relationship rather than to individuals, to communication patterns, gestures, and movement rather than to discrete objects and identities.  It attests to the in-between.  Like the particle-and-wave nature of light, the WE is both a living entity and a long line of development unfolding.  This new being, the WE of us, comes into view as we look for it – the vital entity of our company, or community, or group of two.  The protagonist of our story, the entity called WE, steps forward and takes on a life of its own.

By telling the WE story, an individual becomes a conduit for this new inclusive entity, wearing its eyes and ears, feeling its heart, thinking its thoughts, inquiring into what is best for US.  This practice points the way to a kind of leadership based not on qualifications earned in the field of battle, but on the courage to speak on behalf of all people and for the long line of human possibility.  The steps to the WE practice are these:

  1. Tell the WE story – the story of the unseen threads that connect us all, the story of possibility
  2. Listen and look for the emerging entity.
  3. Ask: “What do WE want to have happen here?”  “What’s best for US?” – all of each of us, and all of all of us.  “What’s OUR next step?” 

Tags:


Zilch is a great read for leaders of any organization!



I just finished reading Zilch: The Power of Zero in Business by Nancy Lublin and I am really energized by the tone and insights expressed! As a fellow not-for-profit business leader, I could relate to many of the examples referenced in the book and I love the way that book puts a spotlight on our sector and how we create a lot of value with minimal resources to work with. While the book is designed for business leaders in the for-profit sector, it is highly relevant to all sectors and builds momentum for those of us who grow great organizations without great budgets.

Here’s a few quotes from the book that really resonate with me:



* "The key to successfully doing more with your people with less money is figuring out what really makes your employees get out of bed in the morning...and then giving them more of it." p.10

* "More often we are squished into tiny spaces, or we outgrow a building and figure out a way to 'make it work.' And (most of the time) it does. 'Working tight' not only is cheaper but also fosters teamwork, shared knowledge, and camaraderie." p.17

* "Tradition isn't something to respect, it's an opportunity for improvement...Don't just tell them what to do, tell them why it matters. Tell them the pain points you're trying to eliminate." p.26

* "Thinking of your people as human beings, not just as employees, changes the dynamic of the review process. It's no longer just about being judged but about mutual exchange of meaningful information." p.28

* "Your loyalty must be to your audience and to your brand, not to your current lineup of products and services. And if your audiences' needs can or must be addressed in a new way, then it's up to you to make the changes in your products and services necessary to retain them." P. 44

* "Your reputation doesn't exist in isolation; in fact, it's a dynamic, ever-changing creature, shaped and colored by every person and every partnership your company is association with." P. 47

* "When people feel consistently respected and cared for, they become more than the sum of their roles and responsibilities; you develop a relationship. They become stakeholders, friends, and friends." p.56

* "Never break up with your ambassadors. Ever." p.61

* "Selling a cool experience is an amazingly effective way to move product."

* "If you want your audience to feel something, you've got to give them the time to think. Let them fill the hole in the air with their own voice. Let them try to tell you that no, they really don't want to help you." p.89

* "Constant overwork doesn't help morale either - unless people love what they do. Ever notice that happy people don't complain about being overworked? They talk about being busy. I suspect your office can afford to lose the "overworked." p.146

* "Humanity is often missing from corporate communications, be they press releases or memos or even annual reports, which have pretty pictures but dull prose that lacks even a hint of vividness. At times it seems as if a corporate communications department couldn't create buzz among stakeholders if it released a swarm of bees into a field of roses." p.156

* "One of the most popular, effective genres is stories about how the organization overcame a crisis. Many times these stories reflect organizational values - how leaders stood firm in the face of adversity or displayed courage and initiative to overcome major challenges." p.164

* "Modern storytelling has certain characteristics. We tend to like triumphant endings. We appreciate a good arc. We root for the underdog. We enjoy being surprised. We like clever phrasing and innovative methods." p.175

* "Because the overhead question looms large at all times, people bring to bear persistent inventiveness and a creative penny-pinching attitude. It's a nice way of saying we're cheap...and proud of it." p.183

* "Achieving a balanced budget year after year is no small task, given restricted funding, inconsistent funders, an uncertain economy and other serious challenges. The discipline that results, however, produces well-conceived, highly pragmatic budgets." p.187

* "It's not product diversity I'm advocating, but income-stream diversity. An organization's best hedge against future volatility and uncertainty is revenue diversity." p.193

* "Not-for-profits engage in a free exchange - barter - all the time. We do it out of necessity, since it's a great way to stretch our limited dollars. But even if we didn't have to barter for goods and services, we'd probably do it anyway because barter has value way beyond its considerable tangible benefits." p.197

* "We're capable of stretching, moving, leaping, changing our minds, and so on. Those bendy people are pushing the buttons and signing the contracts and making the handshakes at every company in the world. We're people, not robots. We're capable of negotiation." p.198

* "We also have to be careful about how we let other organizations use our name so we don't just sell our likeness to the highest bidder. With these provisions, however, as in cause marketing, we're able to lend our reputation to help garner something we also need in exchange." p.206

* "Not-for-profits have to be innovative continuously in order to survive. We need to be creative in order to keep costs down, to find fresh sources of funding, to energize our own overworked, underpaid staffers, and to figure out an original way to put on an annual event. Without an abundance of resources or manpower, innovation is a way of life." p.214

* "A company can foster creativity by bouncing ideas off people with divergent skill sets who are yet aligned with its goals. Keep shuffling the people who work together, keeping conversations fresh." p.221

* "I'm as much of a last-minute crammer as the next person. And it's in those pressured moments that my thinking is crystallized. It has to be." p.222


As you can tell, there's a lot to learn from the book! It's a fun read so I'd encourage you to get a copy: http://www.zilchbook.com/

Tags:


Interconnected Educational Experiences


About this event: iEARN Youth Summit & Virtual Conference 2010


Karen Cator

I’m in an afternoon plenary session listening to Karen Cator who is here from the U.S. Department of Education as New Director for Office of Educational Technology. She has provided an overview of a plan that was developed over the past year in consultation with stakeholders across the education sector recently launched titled “National Education Technology Plan 2010”. The plan looks at learning, teaching, assessment, infrastructure and productivity. To review the draft online, you can visit: http://www.ed.gov/technology/netp-2010

In her presentation, Karen talks about how we are all interconnected and dependent on each other yet we often don’t realize it. We need to build a world much more knowledgeable about interconnectedness. Information is ubiquitous and the student experience is increasingly based on mobility. There are a lot of places for online learning and interaction that can be leveraged for learning in-school and for education.

