Bliss W. BrowneBliss W. Browne

President, Imagine ChicagoPresident, Imagine Chicago

www.imaginechicago.orgwww.imaginechicago.org

Imagine: A Conversation Imagine: A Conversation with the Futurewith the Future

I’ve come here to tell of a powerful thing,A thing as enchanting as flowers in spring.It tickles your mind and opens the doorTo stories and wonder, and oh, so much more!

This thing leads the way to worlds still unknownAnd each time you meet one, you’ll find YOU have grown!What is this magical thing?? (Can you guess?)Are you starting to wonder? (I hope you say yes!)

You are already holding a very big clueWhenever you say How? What? Why? When? Where? Who?This BIG thing’s a QUESTION, a question that’s tall(for the thing about questions is none need be small)Each one has a purpose, each springs from a placeOf mystery in us that’s quite hard to trace.

And the magic discovered with practice, I find,Is strengthening questions that open the mindAsset-based questions inspiring and bold That stretch the world bigger just so it can holdThe wonder created by what we have daredTo hope and to ask and, with smiles, to have shared!

~ Bliss W. Browne December 5, 2008

What is the shape of hope? What is the shape of hope?

What images of hope have authority in What images of hope have authority in you? you?

When was a time you trusted beyond When was a time you trusted beyond doubt that “people working together can doubt that “people working together can really can make a difference… “ really can make a difference… “

When have you stood in your strengths When have you stood in your strengths most fully and shared them most eagerly? most fully and shared them most eagerly?

Hope Mapping

What questions shape your growing edge right What questions shape your growing edge right now? now?

What are you curious about , eager to What are you curious about , eager to understand better?understand better?

What have you learned here that makes you What have you learned here that makes you glad to have come? glad to have come?

Please share with someone near you an image of Please share with someone near you an image of hope, a current question, and the name of someone hope, a current question, and the name of someone who has inspired you at this conference.who has inspired you at this conference.

Opening Worlds? ? ?

A question is a living edge that opens a A question is a living edge that opens a world, opens a system.world, opens a system.

• What worlds are your questions What worlds are your questions creating? Where do they lead? creating? Where do they lead? What assumptions do they reflect What assumptions do they reflect and reinforce?and reinforce?

Setting a Direction and Setting a Direction and Invitation: Invitation: The Power of the QuestionThe Power of the Question

The Questions We Ask The Questions We Ask Determine What We FindDetermine What We Find

• People want and need to create better People want and need to create better worlds (and questions);worlds (and questions);

• Constructive questions move us Constructive questions move us forward and help us identify experience forward and help us identify experience we can draw on to get there. we can draw on to get there.

• People feel confident and energized to People feel confident and energized to move into the future when they can bring move into the future when they can bring with them experience that is trusted in with them experience that is trusted in areas that are of high value and impact. areas that are of high value and impact.

Leaders enable learningLeaders enable learning

Leadership is neededLeadership is needed

whenever the learning in whenever the learning in hand is not sufficient to the hand is not sufficient to the challenge at hand. challenge at hand.

Ronald Heifetz, Leadership Without Easy Answers

Inspiring Leadership Requires Inspiring Leadership Requires Constructive LanguageConstructive Language and and QuestionsQuestions

• The challenge:The challenge:

Problem and deficit-based cultureProblem and deficit-based cultureof public communicationof public communication

Cynicism which passes for sophisticationCynicism which passes for sophistication

SOCIALLY CONSTRUCTION OF KNOWLEDGESOCIALLY CONSTRUCTION OF KNOWLEDGE::

Knowledge is relational. There is no Knowledge is relational. There is no “immaculate perception.” “immaculate perception.” WWe create e create the worlds we live in with our words the worlds we live in with our words and questions.and questions.

Language is a moral choice!Language is a moral choice!Our worlds are continuously recreated Our worlds are continuously recreated through dialogue. through dialogue.

We live out of what we We live out of what we believe to be true. believe to be true.

We live out of what we We live out of what we believe to be true. believe to be true.

• What makes a question What makes a question powerful, stretching, interesting, powerful, stretching, interesting, bridging? bridging?

World-changing questions put World-changing questions put to me in October 1991:to me in October 1991:

What is God’s dream for What is God’s dream for Chicago?Chicago?What would it take to bring it What would it take to bring it to life?to life?

