Creating a Different Story: kindness, curiosity and cooperation

The Creating a Different Story project provides an alternative to the overwhelming narrative that we need to protect and divide in competition for scarce resources.

We already have the expertise for creating a world in which all living beings and the planet itself can thrive. Like a murmuration of starlings, imagine what we could do if we brought all that expertise together to explore the possibilities of learning, supporting, and connecting with each other.

Collaboration for Change are inviting local organisers to share their ways of working and their vision/story for how the world will be different because of their work. We are learning from all the conversations we have and we hope to continue making meaningful, practical and lasting connections with likeminded people and also with people we don’t immediately see as allies. All participants are invited to work with us on co-designing the ongoing process.

In 2020 the Collaboration for Change (CfC) team worked online to write the Declaration for the Common Good. Over 60 organisations agreed with these values.
Our new project 'Creating a Different Story' aims to build connections between existing and new signatories. We acknowledge the enormous amount of work being done under the radar by activists, usually voluntarily. There are many people who have been paying attention to existing dysfunctional systems and designing alternatives; who have been sharing and caring; building networks of support; developing skills in every area.
We are inviting organisers to join us in our new project with the following 3 steps:
Step One: Sign the Declaration
Step Two: Share your Vision ... Click on the Group tile at this webpage and then The Work button. Write a short piece (1000 characters) about your current work, adding a video or image if you like. Once you've created a tile for your work, you can outline Your Vision of the world in 10 years' time, and how it's changed because of the work you're doing. You can also write about any Connections you're making or would like to make with others in relation to your work. When you have completed your tile, others will be able to add their thinking and offers for connecting and you will be able to respond. You can create more than one tile.
Step Three: Make Connections ... Take part in workshops designed to enable informal and deliberate connections. Discussions will be facilitated to allow us to make meaningful, practical, lasting connections with likeminded people and with people we don’t immediately see as allies. The aim is to provide an alternative to the overwhelming narrative that we need to protect and divide in competition for scarce resources.
Together we can create A Different Story based on kindness, curiosity, and cooperation. We can remain open to learning, to exploring, and to allowing new possibilities to emerge.

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