The reason that we ‘don’t have time’ in education is that we have everybody doing the same thing every day. Teachers are supposed to follow along in the order of operations. If we can create systems that are more efficient and effective where students can learn in half the time, would that be a good thing?

Karen has highlighted our need to move to a competency based model and to think more deeply about universal design for learning, so that all accommodations are made to build diverse resources and materials to help many more students.

What excites me most about the insights and recommendations from this plan is the overall focus and direction on creating engaging, inspiring and empowering experiences for students! Thank you Karen for sharing your passion – we look forward to seeing these ideas pick up momentum.

Tags:


Excited to connect with you all!


About this event: iEARN Youth Summit & Virtual Conference 2010


I just wanted to write and share my excitement with those who are taking part in the Virtual Congress!

At TakingITGlobal, we have a dedicated team of staff, interns and volunteers who are committed to working with youth delegates in Barrie and online to share their experiences and ideas related to technology, education and global collaboration!

We hope you feel encouraged to share your stories and perspectives with us.

~ Jennifer

Tags:


A few reflections from my visit to Tanzania with Young Global Leaders



There is a rhythm to the way people walk in Africa. You almost wonder if people can hear a common beat that guides the bounce of each step and is the reason for the bright eyes and warm smiles. What intrigues me most is how welcoming of an atmosphere is created when foreign guests arrive. We are invited to join in experiencing the beat.



Last week I attending the World Economic Forum Africa Summit and Young Global Leaders (YGL) Summit in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania and was so happy to be back in Africa. While my trip was brief, I was grateful for my experience. On my first day after arriving, I joined a group of YGLs to visit an organization called Dogodogo Centre that was founded 20 years ago to support street youth. My highlight was meeting the students who are part of the Mulimedia Class led by Mr. Lazan Kayombo. They gave an energizing musical and dance performance and following that we had informal discussions about their hopes, dreams and the incredible impact the Dogodogo Centre has had on developing their confidence, skills and talents. I very much hope to include these youth in projects that we develop internationally.

group photo

Our Young Global Leaders Summit program was rigorous and filled with sessions related to change, very much inspired by the poem I wrote a few months ago! I had an opportunity to share my poem with the group along with the paintings I have been working on for my Art Show! Here’s the clip:



After sharing the poem I was invited to share our ‘task’ which was for each YGL to draw a visualization or diagram on their personal or organizational Models of Change. Everyone was really inspired, working together in small groups to share their ideas and 150 rough concepts were submitted! I am really looking forward to taking a look at all the brilliance that is pulled together.

4578565310_840d6b82f7_o

Here is the Theory of Change I shared, which our TakingITGlobal team developed last year. I was lucky to have a graphic artist (Aaron Williamson) help to draw it!

TIG Theory of Change 2010

The session I personally found most relevant and informative for me was the presentation led by David Bonbright from Keystone Accountability who talked about the critical importance of organizations knowing their Theory of Change. Some of the insightful comments made focused on the importance of thinking about how social change work is measured and evaluated in a way that helps to determine what the predictors are of future consequences. Good intentions just aren’t enough. There is a spectrum of visible and invisible impact and organizations should dig deeper to think about evaluation strategies to be comprehensive and shed light on the full spectrum. For example, everyone should keep a ‘results journal’ and think about how to measure key attributes of things like important relationships. We should routinely ask for feedback and report back on what we learned. The NGO sector is providing a high growth rate in terms of new job creation, and professions need to enhance skills in understanding impact from a systems approach. We were equipped with a few questions to consider with our own work and I look forward to taking it back to our team to improve our own evaluation.

IMG_0097

Following the YGL program, I had a role supporting the Global Education Initiative and was the facilitator of a meeting organized by the World Bank that was designed to be a consultation providing input to their 2020 Education Strategy. Many ideas were generated on how to improve primary, secondary and tertiary education. Some that I connected with included the importance of linking ‘theory’ and practice, allowing students to take on internships and projects that allow them to have real experiences to connect what they are learning with life. Other ideas related to how technologies can enhance student learning and engagement. An additional session I was asked to moderate was one in the official program on Higher Education. It was an Ideas Lab session that kicked off with opening remarks from two Ministers (one from South Africa and the other from Tanzania) followed by four short presentations utilizing the pecha kucha model of 15 individual slides with 20 seconds each. After stimulating remarks, break-out groups were formed and the key ideas put forth from working groups focused on the need for educational models to become learner-centric, for cross-sector partnerships to enrich curriculum and for learning to take place beyond the walls of the classroom. Overall, I really enjoyed the sessions!

On our last night together, we enjoyed a lovely Soiree with cultural performances and great local cuisine!

IMG_0104


Tags:


Youth Voices on the Global Agenda at the World Economic Forum in Davos



The magnitude of ideas, high-level interactions, intellectual stimulation and scope of opportunities generated in less than a week at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland is more than what some may encounter in a lifetime. It was a great privilege for me to be able to participate this year and be part of the dynamic exchange where I attended private sessions to hear from leaders such as Bill Gates and President Bill Clinton while also having a chance to shake hands with Former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, my favourite author Paulo Cohelo and one of my role models, Nobel Peace Prize Winner Muhammad Yunus, founder of Grameen Bank.

Yunus

A series of back-to-back 18 hour days with at least a dozen compelling sessions and meetings to choose from in any given time slot and knowing that conversations with any participant will lead to new perspectives on the world can leave any person with big hopes for the future in a state of awe. Having been to Davos before, I set out to be better prepared this time, with a daily dose of vitamins, morning and evening stretches, carefully planned outfits and stacks of business cards in hand. It is easy to feel lost in the midst of such high-powered leaders of countries and multi-national corporations with delegations of support staff on site. In my case, I felt rooted as part of the Young Global Leaders (YGL) community, with a clear mission this time around; bringing youth voices to the forefront of the global agenda.

The adventure started with a lost bag. After arriving in Zurich, I watched the baggage carousel grind to a halt and my bags were nowhere to be found. I knew I couldn’t attend meetings with my track suit, so I spent time before the shuttle whisked me away to the mountain town of Klosters on a shopping spree funded by my baggage delay insurance!
Our first day in Davos was a private program specially designed for the Young Global Leaders.

