Sense in the
City Issue
2.1, January 10, 2007
Page
1
Sense in the
City Issue
2.1, January 10, 2007
Page
1
|
Glimpses of Integral Canada 2007 © Marilyn Hamilton BA CGA PhD Integral means whole, complete, integrated. It lies at the heart of wellbeing. Integral means acting, thinking, relating and producing, in an aligned way, with a consciousness that sees the world as a complex interconnected system. How does a country like Canada become integral? According to Clare Graves, whose research inspired the integral theory of Spiral Dynamics, becoming whole, complete and integrated is a never ending quest. In fact it is a developmental, evolutionary process. Our history reveals to us in hindsight how we have experienced more and less integration as waves of change have washed our shores. What has Canada learned from integrating two founding nations that inspires us to invite all world nations to contribute to our country? How integral are our systems of governance to embrace the most multi-cultural city in the world – Toronto? How do we support the integralness of individuals, families, workplaces, healthcare systems, education systems, neighbourhoods, communities, cities and bio-regions? Becoming integral, embraces what has worked before, what obstacles have been overcome and what has been visualized before. Becoming integral means going beyond all past formations – structures/ patterns/ processes -- so something new emerges. In a stable world it is difficult for us to notice this process because little seems to change. In an expanding world it is challenging for us to notice this process because changes happen across such vast distances we fail to make connections from one event to another. In a mechanistic world it is improbable that we notice this process because with linear mindsets, we expect events to be directly linked to one another. When the world is so complex that direct cause and effect can no longer explain what is going on, we seek stories that encourage, inspire and energize us to break through the waves of confusion and despair that threaten to drown us. We need mindsets that can transcend and include tsunamis of complexity. We need integral worldviews that give us buoyancy to rise and fall, swim and dive and flex and flow with tides of change. This year’s Glimpses of an Integral Canada, trace success stories from across Canada. Each story exemplifies real leading edge performance at eight levels of complexity. All the stories taken together illustrate the trajectory of integral capacities that are emerging in Canada’s integral voyage through the spiral of complexity. Notes to File: Last year’s Glimpses (http://integralcity.com/Ezine Files/Ezine Dec 29 05 iss7.html ) have been updated (http://integralcity.com/Ezine%20Files/Ezine%20Dec%2031%2006%20iss14.html )to show revised maps of a nation of immigrants and aboriginal peoples; a nation of peace, order and good government; a nation of hewers of wood and drawers of water; a nation of social safety nets; a nation of creative caregivers; a nation of nature-lovers; and a nation of peacemakers. The maps of 2006 were based on news stories. The maps of 2007are based on living examples of organizations quietly operating day to day, where, the Dance of the Maple Leaf Meme-lights plainly reflects eight great capacities with which the organizations serve Canada, and thus the world (see Appendix A). The Dance of the Maple Leaf Meme-lights recognizes the foundations of five layers of existence that have emerged on this globe: Place, Plant, Phylum, Person, Planet (see Appendix B). Taken altogether the octet of values and the quintet of layers of existence give us powerful new lenses to glimpse an Integral Canada – a Canada who can appreciate, capitalize on and share an emerging, global-centric, evolutionary, integrated, multi-perspectival, dynamic view of the world. Once again, this is an “appreciative” glimpse of Canada’s “integral dance” at the beginning of 2007. “Appreciative” means focusing on strengths, emerging potentials and possibilities. Glimpsing “Transcend and Include” Aspects of Integral Canada As 2007 begins, I have used the Maple Leaf Meme lenses to search for specific examples of emergence that “transcend and include” development at each stage of the spiral in an Integral Canada. “Transcend and include” criteria give values-based designers the framework to ensure the greatest flow of energy at each level of the spiral of emergence. What follows are brief descriptions of key initiatives at each level of complexity, that support the health of the spiral at each stage of emergence. Notice, how the initiating organization has used the principles of integral design (even intuitively) to utilize globally informed options, engage deeply with whom is affected locally, platform what is important at each level, and transcend and re-calibrate linear solutions to serve whole system wellbeing. beige to protect our individual needs for physical and spiritual safety and survival; and prevent harm to all individuals. Vibrant Communities, catalyzed by Paul Born, Founder of Tamarack Institute, has created a whole system process for communities to grow collaborative solutions for providing basic human needs to the poor and homeless. At its core is a poverty reduction strategy with very specific objectives. These include reducing poverty for at least 5,000 households in Canada; using four key approaches to poverty reduction; linking 15 communities in a process of collaborative learning; supporting up to five communities to more deliberately learn and apply these approaches to poverty reduction; engaging 250 non-profit organizations and government agencies, 100 low-income leaders and 100 businesses in implementing poverty-reduction plans.
