Blog
Peace, Power and Love
As we watch the party conventions these past two weeks, we are thinking about how spirit, compassion and humanity – or the lack thereof – influence and shape us. Michelle Obama said last week: first, we must listen to each other. Only then, as Linda’s work has shown, can we build vibrant, diverse and thriving […]
How We Keep Our Voting Rights
The November elections are about more than just who will win or lose. The anxiety and apprehension reportedly surrounding them is the latest example of the long-running dispute over voting rights, since key parts of the Voting Rights Act were invalidated in 2013 by the Supreme Court. States with a history of discriminatory voter laws […]
This is Not the Time to Give Up
As we look around us – a coronavirus spreading uncontrolled; hurricanes, tornadoes and wildfires; federal troops provoking peaceful protesters in cities throughout the U.S.; unemployment rising and homelessness for many on the horizon – we see attacks coming from every side. This is not, however, the time to get scared or throw up our hands […]
How do we sustain HOPE in times of crisis?
Four years ago, Linda Stout published this blog. It is just as relevant and forward-thinking today, as is her message: We CAN and MUST sustain hope. Asheville, NC, September 2016 It’s really hard to have a positive outlook with all that’s happening in the world today: political chaos, hate, violence, environmental disaster: a list much […]
Collective Visioning Exercise 7
Dear Friends, Below please find Collective Visioning Exercise 7 from my book Collective Visioning: How Groups Can Work Together for a Just and Sustainable Future. I have updated the exercises to make them friendlier for online use. I will be sharing them over the course of the next few weeks. If you would like to […]
Powerful Opportunities for Change
“The circle can grow, new voices will be included and alliances to advance a shared agenda may, and we hope, emerge,” said Gail Spotted Tail of the Rosebud Sioux Reservation at Spirit in Action’s network-building Education Circle of Change gathering in April 2009. In these tumultuous times of renewed economic crisis and uncertainty, we can […]
Breaking the Logjam
Of the many lessons we are learning from this pandemic, one is clear to me: we don’t listen to each other enough. We don’t listen to scientists or public health experts. We don’t listen to people we disagree with. We don’t allow people to talk without jumping in with our own opinions before they can […]
Collective Visioning Exercise 4
Dear Friends, Below please find Collective Visioning Exercise 4 from my book Collective Visioning: How Groups Can Work Together for a Just and Sustainable Future. I have updated the exercises to make them friendlier for online use. I will be sharing them over the course of the next few weeks. If you would like to […]
Creating a Different Future: changing the world through community
In 2008, Linda Stout was planning her book, Collective Visioning. She saw a society driven by fear, disconnection and confronted with seemingly insurmountable problems: global warming, war, violence and a growing disparity between rich and poor. “The current popularity of many bestselling self-help books,” she mused, “reflects a population hungry for community, hope and positive […]
Collective Visioning Exercise 2
Dear Friends, Below please find Collective Visioning Exercise 2 from my book Collective Visioning: How Groups Can Work Together for a Just and Sustainable Future. I have updated the exercises to make them friendlier for online use. I will be sharing them over the course of the next weeks. If you would like to receive […]
