Midweek Connect - 2/17/21 ~ RAP session
Greetings and Happy Midweek!
And it’s just a tad past mid-month so it’s time for another of our RAP sessions (Review and Process).
In our Global SKILLs training, we emphasize how Review and Process are key components of strategic planning and implementation. Each mid-month’s RAP session revisits a theme or previous Connect, going more deeply into what we’ve begun to explore.
This week, I’d thought we could RAP about “silver linings” innovations which are becoming increasingly evident even as the pandemic drags on. We examined this briefly last summer observing that even in the early months of the pandemic, as our worlds were being turned upside down, there was already a virtual coming together worldwide “(to build) dynamic global communities of practice and innovative collaborative networks” (see my July 1st, 2020 blog post here)
My ‘digging deeper’ into this has been to join and participate in several networks and online communities with initiatives in (to name a few of the main ones) Africa, India, Australia and Mongolia! I am interacting regularly with awesome colleagues in these places and elsewhere who are working through social entreprises in multicultural projects tackling huge socio-economic challenges like:
** how to more equitably provide digital access worldwide;
** how to better serve the world’s needs for affordable housing;
** how to educate the world’s learners virtually.
It seems the pandemic, having basically destroyed many traditional educational and business infrastructures and systems, has also actually enhanced the will and the impetus to come up with practical solutions, many on grassroots levels but also regionally and internationally. Strategically integrated programs are being designed and field tested. It’s been very exciting and inspiring…let me know if you’d like more details about any of these initiatives I mention.
How about for you?
What is one “silver lining” community-based innovation you have experienced recently? Share this here or with a friend. And check out the LINKs below for additional examples.
Until next week! Betsy
Global SKILLs LINKs
~ One of the most dynamic groups I have been networking with is the African Diaspora Network (ADN) which is focused of course on Africa, but brings together people from all over the world:
https://www.africandiasporanetwork.org/
~ You can also just google other diaspora networks - I have seen several from Asia, for example.
~ One of the consistently excellent sources I return to often for innovative ideas around the globe is the Wilson Center which has regional focus groups, frequent webinars and many other resources: https://www.wilsoncenter.org/
And on a personal note:
~ I have just had the pleasure to help plan and attend my first grandson’s first birthday celebrations in the past few days, including a virtual party with about 50 family and friends attending from all over the world! We used this platform and were pleased for the most part with how it enabled us to organize the event: https://www.evite.com/
2021 ~ Celebrating 40 years of working in
intercultural communications and global community building
Connecting, Collaborating, Cultivating Community