IMG_7699

Since learning about the Global Redesign Initiative at the Young Global Leaders (YGL) Annual Meeting in Jordan that took place in May 2009, I have been working tirelessly alongside a team of TaskForce members of 30 other YGLs in order to reach out and engage the voices of youth in the process. We ran over 30 Town Hall meetings in 20 countries and conducted online consultations, involving over 2000 youth. Key recommendations in each of the six areas of the Global Redesign were highlighted in a report launched just in time for Davos!

Report Link: http://store.tigweb.org/files/YGLYouthReport.pdf

Press Release announcing official launch: http://www.weforum.org/pdf/YGL/YGLredesign.pdf

As the lead for Education and Youth cluster initiatives led by the YGLs, I helped to facilitate a series of pitch presentations for the Youth Task Force along with other initiatives including Learn Money, Global Curriculum on Conflict Management and the Missing Middle. Each initiative had about five minutes to present their idea and key accomplishments to date, followed by feedback and questions with a group of Young Global Leaders. Insightful ideas and recommendations were provided by the group!

IMG_7693

We then had more time for in-depth working group meetings in order to discuss our ‘One Wish’ for Davos. For the Youth Task Force, we talked about the importance of ensuring that our final report was not only strategically distributed, but also reviewed and responded to. After brainstorm the various ways that we might capture the interest of leaders from various Global Agenda Councils, we decided that the best way to generate both interest and response would be to conduct short video interviews. After reporting back to the rest of the YGLs on the idea, my entire agenda for the week became re-focused towards this task. The very first video was with TakingITGlobal Advisor Don Tapscott, author of Growing Up Digital and a member of the Global Agenda Council on the Future of Government.



My aim was to capture responses from as many Global Agenda Councils as possible, while also inspiring an interest among institutions to meaningfully work with youth. Various YGLs pitched in to help facilitate introductions with Global Agenda Councils and Peter Bisanz from Entropy Films donated 30mins of time from his film crew in order to allow me to schedule interviews with high-profile individuals with high-quality footage. I’m pleased to say that from Davos alone, 14 videos have been posted online, representing 9 Global Agenda Councils.

To check them out, go to: http://taskforce.tigweb.org/ygl_youth/wiki/?wiki=1443

The darker side to the story is that I actually captured 5 more video clips and on my way from one place to another, I misplaced the camera and it was lost but never found. After spending an entire day running around and scheduling interviews, you can imagine my disappointment when it was not returned and when I had to reschedule further interviews. Thankfully I actually had two small cameras on hand, one Kodak and one Cannon…so while I almost felt like giving up, I was able to continue on with other scheduled interviews after having picking myself back up from the loss. I am following up with people to try and re-capture video footage, but it requires a lot more of a time commitment.

As they say, it is best to stay positive and when you have setbacks, it is important to keep moving forward and so this was an important and difficult lesson for me. The other lesson was to avoid rushing, as you could misplace something important and rushing may mean that you have to re-do your work, taking more time at the end of it all.

On a more uplifting note, there was a special moment that was both uplifting and also funny. A private event with Former US President Bill Clinton was organized and a group of 150 Young Global Leaders were waiting for over 40 minutes with anxiety in the room starting to build given everyone’s busy schedules. There was a moment that I felt compelled to do a cheer with the room. I didn’t think very long or hard about the idea – I just felt like I had to do the cheer. I asked two of my fellow YGLs what they thought about me doing a cheer, and they said ‘sure, why not’…moments later I was up on stage with the microphone and inviting the entire room to stand up and join me in my cheer! If you’ve been with me before and seen it, the cheer is the one I wrote back when I was 18 and it is sometimes what I like to invite people to join me in singing a long…the words (repeat after me):

I have a dream
That all the world could join and see
I wish they saw the sky
I wish they knew that they could fly

We have the power
To change the world this very hour
Let’s join as one
We are one world under the sun

Jen1

Can you imagine a room filled with high-powered business executives, political leaders, journalists and others in suits standing up and joining in an unexpected cheer?! I can tell you that most people had shocked looks on their faces, combined with smiles. It was unexpected, spontaneous, fun and most of all, it got people laughing and easing up the tension from all that waiting.
My other moment on stage was when I gave an IdeasLab presentation following the pecha kucha format of 15 slides with 20 seconds per slide. My focus was to present the findings of the Youth Task Force town hall meetings and online consultations. It was a special experience for me because one of our TIG Advisors Kim Samuel-Johnson was in the room to show her support of our work.

Here’s the presentation!



You can imagine my delight when the presentation generated high-levels of enthusiasm from several senior leaders including the Director General for Health and Consumers at the European Commission and the Secretary-General of the International Organization for Standardization among others. Our break-out group discussion was facilitated by François-Philippe Champagne, another Young Global Leader who has recently joined TakingITGlobal’s Board of Directors. One of the key ideas discussed in the group, was the need for international organizations to reserve a position for youth on their board of directors as well as to establish youth advisory councils.

IdeasLab with Young Global Leaders: Participants

One of the other sessions where I was able to share insights on working with youth was in my role as a Discussion Leader for a lunch session titled ‘Lessons from the Next Generation’. I shared a few opening remarks along with other discussion leaders moderated by Nancy Lublin from Do Something and then we had a chance to chat with participants at our table about youth trends. The theme of social networks and the impact on how youth learn, work and communicate was the topic in focus. Most people shared their concerns about their own children and how to provide the appropriate guidance when it comes to their online profiles and involvements. Some parents seem to enjoy using social networks like facebook to keep in touch with their kids while others feel out of touch. One mother said that her daughter does not want a facebook account as she is afraid of potential consequences. I shared my suggestions on the importance of having open communication across generations. I talked about how my mom is one of friends on facebook and how we’ve had active family discussions about what is appropriate or inappropriate to discuss with our online networks. I also emphasized how important it is for kids to grow up having opportunities to develop awareness and critical thinking skills at an early age. Once the exposure hits, it is important to be able to make healthy choices.

I am starting to see my role as a bit of an intergenerational bridge and one thing I was really inspired by was the participation of youth under 25 who are part of the Global Changemakers program. There were six youth participants who joined us in Davos and took an active role in asking questions, articulating opinions and sharing experiences with the established leaders of the world. What was most impressive to me was when Bill Gates was referring to a question asked by one of the youth in an earlier plenary session. You know you’ve had an impact when you ask an unforgettable question – especially to a smart person who will hopefully reflect and act upon it.