Website: http://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/g2s1.html What is transcended? old paradigms of poverty and homelessness; blameful and socially outmoded rules; old theories of change; centralized approaches; one size fits all. What is included? people who have actually experienced poverty; all members of the community; opportunities to learn and change; collaboration; locally designed responses and approaches. ~ purple to honour the traditions and heritage of each group of persons so long as they do not threaten the health of *PPPPP; and honour the contributions of the elders so long as they do not threaten the health of *PPPPP. Ubuntu is the latest CD produced by The Gettin' Higher Choir, which started in Victoria on the premise that singing is not only our birthright but an essential activity for personal and community health and vitality. This "come as you are" choir started in 1996 by Shivon Robinsong in Victoria, with 40 community singers, now brings together a diverse group of over three hundred singers. There is no audition, and no singing experience is required – just a desire to sing in harmony with others. In honouring the many traditions of singing: · The choir is not associated with any religion or spiritual path, but embraces and celebrates humanity's highest aspirations through music, welcoming people of all ages and cultures. · Their repertoire consists of songs from many cultures, traditional and new, with meaningful and relevant content, mainly a cappella (unaccompanied) in 4-part harmony. · The Gettin' Higher Choir re-integrates singing into the daily routines of life. · Members sing for the pure joy and pleasure it gives them, in an atmosphere that is fun, relaxed, and accepting. The choir’s two co-directors (Shivon and Denis Donnelly) have transplanted their creation to other communities by offering Community Choir Training. Their offer is inspiring: Imagine … a world where every city, town, and neighbourhood had a community choir, one where the music of many cultures and faiths was celebrated. Imagine … a non-auditioned choir in your community where all were welcome. Imagine … that this choir could support and engage in powerful community-based activities. Imagine … that you, as director, could enjoy a rich and fulfilling livelihood by leading this choir. Website: http://www.denisdonnelly.ca/gettinhigherchoir.html What is transcended? just getting by; isolation; auditioning to sing; individual expertise; tribal leadership What is included? people who love singing; whole community; all ages; all cultures; community wide welcome; community concerts; co-leaders ~ red to defend the freedom of each individual to express their development and creativity without infringing on the freedom of others to express their development and creativity. Inside Art teaches inmates in Corrections Canada entrepreneurial and artistic skills. The project gives inmates an opportunity to discover talents, self-esteem and opportunities for independence, often for the first time. Co-created by Stacey Corriveau of Community Futures of South Fraser and partners (located in Abbotsford, BC) the project utilizes local volunteer artists to teach a selected, screened group of long term inmates glass work, wood carving and other arts. The output of the inmate artists goes back to the community through art donations to non-profit organizations including Ronald McDonald House, the Red Cross, the Salvation Army, Big Brothers / Big Sisters and the Breast Cancer Foundation. The donated items include elaborate carved chests, furniture, and paintings, enabling these community charitable organizations to raise much needed funding. Inside Art matches outside artists with inmates as mentors and provides marketing assistance through the InsideArt.ca website and other efforts. Website: http://www.insideart.ca/ What is transcended? guilt; shame; inactivity; sub-optimal performance; isolation; abuse of power; physical abuse; crime; correction; judgment What is included? passion; art; mentorship; skill building; individual recognition; self-development; self-esteem; community partnerships; multiple options; strategies for earning a living; self-respect ~
The Prior Learning Assessment Centre (PLAC)
in Halifax is based on simple common sense. PLA believes
that all learning that can be identified, described and
documented and deserves to be recognized. Real and important
learning takes place in many settings and through many
activities — in addition to formal education and training
programs. These settings include the workplace; family and
community life; volunteer, church and union activities;
travel and hobbies. PLA services and programs help
individuals, organizations and communities to pull together
a comprehensive and systematic inventory of what they know
and can do. These lifelong learning inventories — and the
confidence to tackle new learning opportunities and
challenges — are essential assets in constantly changing