A New World OpensA New World Opens

The animating image awakened in response: The animating image awakened in response: The recycling symbol as an image of the The recycling symbol as an image of the

Trinity and of God’s economy in which Trinity and of God’s economy in which nothing and no one is wastednothing and no one is wasted

The resulting next question: How can we The resulting next question: How can we encourage people to think about Chicago encourage people to think about Chicago as a whole, to create a place to belong and as a whole, to create a place to belong and a way to make a difference for everyone, a way to make a difference for everyone, especially those whose gifts have been especially those whose gifts have been discounted?discounted?

Imagine ChicagoImagine Chicago

• Track record of nurturing hope and Track record of nurturing hope and civic investment on six continents civic investment on six continents since 1992since 1992

• Holding space for what’s possibleHolding space for what’s possible– across generationsacross generations– across culturesacross cultures– across sectorsacross sectors– across divisions of geography and economicsacross divisions of geography and economics

IMAGINE CHICAGO mission:IMAGINE CHICAGO mission:

• Cultivate hope and civic engagementCultivate hope and civic engagement

• Catalytic partnership projects that Catalytic partnership projects that build capacitybuild capacity– of the individual participantof the individual participant– of their organizationof their organization– of the cityof the city

UNDERSTAND, IMAGINE, CREATE!UNDERSTAND, IMAGINE, CREATE!

How do we create How do we create opportunities for exchanges opportunities for exchanges of ideas, resources and of ideas, resources and experiences that generate experiences that generate new public knowledge, new public knowledge, expand civic engagement expand civic engagement and enhance public good – in and enhance public good – in a way that is reliably a way that is reliably inspiring and productive?inspiring and productive?

IMAGINE CHICAGO Key IMAGINE CHICAGO Key DecisionsDecisions

• Positive communications Positive communications frameworks are essential to frameworks are essential to fostering hope and imagination – fostering hope and imagination – ask constructive questions ask constructive questions around affirmative topics. around affirmative topics.

• Involve young people as leaders Involve young people as leaders of the process to disarm the of the process to disarm the cynicism and activate hopecynicism and activate hope

Imagine ProcessImagine Process

– UNDERSTANDUNDERSTAND best of what is-- best of what is-- affirmative, value-oriented, connectingaffirmative, value-oriented, connecting

– IMAGINE what can beIMAGINE what can be----possible, possible, particular, hopefulparticular, hopeful

– CREATE what will beCREATE what will be----practical, practical, visible, organizedvisible, organized

How does IC encourage How does IC encourage constructive community constructive community participation?participation?• Recognize what community valuesRecognize what community values• Connect people and opportunitiesConnect people and opportunities• Leverage existing community networks, Leverage existing community networks,

especially organizations which cross especially organizations which cross boundariesboundaries

• Encourage creativity of expressionEncourage creativity of expression• Create constructive public dialogue and Create constructive public dialogue and

encourage articulation of what community encourage articulation of what community members most want and how it can happenmembers most want and how it can happen

Intergenerational civic interviewsIntergenerational civic interviews Citizen LeadersCitizen Leaders Urban Imagination Network Urban Imagination Network

(school/community partnerships (school/community partnerships and family literacy)and family literacy)

American Pluralism and Identity American Pluralism and Identity (NEH)(NEH)

Ubumama (arts-based global Ubumama (arts-based global maternal health project)maternal health project)

Imagine Chicago examplesImagine Chicago examples

What Have We Learned Inspires What Have We Learned Inspires Community Engagement?Community Engagement?

• Inviting Inclusive ParticipationInviting Inclusive Participation

• Strength-based CommunicationsStrength-based Communications

• Animating Vision and VoiceAnimating Vision and Voice

• Constructive ReframingConstructive Reframing

• Designing Enabling StructuresDesigning Enabling Structures

• Building CollaborationsBuilding Collaborations

• Empowering and Aligning ActionEmpowering and Aligning Action

TRADITION I NNOVATION

MANAGED CHANGE

The Generative EdgeThe Generative Edge

*

Successful community engagement requires Successful community engagement requires pathways to participation that include pathways to participation that include everyone.everyone.