Another way that I have been working to support the initiatives of the Young Global Leaders is in my capacity as the Cluster Lead for Education and Youth as part of our YGL Global Redesign Steering Committee. We have weekly calls chaired by HRH Crown Prince Haakon of Norway where we share updates and discuss strategies on how to engage the community, foster connections and strengthen initiatives. Here’s a team photo of our group!

steering

Beyond my role in promoting youth voices and directly engaging leaders in trying to secure greater commitments to working with youth, I also found the content of the sessions to be fascinating. Since I had very little time to sit through sessions with my schedule, I took copies of session summaries and have been reading through them over the past week to try and pull out interesting statistics and comments that are relevant to my interests and concerns.

Here are a few highlights of points that stood out to me in no particular order (taken from summaries provided by the World Economic Forum):
- The latest research in the field of developmental psychology suggests that young children, roughly from the ages of 18 months to five years, spend their time in worlds of their own creation and any average three-year old possesses greater powers of pure imagination than the most fertile adult mind in an artist colony.
- Problem solving and “learnability” are the two most relevant skills for the future.
- One of the key characteristics of the human mind is its ability to see “invisible” links and interpret data. Intelligence is also collective, as seen in armies, families and corporations.
- Although unemployment rates continue to rise, there are still 2.6 million jobs unfilled in the US and 4 million in Europe because of a shortage of skilled workers.
- Over 90% of consumers say they would buy sustainable products.
- Buildings represent 40% of energy use and 70% of carbon emissions in urban environments.
- When it comes to design, the cycle of inputs and outputs needs to be fully considered in order to design for sustainability and achieve positive goals, avoiding reducing negative effects.
- At a consumption rate of about 86 million barrels a day, oil is responsible for 40% of the world’s CO2 emissions. The transportation sector, in particular, needs to reduce reliance on oil.
- The risk of global pandemics is likely to grow in the coming years, due largely to globalization, urbanization and innovations in biotechnology.
- Global defense spending is estimated to have reached US $ 1.464 trillion in 2008 which represents a 45% increase over the last 10 years.
- Asia accounted for 75% of global growth last year and forecasts suggest that it will lead the global recovery in 2010.
- Students are calling for a more behavioural approach when it comes to understanding economic complexities. There is a shift emerging in economic schools of thought.
- Social networks and blogs are now ahead of personal e-mail in terms of online activities and account for almost 10% of time spent on the internet.
- The new consumer is predominantly female – women make 85% of all purchases.
- Art and culture can play an important role in stimulating or reviving identity. Break-dancing, for example, is one way of empowering youth to combat criminality by making better use of public spaces and by providing a means of expression.
- The UN estimates that by 2050 world population will increase from 6.8 billion today to 9.2 billion.
- About 3 billion people are living on less than US $2 a day. If the world is to redesign its systems, it must also fundamentally reset its values and shape a global moral compass.
- Seventy-five percent of extreme poverty in the world occurs in rural areas.
- In thinking about how to reduce the probability of a future crisis, we must realize that we are perhaps “too interconnected to fail”

On the final evening, an informal dinner was organized for Young Global Leaders. It was nice to be able to relax and have everyone together as a group at the end of the events. The evening kicked off with 2009 YGLs having a chance to introduce themselves and sing a song. This put us all in good spirits. Throughout the evening, we had an ‘open mic’ and different people stood up to share some of their reflections on their experiences as a YGL. Near the end of the evening, I had another one of those moments where I felt compelled to share something very special to me….the poem ‘How Does Change Happen?’ that I wrote at COP15. I shared it with the group and also mentioned that as a ‘birthday project’, I would like to have YGLs share their ‘theory of change’ so that I can prepare a short book in connection to the poem. I was really encouraged by the supportive response!

Jen2

Finally, those of us in the inaugural YGL class of 2005 were invited to stand up and we all laughed together as we sang a song! We are the world…we are the children….

thechildren

Oh – and of course – a week in Davos is not complete without a little cross-country skiing on a Sunday afternoon!

IMG_7781

Tags:


FIll the Gap!



How have information and communication technologies been utilized to connect, engage and empower youth in developing countries? What are the ways that development organizations can improve the ways that they reach out to and support youth as agents of change? On January 15th, over 200 participants from the Netherlands were convened by IICD, One World and HIVOS to discuss these very questions. I had the privilege of being invited to kick off the event as the opening keynote speaker.

Following my presentation, the Open Space Technology facilitation format was utilized and the following questions were set as the focus:

1. How can we strengthen digital natives in developing countries?

2. How can we mobilize digital natives in developing countries to contribute to development?

3. What could be the role of development aid organisations?

My objective was to inspire the imagination and scope of possibility for participants while providing context on the ways that digital natives are utilizing new media and technology to create change and implement community development projects. I provided a summary of the various six archetypes of young change makers and proposed six related approaches that development organizations can take in order to support young change makers.

Here’s the summary:

1. Showcase: create platforms to allow the Dreamers to express their hopes, concerns & ideas!

2. Amplify: help to spread the messages of the Megaphones rather than see those who are vocal as a threat.

3. Connect: expand the networks of the Spark Plugs so that they can access decision-makers with influence.

4. Co-organize: partner up with the Task Masters as you plan your campaigns, events and projects.

5. Mentor: share your leadership challenges and experiences with the Sherpas to expand their wisdom and perspective.

6. Listen: dialogue with a sense of empathy and openness with the Storytellers without imposing your views.

Overall, I had a stimulating day and loved interacting with people!

Tags:


How Does Change Happen?



How Does Change Happen?

This is perhaps one of those eternal questions
that carries both simplicity
and depths of complexity
juxtaposed in a tension
so bright and dark that
emotions explode and identities blurred.

Is your belief defined by your role
or is your role defined by your belief?

How does change happen?

