.

First things first, I am delighted to be working on this with Susan Coughlan, an experienced changemaker of great integrity and playfulness.

I’ve been around this block a few times, trying to sense (or work out) what would be the most effective thing that would boost the capacity of changemakers (particularly, but not exclusively) in Ireland to bring about positive change and within that what is the best contribution I can make……

I initiated Ireland’s first training on ‘The Art of Hosting Conversations that Matter” with Alan Hayes and others in 2008.  I co-hosted Europe’s first Leadership Intensive with ALIA – Authentic Leadership in Action, in the Netherlands in 2010.  I have supported a variety of Theory U based gatherings with Barry Walsh, Nadine McCarthy, Jimmy Darcy and Davie Philip amongst others.  I worked with Grattan Donnelly and Lydia Kiernan with what became known as ‘Leaders on a Boat’ (we met on a boat and the name stuck).  I have put in loads of hours with Mary Hawkes Greene, Martin Hawkes and Barry Walsh at the Burren College of Art helping it to emerge as a ‘Universal Centre for Creativity’ and a ‘Centre for Creative Leadership’. All of this and more, looking to fill a gap to find a something missing in the system.

Lots of good experiences with lots of good people.  A lot learnt along the way.

And I am left with this hypothesis, opening a space rather than filling a gap:

Perhaps the two things that would make most difference to the effectiveness of experienced changemakers are not, after all, yet more models and skills, instead, maybe, they are :

(i) Paying better attention to how we look after, nurture and develop ourselves

(ii) Being smarter around collaboration, both with people like us and people different from us

I can expand on this (of course I can !), but this time I just want to open up a space and see what happens….

What if changemakers looked after themselves, nurtured and developed themselves better than they do already ?  What if we were less individualistic and more systemic and smarter around collaboration ?

We are going to start on at 2.00 on June 15 with a pop up hub as part of the current U Lab 2x series looking at ‘The Future of Learning and Creativity’ – inspirational stories from across the world to stimulate and inspire us.

The rest of the gathering through to 4.00 on the Saturday afternoon will be good food, good company, great conversations, time in nature, space to be creative, space to co-create, if you want to.

Further details and tickets are on this link

https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/opening-the-space-a-gathering-for-experienced-changemakers-tickets-34461458149?aff=es2

I have attached a flier too, in case that is a handy way to share the news of this event.

Opening_the_Space_A4

(On a sadder note, it seems right to mention that Eamonn O’Dwyer, who was with us several of the events mentioned above, passed away peacefully last Sunday – I particularly remember his elegant Tai Chi and warm and gentle presence – a changemaker of great integrity who touched many hearts – his family and friends are in our thoughts.  R.I.P.)