Strength-based Strength-based communications: Creating a communications: Creating a Culture of PossibilityCulture of Possibility Language is a moral choiceLanguage is a moral choice

To frame social development in To frame social development in problem talk creates expertise and problem talk creates expertise and focus on what communities don’t want focus on what communities don’t want and what doesn’t work. To regenerate and what doesn’t work. To regenerate communities requires focusing on communities requires focusing on possibilities, focusing on what works possibilities, focusing on what works instead of what’s wrong.instead of what’s wrong.

Deficit-based analysis, while powerful in Deficit-based analysis, while powerful in diagnosis, undermines human organizing diagnosis, undermines human organizing because it evokes a sense of threat, because it evokes a sense of threat, defensiveness and deference to experts and defensiveness and deference to experts and hierarchies. hierarchies.

Innovation methods that invite people to Innovation methods that invite people to envision positive images of the future envision positive images of the future grounded in the best of the past have grounded in the best of the past have greater potential to produce deep and greater potential to produce deep and sustaining change.sustaining change. 

Problem solving is limited as a Problem solving is limited as a process for inspiring and sustaining process for inspiring and sustaining human systems changehuman systems change

"Felt Need""Felt Need" AppreciatingAppreciating Identification of ProblemIdentification of Problem The Best of The Best of "What is""What is"

Analysis of CausesAnalysis of Causes ImaginingImagining What might be"What might be"

Analysis of Possible SolutionsAnalysis of Possible Solutions DesigningDesigning "What we most want""What we most want"

Action PlanningAction Planning InnovatingInnovating “ “ What will be"What will be"

BASIC ASSUMPTIONBASIC ASSUMPTION:: BASIC ASSUMPTION:BASIC ASSUMPTION: LIFE IS A PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED LIFE IS A MYSTERY TO BE LIFE IS A PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED LIFE IS A MYSTERY TO BE EMBRACEDEMBRACED

Note: From D. L. Cooperrider and Associates (1996).

A constructive approach to organization development and change.

Problem Solving vs. Problem Solving vs. Appreciative InquiryAppreciative Inquiry

Appreciative InquiryAppreciative Inquiry

• A major assumption of AI is that in every A major assumption of AI is that in every organization/ community some things work organization/ community some things work well. Lasting change can be catalyzed by well. Lasting change can be catalyzed by identifying what works, and building on that. identifying what works, and building on that.

• AI engages people in asking questions AI engages people in asking questions around affirmative topics that evoke around affirmative topics that evoke powerful, grounded stories. Sharing those powerful, grounded stories. Sharing those stories stretches the collective imagination. stories stretches the collective imagination. New partners connect and find energy to New partners connect and find energy to bring the envisioned future into being.bring the envisioned future into being.

Appreciative Inquiry Appreciative Inquiry ProcessProcess• Select key affirmative topics – topic choice is a Select key affirmative topics – topic choice is a

fateful act. (These are orienting beacons… What fateful act. (These are orienting beacons… What do you most want to understand? )do you most want to understand? )

• Identify and Value the “Best of What Is” using Identify and Value the “Best of What Is” using open-ended constructive questions.open-ended constructive questions.

• Collectively discuss and imagine what can be, Collectively discuss and imagine what can be, building on this trustworthy foundationbuilding on this trustworthy foundation

• Design systems and structures which enable this Design systems and structures which enable this vision to be livedvision to be lived

• Work together to create the shared vision.Work together to create the shared vision.

Encouraging Constructive Encouraging Constructive Experiences of DifferenceExperiences of Difference

• Uncommon partners often produce Uncommon partners often produce the most innovative outcomes since the most innovative outcomes since difference helps to shift perspectives. difference helps to shift perspectives.

• Positive experiences of difference Positive experiences of difference (e.g. constructive conversations and (e.g. constructive conversations and joint action among unlikely partners) joint action among unlikely partners) enlarge the possibilities for cooperative enlarge the possibilities for cooperative action and mutual accountability.action and mutual accountability.

Embodying Hope: Embodying Hope: Animating Vision/ Animating Vision/ Enabling StructureEnabling Structure

Communities need opportunities to Communities need opportunities to articulate visions of what they want articulate visions of what they want and are willing to work for. People and are willing to work for. People find energy to move forward find energy to move forward together toward the future they together toward the future they have imagined if there are have imagined if there are structures that support collective structures that support collective action on behalf of their visions. action on behalf of their visions.

