My last blog entry was written as Deborah and I prepared to fly to France so I could MC the 5 day Renaissance2 Great Shift Gathering in Perpignan.
I asked a lot of questions in my last post about the efficacy of such an endeavor. And my report is, I’m happy to say, essentially positive. The key principles I enumerated were very present during the gathering. And although there were certainly a range of vMemes interacting, the emphasis on creating tangible projects with business models remains a deep consideration of all involved. And I still have real hopes for what Renaissance2 can spawn in the weeks, months and years ahead.
I’ve already gotten involved with one exciting project relating to this, becoming faculty to The Finance Lab, a collective intelligence project setting about to envision the design principles of a sustainable world financial system. More on that soon.
Over 70 participants from 20 countries on 4 continents attended. And we had a lot of fun, finding a way to resource our creativity and humor even while looking squarely at theworld’s most sobering problems.
For those of you who are curious here’s a quick report, taken from the official report fromRenaissance2:
During the first 3 days, “Designing a Resilient Civilization,” we focused on launching over 40 initiatives and exchanging information on viable projects in the areas of Renewable Energy, Resilient Environments, Enlightened Enterprise, Integral Governance, as well as Conscious Evolution, Wise Culture and Human Wellbeing. We used a combination of techniques from Open Space technology, Appreciative Inquiry, Holacracy, Presencing, and Integral Life Practice.
During the last 2 days, “Conscious Evolution,” I helped Barbara Marx Hubbard, Andrew Cohen, Don Beck, Robin Wood, Neale Donald Walsch, and Marilyn Schlitz to weave a living dialog at the edge of the evolution of spirituality, global culture, science and technology. We also launched the WorldShift Alliance using cutting edge video conferencing technologies to connect the conference with people on the other side of the world.
There were manystanding ovations from the participants and the entire event was filmed by Positive TV (you can view their 10-minute video report) and especially well-photographed (in my unbiased opinion) by my wife, Deborah, which you can view here.
The 5 Ms
Robin Wood, who founded Renaissance2, uses the following “5M” Framework to explain what Renaissance2 is all about:
1. Movement
Our shared purpose is to catalyze a second renaissance through accelerating social and technological innovation. We do this by applying worldcentric maps, deep yet accelerated methods, transformative business models and thriving meshworks embodied in the the brilliant minds and hearts of our members.
2. Maps & Mindsets
We are working with the leading edge maps and mindsets to navigate the 21st century and co-create a future equal to our highest potential and meet the challenges we face in the next decade to create a resilient civilization.
3. Methods
Once we have located ourselves and others with similar interests, values and goals on the maps we are able to offer our gift into the whole and begin collaborating effectively to make the shifts that are required from us personally, organizationally and socially to make it through this difficult transition.
4. Meshworks
In order to catalyze the shifts required in our systems at all levels, to ensure a thriving human civilization in the 21st century, we need to connect up the dots represented by the different projects and programs in specific locations around the world. A meshwork integrates hierarchies and self-organising webs of relationships uniting information, people and resources for more effective actions and outcomes.
5. Transformative Business Models
In a traditional business model, a business is designed to serve a specific set of customers for the profit of its shareholders. The transformative business model catalyzed by Renaissance2 and its partners in the WorldShift Alliance fills the gap in the traditional business model which largely ignores its impact on our environment, our communities and our society. We do this by focusing on social innovation which includes not just profits but also people, planet, purpose and principles.
The success of the Great Shift Gathering leads on to…
Renaissance2 in 2010
The R2 Worldshift Leadership Circle: May 27-29 Executives and leaders from around the world will assemble for an intensive three days in which they will grapple with our key issues and challenges, focusing on developing rapid solutions through meshworked organizations.
R2 Great Shift Gathering 2010: October 22-26 In the second annual Great Shift Gathering, committed Evolutionaries will join together (location TBD) to enhance the synergies among those committed toco-creating a renewable and thriving global civilization.
If you’re interested to get involved with Renaissance2, apply to join on the main web site. There is also a social network which you can join—see this web page to connect. If you’d like to read more first, Robin Wood has graciously allowed meto link to this draft report about the Renaissance2 approach to Social Innovation.
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