Resilience is a concept gaining prominence in many different fields, perhaps most notable for our discussion, in organizations seeking to find ways to weather the storms of inevitable change and secure the relationships they’ve so carefully built with those who support their cause. You will hear the word resilience from the Heurista Institute a great deal. It is one of the cornerstones of our thinking -- how do the projects we convene help to create greater resilience in organizations?
Read MoreOnce upon a time, two rather unruly women met in a boardroom. They began a long conversation, sometimes in writing, sometimes in person, sometimes drinking wine and staying up far past their bedtimes, about the larger meaning of their work. They asked each other challenging questions, like what stands in the way of nonprofits building longstanding, productive relationships? and why don’t more businesses use relationship science instead of marketing science to gain repeat, loyal business? and why aren’t governments and their citizens in more balanced, reciprocal relationships? They integrated pop culture, psychology, social science, art, permaculture, community building, and placemaking. There were no limits to where the conversation could go but it always came back to this: what does it take to build strong relationships between an organization and its constituents?
Read MoreDo you ever consciously consider how stories shape our everyday relationships, work, and future? I’m not talking about fudging the facts, but rather taking conscious inventory of the words and interpretations we use to create and communicate the meaning behind the incidents and accidents of our lives. I recently had the chance to ponder these ideas in the beautiful town of Jonesborough, Tennessee while attending the September 2018 Beth Horner workshop at the International Storytelling Center, Stories to Create Positive Change Inside & Outside Your Institution. Beth Horner has worked not only as a storyteller on stage, but also as a creative storyteller working on institutional change in places like NASA and policy change in communities like her hometown of Columbia, Missouri.
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