POLICY says the policy maker
MARKETS says the business manager
MASS MOBILIZATION says the organizer

DIALOGUE says the convenor
SYSTEMS CHANGE says the academic
IMAGINATION says the artist

INVENTION says the scientist
INNOVATION says the technologist
INVESTMENT says the banker

DESIGN says the architect
ENLIGHTENMENT says the spiritual guide
RULE OF LAW says the lawyer

CONVICTION says the leader
EDUCATION says the teacher
DATA says the analyst

UNIVERSAL ACCESS says the philanthropist
HEALTHY CHOICES says the coach
AWARENESS says the communicator

PERSPECTIVE says the author
CRISIS says the journalist
ACTION says the entrepreneur

REVOLUTION says the activist
HOPE says the dreamer
NETWORKS says the connector
INSPIRATION says the storyteller

LOVE says the mother
ASPIRATION says the father
LAUGHTER says the child
POSSIBILITY says the youth
REFLECTION says the elder


And so we ask ourselves
Where we stand, where we shine and where we fly.
We ask whether or not
we are defined
by the roles we take
or the collective outcomes that emerge
when our efforts and beliefs collide.

Is it magic or tragic that we disagree?

Tags:


Thankfulness is Bliss



Our energy
moves us and flows through us
like the air we breathe
and water we drink.

It then propels us
forward and outward
helping us to regenerate and catalyze
within ourselves and with others.

We grow
as we discover our life force.

We can tap it, channel it, shake with it
or even play with it.

We are guided
by our own thoughts
intentions and kindness.

We attract what we are willing to share
with expressions of gratitude.

We receive what we generously offer.
Bliss is found in thankfulness.

Tags:


A tribute to Patricia Sudi, may her spirit carry on in all of us...



In this world, it is not every day that you encounter people who are so lit up and full of life that hope and beauty become your only lens to view reality. Patricia Sudi was one of those people. Her love for the world and ability to brighten a room with her smile is one of the many things we will be ever grateful for.

I first met Patricia in 2006 at the TakingITGlobal Members Meeting hosted at the One Stop Resource Centre in Nairobi, Kenya. Out of the 60 youth who attended, she was one of the most vocal and motivated who spoke up to be heard and wasn’t afraid to stand out. I remember thinking about how impressive she was and how ideal it would be for us to have her as our local coordinator. We followed up and delightfully, she took on the role as our coordinator in Kenya.

With great determination and enthusiasm, Patricia led countless workshops and outreach efforts with thousands of youth across the country and then expanded across East Africa. When we received a grant from Adobe Youth Voices to lead a digital media project in 10 countries, Patricia was among our top selected coordinators reaching vulnerable and marginalized youth with skills training and an outlet for creative expression.

In 2007, Patricia represented TakingITGlobal and her work as a young social entrepreneur in Malaysia at the Global Knowledge Partnership conference where I had an opportunity to see her again in person, after working online for years! Out of sheer amazement for her inspirational presence, I captured a short informal video interview that I would like to share with you.



Words cannot express the sense of pain and sadness I feel for this loss - on both a personal level and on behalf of the many people who have been touched by Patricia over the years. The world is in desperate need of people like Patricia; people who offer compassion, generosity, authenticity and inspired leadership. My only sense of peace comes from the deep gratitude that I feel for the moments that I have shared with Patricia that have inspired hope and joy in my own life, for the incredible contributions she has made to TakingITGlobal and the many youth she has reached across Africa and around the world. Patricia, we honour you, we thank you, we love you.

Tags:


Six Archetypes of Youth Change Makers

Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

Since the founding of TakingITGlobal in 1999, I have been incredibly inspired by my interactions with thousands of young change makers from all around the world. Through my Masters Research on youth-led action in an international context along with exposure to other studies and international conferences examining the role of today's generation of youth as change agents, I have gained an important observation. My observation is that I have seen the emergence of Six Archetypes of Youth Change Makers, which provide a glance at the roles young people are taking on in the process of creating change.


The Dreamer

The Dreamer is the driver behind new ideas. Dreamers are often the first to articulate a long-term vision for the future and think big. It is the sense of aspiration, optimism and imagination of dreamers that drive progress, innovation and change.

The Megaphone

The Megaphone is a vocal advocate for change. Megaphones are very focused on delivering the message and will campaign tirelessly and work hard to lobby for a message to be heard. They inspire action through their words and help to shift priorities on the agenda.

The Spark Plug

The Spark Plug is a catalyst and has a gift for networking and connecting people. The Spark Plug is able to foster collaborations and bring many different organizations and individuals together in dialogue, convincing diverse interest groups to come together for a common goal.

The Task Master

The Task Master is often behind the scenes making things happen and is sometimes the under-rated player within a group or organization. Often, it is the Task Master who literally keeps things together by turning ideas into manageable tasks with actionable timelines. Task Masters are practical, objective-oriented individuals.

The Sherpa

The Sherpa serves as a guide who provides mentorship, insight and training through peer education. Sherpas are natural educators with a strong interest in learning and sharing knowledge. Sherpas value hands on experiences and are able to draw upon the expertise and resources of those they encounter.

The Storyteller

The Storyteller is often the documenter of an organization and its projects, preparing short stories, interviews, blogs, webcasts newsletters and more. Storytellers become a vehicle for spreading inspiration and sharing of best practices through identifying patterns and strengthening movements through recognizing exceptional individuals.

Tags:


our stories

Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

We have our stories
We have our struggles
And what we're left with
Cannot be measured

And so we question
And we dig deeper
Or aim much higher

But do we soar...?
Or feel sorrow?

Do we feel sorry
For the other
Or for ourselves?

When will we learn
It's up to us
To choose our path
And make our truth
Our dreams come true?

Oh yes they do
If we believe
That yes they can
And yes they will

We have our stories
We have our struggles
And what we're left with
Is who we are

Tags:


Highlights from our V6 Launch Party!


About this event: TIG V6 Website Relaunch
Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

I'd like to share a note of thanks to all of you who have been part of TakingITGlobal's V6 celebration of our online community relaunch!!



The event on Tuesday December 16th was a hit and attracted many members, partners, friends, staff, board members and supporters who shared in the spirit of celebrating our success! The theme of our event was “How do thriving communities form, grow, influence and sustain?"



Guests were invited to share their reflections of the theme on the wall. During my brief remarks, I shared my own inputs on how this question about thriving communities is what heavily influenced our decisions in the process of imagining and creating the new version of our website, and that it remains relevant as we move forward.



Have a look at the videos posted from the event:

V6 Launch Video Part 1



V6 Launch Video - Part 2


Tags:


Reconnecting to my Roots

Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

Tonight I joined a dynamic discussion about how to make TheStoreFront Community project self-sustaining...and I couldn’t help but flash back into the early days of when TakingITGlobal was founded and we had our discussions on what future directions we would take and how our ideals and dreams could be transformed into actionable plans. Of course, even after 9 years of having the ‘idea’ of TIG, the essence of having challenging strategic conversations still remains part of my current reality – however the energy in the room this evening reconnected me to the Fall of 2000, when we hosted meetings with invitations sent out to friends, organizations and those who joined our website from Toronto.