Futures Futures TriangleTriangle

PUSHPUSH

PULLPULL

WEIGHTWEIGHT

- Sohail Inayatullah Sohail Inayatullah www.metafutures.orgwww.metafutures.org

Futures TriangleFutures Triangle

Shifting frames and setting Shifting frames and setting direction for Constructive direction for Constructive

Change.Change. Don’t want Don’t want ?? ?? Do wantDo want Visible

difference

v     Reframing leadership from expert model to teamwork serving the wholeReframing leadership from expert model to teamwork serving the whole. Image: Image: musicians jammingmusicians jamming. .  v    Trusting open-ended process.Trusting open-ended process. Image: Image: open bookopen book. Some chapters not yet written but . Some chapters not yet written but there is a there is a history here. Communities get to write their own next chapters building on a proud past. history here. Communities get to write their own next chapters building on a proud past. Policymakers respond to what communities propose rather than set out an agenda Policymakers respond to what communities propose rather than set out an agenda communities have to fulfill.communities have to fulfill.  v     v     Harnessing local energy rather than social control.Harnessing local energy rather than social control. Image: Image: garden maze with garden maze with only one way inonly one way in.. and no way throughand no way through but couple hovering above asking “but couple hovering above asking “Why not fly?”Why not fly?” How can How can the path to the future be reimagined locally by communities rather than limited by external views the path to the future be reimagined locally by communities rather than limited by external views and forces?and forces?  v     v     Clear and open communication with positive framing and actions.Clear and open communication with positive framing and actions. ““Bloomin’ communities” or “Bloomin’ communities” or “communities in bloomcommunities in bloom”? ”? Solving problems creates co-dependency Solving problems creates co-dependency between organizations and problems. There is an alternative. between organizations and problems. There is an alternative. Image: bright yellow flower not yet Image: bright yellow flower not yet finished growingfinished growing. . Grass roots are ideas (ah-ha moments). Stems of development support growth. Grass roots are ideas (ah-ha moments). Stems of development support growth.   v     v     Following path of hope and respect.Following path of hope and respect. Image: Image: Path of hopePath of hope with inspiring people… with inspiring people…fun…laughter, telling stories, working in partnership, engaging…optimism, creativity, action fun…laughter, telling stories, working in partnership, engaging…optimism, creativity, action purpose honesty, realism, this makes sensepurpose honesty, realism, this makes sense

Risk taking.Risk taking. Image: Image: Can of worms in various stages of being openedCan of worms in various stages of being opened. Have to risk . Have to risk opening can of worms for other things to become possible. If you open up the cans, worms can opening can of worms for other things to become possible. If you open up the cans, worms can escape. Mayor of Singapore: important not to confuse worms and caterpillarsescape. Mayor of Singapore: important not to confuse worms and caterpillars

Communities Scotland Masterclass Communities Scotland Masterclass Images of community empowermentImages of community empowerment

Leadership DynamicsLeadership Dynamics

• An Animating Vision (listen for this An Animating Vision (listen for this and help name it)and help name it)

• Enabling StructuresEnabling Structures

• Practices that show it is possible to Practices that show it is possible to live this waylive this way

• Uncommon connections that keep Uncommon connections that keep the system openthe system open

Harnessing Imagination for Harnessing Imagination for Public GoodPublic Good• How can we encourage expression of worthy How can we encourage expression of worthy

(and accessible) images of public life? (and accessible) images of public life? (positive image/positive action)(positive image/positive action)

• How can we learn to be “skilled midwives” for How can we learn to be “skilled midwives” for birth of community dreams?birth of community dreams?

• How will we help sustain the lives of those How will we help sustain the lives of those who take the risk of giving birth to something who take the risk of giving birth to something new—and create structures that sustain the new—and create structures that sustain the promise of life which is coming to birth?promise of life which is coming to birth?

www.ubumama.org

YES, WE CAN!

What question would you appreciate being What question would you appreciate being asked? asked?

What question would you love to see your What question would you love to see your community/country asking and exploring over community/country asking and exploring over the next 3-5 years?the next 3-5 years?

What worlds will you invite into What worlds will you invite into being with your questions?being with your questions?

How will you expand a culture of How will you expand a culture of blessing?blessing?

TAKE THE PLUNGE AT TEA-TIME AND SHARE…