economic and social circumstances. Since 1996 PLA Halifax can mark these accomplishments: · delivered 2500 individual one-hour sessions with PLA Advisors. · developed 58 one-day workshops for 600 participants. · facilitated 119 thirty-hour group programs for 1200 participants. · trained 160 practitioners in two-part leadership training program. · created four, two-day Provincial Prior Learning Assessment Symposia events with 200 or more attending each day. · Organized and hosted major National Recognizing Learning Conference event in Halifax, in 2001 with over 600 participants from across the country and beyond. · Conducted Numerous consultations, presentations, workshops and orientation sessions for wide variety of groups, institutions, agencies and organizations in Nova Scotia and beyond (ie.: Canada, the United States and Italy) Website: http://www.placentre.ns.ca/index2.php What is transcended? institutionalized learning; individual isolation; gaps between formal and informal learning; little or unaligned self-knowledge What is included? personal insight; facilitation; coaching; mentorship; skill building; individual recognition; cohort learning; adult learning; new opportunities; self-esteem; community partnerships; multiple options for earning a living; best practices ~ orange to promote the success of persons; to be accountable for the integral and fair exchange of products, services and ideas as long as resources do not accumulate for the benefit of a few interests, organizations and/or levels of development, at the expense of (or while depriving resources to) *PPPPP; to publicly recognize the origination/originator of ideas, products and services. Vital Signs Monitors are annual community check-ups conducted by five community foundations across Canada. They measure the vitality of cities, identify significant trends, and assign grades in at least ten areas critical to quality of life. Vital Signs is based on a project of the Toronto Community Foundation and is now in use by Ottawa, Vancouver, Victoria and Montreal. It is coordinated nationally by Community Foundations of Canada. The J.W. McConnell Family Foundation provided critical support for the national expansion of the Vital Signs program. Each city's report card is a compilation of numerous research sources, much of it local, that help communities make connections between issues and trends in different areas. The core indicators include: income gap, safety, health, learning, housing, immigration support, arts and culture, environment, work and belonging and leadership. The findings are presented in a reader friendly format to make them as accessible as possible. Measuring the vitality of Canadian communities in critical areas helps community foundations: · Increase the effectiveness of grant making · Better inform donors about issues and opportunities in the community · Assist in making connections between individuals and groups to address those issues Website: http://www.vitalsignscanada.ca/about-vital-signs-e.html What is transcended? competitive special interests; institutionalized data; government sector reporting; limited perspectives; gaps between sectors NFP, Government, Private; lack of local knowledge What is included? common set of indicators; multiple sector reporting; community based learning; performance measurements; best practices; peer city comparisons ~
Wellesley Institute (WI) in Toronto, advances the social determinants of health through rigorous community-based research, reciprocal capacity building, and the informing of public policy. WI views capacity development as building the consensus for change and the capability of the individuals in the system to create a desired future. To support the desired future of a healthy urban community, WI capacity building programs provide results-oriented Capacity Building for individuals and organizations in the community that goes beyond traditional supervisory and management training to include course offerings like these: · Build your personal capacity for leadership · Valuing Diversity: The Benefits of Difference · Write a Winning Grant Proposal · Build Successful Alliances, Coalitions and Partnerships! · Great Groups! Facilitation Skills for Working with People · Strategic Planning: Why, What and How? · The Fine Art of Volunteer Management · An Introduction to Marketing for Non-Profits · Board Governance · Introduction to Program Evaluation · Introduction to Information Technology in the Non-Profit Workplace · Facilitation Skills for Working With People
·
Conducting Performance Management Discussions Website: http://wellesleyinstitute.com/capacity-building/program-overview/ What is transcended? limited Not-for-Profit (NFP) support and funding; single person learning; individual isolation; gaps between sectors NFP, Government, Private ; lack of self-knowledge What is included? community based learning; individual development; performance management; best practices; facilitation; coaching; mentorship; skill building; cohort learning; adult learning; new opportunities; self-esteem; community partnerships; multiple options; community partnerships; interconnected issues ~
Imagine BC is a five-year futures project convened by Simon Fraser University’s Dialogue Programs. This dialogue series aims to involve leaders from diverse sectors in the province in thinking forward about BC’s possible futures, 30 years out. The first year Dialogue produced three sets of key themes: Economy and Environment; Learning and Cultures; and Community and Health. Each of these themes has formed the focus for the ensuing three years. The final year will re-integrate all the themes and regions.