IMG_0724

The dynamics of the room jolted from cohesive and interconnected to somewhat tense given the financial realities of the project. Earlier this year, a 1000 square foot store front space was established in order to serve as a support and communication network in the context of an urban village. Starting in January, the costs of rent will be doubled and the project in its current state does not generate enough revenue to afford costs of rent or administration. That said, an exciting range of events have taken place in recent months including a documentary with interviews of people in the neighbourhood, the inaugural BIG on Bloor Festival (bigonbloor.com/festival), the “b-l-o-o-o-o-r” design campaign including sales of well designed American Apparel t-shirts and bags, the “Everything Local” silent auction event and hosting of meetings, events and exhibits including the Afri Village Fest front window presence & photo documentation.

The project was made possible through a partnership between ThinkTankToronto, Business Improvement Area Office, and a group of students and faculty at the Ontario College of Art and Design (OCAD).

A key driver and designer of the initiative is a former TakingITGlobal staff member, Ghazaleh Etezal who is currently 21 and worked with us as a graphic designer in 2006. As I connected with Ghazaleh this evening, it was amazing to see her in action in her role as one of the connectors and in hearing people reference her contributions of design, research and coordination for TheStoreFront. It was also great to chat with Ghazaleh this evening and hear her attribute TakingITGlobal as part of her inspiration for the project.

IMG_0730

In many ways, the place based goals of creating community for TheStoreFront initiative are aligned with the global online community objectives for TIG. As explained on the website, TheStoreFront aims to be “the common space between two separate disconnected worlds of youth, institutions, neighbourhood NGOs, programs and services available within the BloorCourt and BloorDale Villages (Christie to Lansdowne on Bloor West).” On a conceptual level, it is intriguing for me to observe and be part of a conversation about how to grow and sustain a space that supports vibrant community engagement.

Some of the ideas shared this evening that are most interesting to me include:

- Having a paid membership fee (i.e. $10/month)
- Hosting regular meetings (weekly or monthly) for ‘members’ to attend which would serve as a social space, with topics of discussion
- Utilizing the space to feature the products of local artists (i.e. clothes, jewlery, artwork)
- Having a cafe space with organic chocolate & other organic snacks sold
- Renting out the space to community organizations for events/meetings
- Offering workshops to help meet needs of community members (i.e. English as a second language, or focusing on a particular craft/skill with guest speakers etc).
- Establishing a core base of volunteers (i.e. a partnership with the neighbouring Working Women Community Centre), to offer an experience for newcomers to Canada living in the neighbourhood which would help to ensure that core responsibilities are fulfilled (i.e. keyholders with people who are responsible for opening & closing up the space)

One concern that emerged from the discussions was the issue of timing and how challenging it will be to raise sufficient funds in time for the end of the year. There was some discussion on what the concept or project would be if it did not live in the specific space at 957 Bloor W – however most of the ideas generated were aimed at trying to keep the space alive.
If it ends up not being feasible to maintain the 957 Bloor W StoreFront space due to costs, my recommendation is to develop stronger partnerships with existing places designed for the community (i.e. local community centres, employment centres, libraries etc) and try to help revitalize existing spaces that are supported by the government and that have a history of serving the community. While I love the idea of transforming commercial spaces into being community driven and serving, it may be too challenging to develop a financially sustainable model at this current time due to current economic realities.

On a final note...I do hope that the financial challenges can be overcome and that a proven model can be developed, shared and scaled with other communities!

Here's a list of who came:

Night at the Indies / Meow Films: Gurbeen
Community Arts Collective / Daily Bread Food Bank: Jim
BIG and BIG Festival: Ann
People Plan Toronto: Ann
DIG IN: Donna / Ann
Torontopedia: Himy
Working Women: Diana / Jessica
BloorCourt BIA: Shelley
IF Theatre: Sara
Supportive, active, creative, engaged dedicated locals: Ryan / Michelle / Phil / Darcy / Leah / Leigh / Chatherine S / Craig / Camilo
Delaware Residents (Street Festival): Rosalie
Delaware Open Space: Darcy
Humanist Movement: Nick / Roberto
Sistering (past Chair): France
Green Party: Steve
Annex Lions Club: Monica
Wireless Toronto: Gabe
Concord Café: Genoveva
Christie Ossington Neighbourhood Centre: Tim
Dufferin Grove Residents Association: / Rob
Anarchist U: Christian / Maggie
Laidlaw Foundation: Ana
Globe & Mail: Nadja
Property Owner 957: Robert Markovits
Chemistry Branding (consultant and partner): Will
Jim Allen Photo: Jim
TakingITGlobal: Jennifer

[unconfirmed]
Freedom Clothing: Amanda
Parkdale Liberty: Jennifer
ArchiTEXT: Zahra
Long & McQuade: Jon
Toronto Poets: Jason / Hajile
Linux Caffé: David



Tags:


Art for me

Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

layout

Art for me
is a journey
into the unspoken, unknown, unwanted and unheard
realities of our shadows
and of our hopes.

We are suspended in time
glimpsing in the mirror
of our future and our past
They flash before us and cause a jolt
of hope, of fear, of want, of release.

Our senses on overload
we admire and adore
our object of fascination
representing the idol we love
and demon we hate.

we forgive
we empathize
we heal
we bathe
in beauty
and bliss.

This is art
for me.

Tags:


21st Century Interactive Classroom Contest Winner!

Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

Congratulations to Mali Bickley, Grade 5 teacher at W. H. Day Elementary School, Bradford, Ontario who wins over $10,000 in classroom technology and thanks for the mention of TakingITGlobal in your video! We are so thrilled that you are using TIGed.org in your classroom.


Tags:


Global Dignity Day

Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

IMG_0440

In a day and age when most do not agree on anything, from east and west, to conservative and liberal politics, to issues of race and geography, and amongst differing religions and faiths, I believe, along with the founders of Global Dignity, that dignity is the one thing that everyone in the world wants equally. Dignity can be the unifying force that brings us all together at a time when the world needs this more than ever.

