THE LAB
HOW DO WE WANT TO EXIST?
Human beings have existed for millions of years. Yet over the last 400-500 years of our existence we have done profound damage to the planet and each other. During this period we have created tremendous technological progress but have been unable to solve basic problems like violence, oppression, climate change, and economic inequality. To balance this relationship, as a species we must learn to exist differently.
To learn about how VOL supports people to exist differently, check out the video to the right.
Existing Differently: Visionary Organizing Lab's Curriculums for Individuals, Groups and Organizations, and Students
To Exist Differently and create communities, organizations, and campuses that usher in new ways of thinking, being, and doing, we teach people the skills and components below to become Visionary Organizers. Learn more about these skills and components below.
SKILLS FOR VISIONARY ORGANIZING
In our programs people develop the skills that allow them to practice the components of Visionary Organizing in ways that create communities, organizations and groups, and campuses capable of Existing Differently. These skills are:
Systems Thinking
Relational Thinking
Transformative Thinking
Growth Skills
Facilitation
COMPONENTS OF VISIONARY ORGANIZNG
By using the skills developed in our programs, Visionary Organizers can go out in the world and practice the components of Visionary Organizing in ways that aren’t rooted in old ways of thinking, doing, and being, and facilitate Existing Differently. These components are:
Recognizing and Nurturing Interdependence
Locating Ourselves and Communities in History
Trusting Our Collective Inner-Wisdom
Affirming Dignity
Imagining New Possibilities
Experimenting with Transformation
Individuals working in communities, groups and organizations, college/university students–as well as whole organizations-use these skills and practice these components in very different contexts. To honor these differences, we offer specific labs to each of these groups.
INDIVIDUALS
GROUPS/ORGS.
STUDENTs
Through our online curriculum we introduce people to the components of Visionary Organizing and the skills needed to practice them in transformative ways and Exist Differently. We are also planning an intensive cohort training program in Visionary Organizing for 2024.
We provide groups and organizations with the skills needed for Visionary Organizing through a curriculum tailored to different kinds of groups and organizations. We currently work with community-based organizations, faith-based groups, and philanthropic groups that want to explore BEing based approaches to social change.
We provide students with the skills needed for Visionary Organizing through a three-part introductory curriculum that puts students’ personal experiences into relationship with a global history of oppression and BEing based approaches to social change.