Imagine BC has become a multi-region, multi-year process that has designed a flexible and flowing learning process, responding to multiple learning opportunities that have arisen in each of its two and half years of existence. By sharing its learning with provincial regions, it is strengthening its basic learning proposition and creating a contagious interest in the future. Each year the series of dialogues includes aspects of: · small dialogues where fifteen to twenty delegates produce a thematic consensus statement and set of future scenarios · medium sized dialogues where delegates report on themes and interact with policy-makers and elected officials · large sized dialogues which include 150 participants and a province-wide radio audience on themes and questions concerning BC's future · local dialogues engaging participants in communities across the province By asking citizens, influencers and experts to engage in meaningful dialogue and to collectively imagine the kind of future wanted in the province, Imagine BC generates provocative and constructive visions to bring about real social change, one conversation at a time. Website: http://www.sfu.ca/dialogue/imaginebc/about.htm What is transcended? political correctness; exclusive social inclusiveness; competitive special interests; institutionalized reporting; government sector defensiveness; limited perspectives; gaps between sectors NFP, Government, Private ; lack of regional and local knowledge What is included? diverse views; whole systems thinking; dialogue; differences that make a difference; dissenting voices; themed discussions; multiple sector reporting; regional participation; community based learning; inter-and intra-community partnerships; best practices; interconnected issues; peer region comparisons ~
Universarium Traveling Fair is an interactive experience of a new worldview, showing the changing way we look at, think about and understand business, politics, nature, religion, values, health care, education, families, communities and everyday life. Universarium has three components. Two components travel from region to region. The third is created by every community before, during and as follow-through action after the fair. · Universarium Dome – immerses audiences in science’s amazing new understanding of the universe, from ‘Big Bang to Big Brain’. · Front Lines - takes visitors to the cutting edges of what lies ahead where they see specific pieces of the future already being created… new materials, for example, from which clothes and cars and buildings can be made sustainably. · Shift into Action – builds collaboration within the new civil society, introduces practical methods for everyday application of sustainable practices, gets people directly involved in the challenge of inventing their own future. Universarium is being developed by the Ecologos Institute, a registered Canadian nongovernmental organization with charitable receipting capacity in Canada and the United States. It is based on research from 250 North American leaders. Their consensus: “If people are to respond to complex change, with meaningful action, three key ingredients are needed: · Stirring and inspiring people’s innate creativity · Practical vision of the future in terms of the everyday stuff of life · Strong encouragement for people to connect immediately to follow-through learning and action.” Universarium is being designed to help people work for a new future where they live and discover a deeper collaboration amongst themselves. As a result it intends to generate a considerable jump in the numbers ready to roll up their sleeves and get involved. Website: http://www.universarium.net/index.html What is transcended? provincial politics; regional competitiveness; political correctness; exclusive social inclusiveness; competitive special interests; institutionalized turf wars; government sector defensiveness; limited perspectives; gaps between sectors NFP, Government, Private ; lack of regional and local knowledge What is included? scientific information; entertainment; front line templates; action learning; action research; sustainable practices; best practices; diverse views; whole systems thinking; dialogue; deliberation; design; differences that make a difference; dissenting voices; themed discussions; multiple sector reporting; regional participation; community based learning; inter-community partnerships; interconnected issues; peer region comparisons ~ Towards an Integral Canada Each of these stories is an example of many more that are emerging and will emerge from the crucibles of communities across the Maple Leaf Memescape. They indicate that individuals and communities are finding ways to transcend and include the values, capacities and assets that have gone before, to design integral approaches for new outcomes. When we add to this whole spiral of healthy examples, the intentional All Quadrants, All Levels integral design of BC Healthy Communities ( http://www.bchealthycommunities.ca/content/home.asp ) we know that integral worldviews are already informing government policy, as well as influencing NGO, NFP and Private sector actions, intentions, relationships and structures. Surveying the total landscape of these eight stories, we catch a glimpse of an integral world of possibilities in Canada. What would happen if we lived in a single community that embraced Universarium, Imagine BC, Wellesley Health, Vital Signs Monitors, Prior Learning Assessment Centre, InsideArt, Getting’ Higher Choir and Vibrant Communities?? What would happen if all communities had versions of these leaders, initiatives, organizations? Just imagine!! It brings a powerful sense of both possibility and probability. As a glimpse of eight organizations, most of which have already existed for several years or longer, Glimpses of Integral Canada 2007 is more than a blink. These glimpses reveal hopeful signs of coherence, resonance and emergence for an Integral Canada. These glimpses show signs of momentum and sustainability in our Maple Leaf Memeland. The glimpses we catch of integration and alignment of Place, Plant, Phylum and Person are beginning to serve all the Planet. ~~~
What
glimpses of an Integral Canada do you see? Send your
Glimpses of Integral Canada to integralcanada@integralcity.com
and we will create an integral feedback loop that can
brighten the Northern Lights and reinforce the emergence of
Integral Canada in service to an Integral Planet.
Dance of the Maple Leaf Meme-lights
© Marilyn Hamilton BA CGA PhD
May the dance of the Maple
Leaf Meme-lights vibrate with the resilient commitments of
Life. May the Northern Lights from our flashing energy field
radiate:
May
the dance of the Maple Leaf Meme-lights resonate the
universal rhythm of Place, Plant, Phylum, Person, Planet
The Dance of
the Maple Leaf Meme-lights recognizes the value of five
layers of existence that have emerged on this planet: Place,
Plant, Phylum, Person, Planet. |