On Monday, October 20th 2008, I, in concert with the co-founders of Global Dignity (www.globaldignity.org), His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon of Norway, Professor Pekka Himanen and John Hope Bryant, and several other Young Global Leaders (as associated with the World Economic Forum) conducted our first ever GLOBAL DIGNITY DAY 2008 in 30 countries, inclusive of every continent.

In this blog, I am sharing an update on Global Dignity Day in Canada. I have taken part in other Dignity Day events including one in Vancouver and another in Jordan that involved Her Majesty Queen Rania in Jordan. I am pleased to report back on Global Dignity Day in Toronto, Canada on October 20th, 2008! We reached 40 grade 9 students (14 years old) in a Leadership Course at Greenwood College (http://www.greenwoodcollege.com/)

I had about an hour to deliver the course for each of the two classes. We kicked off with having the students write what Dignity means to them on a sheet of paper that I handed out, and then it led into a group discussion and a brief presentation on the Dignity Principles. I found that most of the initial definitions people wrote down on defining dignity related to self-respect. My co-facilitator was a grade 11 student (Celine Caira) from the school who helped me to prepare for the event. Celine shared a story about what dignity means to her based on a recent encounter with a 14 year old girl that she met in a recent trip to India with her family. I shared a few personal stories and gave context on the work of TakingITGlobal.org and how we are growing a global community of youth making a difference. I connected the mandate of our website to the dignity principles. In helping the students further understand the meaning of dignity, I asked them to share their own examples of increasing or even decreasing the dignity of others. They were able to generate many strong examples of what dignity is NOT - which actually transformed the energy in the room to be more supportive (for example after talking about the negative impact of making fun of someone for who they are).

As a process note, it was very helpful to have the students read each of the dignity principles out loud and talk about what that particular principle means to them. There were certain words that they did not understand - such as interdependent - so I took time to explain the meaning behind the word.

The bulk of the interactive time was when I had the students break out into groups of 4-5 and develop their own ABC’s of Dignity. They had about 6-7 minutes and I was amazed to see how our their depth of understanding about dignity had significantly increased since I first entered the class. At first, in doing the ABCs, we started out as a full class discussion, but I quickly realized that it would be better to have them work in teams - and this was a very smart decision. Each of the group then had a representative read out their ABCs of Dignity to the class and they were all eager to hear about the different impressions and interpretations.

At the end of the class, I unveiled the ‘Dignity Flag’ which I prepared (a huge canvas with bright colours) with Celine and Caitlin (another student) prior to Dignity Day. The Flag stated ‘We Pledge to DIGNITY’ and the students were invited to put their name on the flag, along with a word that relates to dignity starting with the first letter of their name (i.e. Jennifer - Justice). They were eager to make their pledge and I noted that many of the words were difficult for the students to spell (which could lead to future vocabulary activities in their studies). The Dignity Flag is now being hung in the school and I am hoping that at the next school wide assembly, it will be shared by some student representatives with the entire school!

Thanks for the opportunity to work together!

Special appreciation goes out to Kim Samuel-Johnson who is part of the World Economic Forum community and was a former Global Leader for Tomorrow. Kim helped bridge the connection with Greenwood College and hosted the Dignity Day planning meetings. I would also like to thank Caitlin Samuel-Johnson and Celine Caira, who are the Grade 11 students that helped me in preparing for Dignity Day. Here is our team photo taken at one of our planning sessions! Also, closing reflection from Celine, “Seeing the way Greenwood students responded to Dignity Day gives me hope that one day we will live peacefully with global dignity”.


IMG_0442

Tags:


WorldBlu Live

Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

I am incredibly energized from my experience at World Blu Live in New York last week – what a dynamic group of thinkers and leaders in the area of organizational democracy.

IMG_0480

While at the conference, I delivered a presentation in the section on ‘NEXT’ – where I was asked to share examples of democratic and inclusive practices at TakingITGlobal. After providing an overview of the mission, vision and programs our organization offers, I talked about the value of the WorldBlu Scorecard process and how it has provided an opportunity for our core team to improve our internal communications and processes as a result of the feedback from the surveys. TakingITGlobal has been recognized in both 2007 and 2008 on the WorldBlu list of Most Democratic Workplaces. Here are a few quotes from staff members who completed the scorecard:
• “TakingITGlobal is a unique organization not only in the work it does that inspires, informs and involves members, but in the way the organization functions, which is equally inspiring for its team.”
• “This is a genuinely democratic organization with an informal yet effective management system in place. Hierarchy is virtually non-existent. It is idea driven and riding the very crest of the tech-wave. Intellectual blossoming is only one of the benefits of working here”

tree In my presentation, I talked about how we have created evolving visualizations of or organizational model including an earlier version of a tree. For those interested in understanding this model, here is a description that I wrote in 2003 as part of a mid-term paper that I wrote as part of my Masters course on Management in Turbulent Times. Through the roots, the organization is grounded in its core vision and values. The trunk is where much of the administrative support and technology development occurs, which all helps to nurture the growth and development of TakingITGlobal’s key program areas which are depicted through the fruit. In the diagram, the red fruit symbolize the core areas of engagement which address the various key gaps. These areas focus on engaging key stakeholders that work to support youth such as international and youth-led organizations, educators, local communities etc. teamThe online community which is placed at the centre of the organizations activities and focus, highlights the nature of its core program. The yellow circles which connect to the online community are nodes which are drawn in a way that illustrates each of the various online community components (Action, Community, Opportunities, Expression, Voice), and how they are organized in a way that transcends the notion of a tree/organism. The research and sourced projects are ‘low-hanging fruit’ which provide support for other program areas. The overall framework is best explained in the context of a living system because it is one that needs to be able to respond and adapt to changes in external environments. In contrast to the purpose of most organizational charts, this structure does not exist to support people at the top of a hierarchy, but rather, to serve and support the growth and development of key program areas (‘fruit’) which are supported, nurtured and grounded in the shared vision (roots). The issue of survival is one of great importance to living systems, as it is to TakingITGlobal. In order for organizational objectives and ideals to be achieved, a sustainable and healthy ‘system’ must be maintained.

IMG_0469 Another important part of our organizational culture includes teambuilding activities which have ranged from bowling and indoor beach volleyball, to taking part in a ropes course. One of the challenges for our organization is the difficulty in having teambuilding activities that are inclusive our staff and volunteers who are based in different parts of the world and often in different time zones. When Philip Rosedale, Founder and Chairman of Linden Lab, spoke at the conference, he talked about how they utilize Second Life to conduct meetings. Here is a photo of their board room and the various personalities that emerge through the avatars developed! Organizational practices that have been inspired by discussions with other WorldBlu Democratic Companies include the As and Os weekly emails that all staff send out to an 'As and Os' mailing list - each focused on objectives for the upcoming week and accomplishments from the past week. Additionally, we have a monthly Above and Beyond Award based on a staff voting system and a 'kudos' tool where you can send comments through an online system to other staff that are archived on our intranet. For ongoing knowledge management and sharing of information, we have developed an intranet and are constantly using collaborative tools such as wiki's.

Here are a few thoughts that stayed with me after listing to the diverse array of presentations (http://www.worldblu.com/live/schedule.php)

- Bill Shannon, Chief Wisdom Officer at DaVita talked about how their company is oriented around a village-like culture. They have regular town hall meetings, the office of the CEO has a 'Mayor' sign on it and executive employees have a 'uniform' which is designed like a superhero style costume. Considering the large size of the organization, they are able to maintain an atmostphere of community.

- Rodney North, Vice Chair and Answer Man of Equal Exchange focused his talk on the importance of governance and how their company entitles each employee to one vote and one share. This shared sense of ownership creates shared accountability. They believe that the role of a company include the aim of training better citizens.

- Alexander Kjerulf, Chief Happiness Officer and Author talked about how everyone can achieve happiness at work and that it starts with the simple act of how you say 'good morning'. He shared the '5 Levels' - starting off with 1 being a mumble, 2 saying good morning with no eye contact, 3 is good morning with eye contact and a smile, 4 is good morning with eye contact, a smile and a question about how they are, and level 5 includes everything in level 4 plus physical contact through a handshake. The best part of this session was being part of a transformation of energy in the room when we tried out each of the levels.

- Mike Ferretti, CEO of Great Harvest Bread Company talked about the high levels of customization and localization in their franchise model and shared a powerful diagram that includes about 6 concentric circles highlighting various spheres of their competition.

- Brett Jackson, CEO of Generation Think Tank shared his experience in being part of the first 10 employees at Crocs and some of the negative impacts of the hyper growth experienced by the company.

- A personal highlight of the WorldBlu experience was outside the conference venue at at Carnegie Hall where we watched an awe inspiring performance of the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra who played in absolute harmony without a conductor!

- Other insights included learning about a simple practice of having an anonymous question/suggestion box where the CEO can respond to what is submitted during staff meetings, several comments on the importance of expressing appreciation, and the significance of having a results-focused workplace. Also, there was discussion on the concept of scarcity and how it is in your mind - as as the concept of abundance. It is important to choose your views carefully. On the last day, someone observed me taking notes based on my notes, he called me a 'concrete random' essentially based on a matrix model where the y axis includes concrete + abstract and the x axis includes sequential and random. I thought it was interesting to have my thought process being analyzed on the basis of my notebook!

My final highlight of WorldBlu live was listening to Bill Taylor, Founding Editor of Fast Company Magazine, who talked about how important it is for those of us to stay connected and ‘stay in the game’. A very special thank you goes out to Traci Fenton, Founder and CEO of WorldBlu for putting this event together and for her vision and dedication towards promoting and supporting organizational democracy in the workplace. Here’s a photo with Traci, Bill and I.

IMG_0518



Tags:


Butterfly Effect - Presentation at Google's zeitgeist08

Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic



At the beginning of my presentation, I asked the audience to think about the following question: "What contribution can young people make to addressing global poverty?" People sent in text responses via their mobile phones. I was really impressed with the responses and followed up with Matt McKenna at Red Fish Media who sent along the list of text messages for me to post on my blog:

- Volunteering
- Money.
- Communication
- Conserve conserve conserve
- The ability to connect
- Be more selfless
- Promote conservation
- Spend some time walking in their shoes
- Spend less volunteer more vote democrat
- Micro investments and localglobal involvement can be very impactful.
- Just getting involved in one key focus and acting against it
- Teach
- Provide education and employment to the poor
- Start recycling cheaper use of electricity fewer car trips etc.
- Consume less in developed nations.
- Social networking can bring countries and people much closer....
- After graduating college young people can pay it forward by volunteering in impoverished nations.
- First become aware. second start donating .
- Start education programs
- Young people can connect across cultures via the web to create greater awareness at a personal level.
- Create friendships to harness Energy.
- Improve knowledge of the burdens poverty places and spur collective action to take ownership of the problem and make a difference.
- Organize create opportunities for each other and for adults
- Set an example Start a business and employ other young people.
- Mentoring and outreach
- Since poverty is rising in North America young people can get directly involved by working in soup kitchens halfway houses etc.

Tags:


« previous 20

Jennifer Corriero's Profile


Latest Posts


Annual Meeting of the...
Tidbits from The Art...
Zilch is a great read...
Interconnected...
Excited to connect...

Monthly Archive


November 2000
February 2001
April 2001
June 2001
July 2001
August 2001
September 2001
November 2001
January 2002
February 2002
March 2002
April 2002
May 2002
June 2002
July 2002
August 2002
September 2002
October 2002
November 2002
June 2003
December 2003
February 2004
September 2004
December 2004
January 2005
February 2005
April 2005
June 2005
August 2005
September 2005
October 2005
November 2005
February 2006
April 2006
May 2006
June 2006
September 2006
October 2006
December 2006
January 2007
April 2007
May 2007
July 2007
August 2007
September 2007
February 2008
March 2008
April 2008
June 2008
July 2008
September 2008
October 2008
November 2008
December 2008
January 2009
February 2009
March 2009
May 2009
July 2009
September 2009
October 2009
November 2009
December 2009
January 2010
February 2010
March 2010
May 2010
June 2010
July 2010
September 2010
December 2010
October 2011

My Group Blogs


iEARN Youth Summit &...
TakingITGlobal News
TIG front page redesign

Change Language




Tags Archive


complexity dignity diversity employment generalhydroponic hydroponicgardening hydroponicnutrients hydroponics indoorhydroponics indoorplantgrowing iste leadership leadershipaward middleeast mytig necc2008 newyork ngos planetwork pradical sendflowers silverbay socialchange trip_report undpingo unitednations womantowoman worldblu yes


284781 views
Important Disclaimer