As capacity builders, coaches, and trainers for networks and systems – what can we achieve together that we aren't achieving alone?

Practitioners working to support thriving networks and systems are often at the cutting-edge of how we achieve change. Yet this work can often be lonely and exhausting – and ironically, few of us have adequate support networks ourselves to learn, share, and have shoulders to lean on.

At this session, we hope to bring together diverse practitioners working at this intersection to share our common and differing discoveries, map the challenges we're navigating, and identify synergies and ways we can support each other.

Join us for an exciting event to explore:

• What capacities are needed to coordinate networks and foster systems change?
• What timely and relevant conversations practitioners are having at the moment?
• What are we finding to be our favorite tools for sensemaking and navigating change?

Why might I participate?

We invite all practitioners supporting networks and systems from around the world to come together to:

• See who else is working at the intersection of networks and systems
• Discover what they're discovering and the challenges they’re navigating
• Identify how we can support each other and share tools for collaborating at scale

Speakers and facilitators

June Holley has been weaving networks - and helping other learn to weave networks – for over 40 years. After supporting local entrepreneurship networks in Appalachian Ohio for 20 years, she began working with networks all over the world. She then gathered what she learned into the Network Weaver Handbook, 400 pages of simple activities and resources for Network Weavers. She is now focused on writing a book called Transformation: co-creating a world that is good for all of us. In addition, she is convening people from around the world to develop an ecosystem to support transformation.

Carri Munn is a systems strategist and facilitator who partners with collaborative leaders to cultivate thriving organizations and impact networks. She has been consulting teams and coaching leaders for more than 20 years. Her clients include regional and global networks, NGOs and regenerative organizations. She brings a bright spirit of generosity, detail-orientation, and a patient, caring essence that supports people navigating change. Carri is based in Portland, Oregon and enjoys working across cultures with people who love what they do and want to collaborate for positive change. You can find her with Converge.net or in her own practice, ContextforAction.com.

Fasoranti Damilola is an Education leader with 10+ years of experience in 13 countries interfacing with the Government, Communities and Education Stakeholders to create learning that is personalized, fun, of quality and relevant to build rare and valuable career capital. Strong background and practical engagement in grassroots education, asset-based community development, resource mobilization, knowledge management, facilitation, human-centered design thinking, foresight, network weaving, and more.

Hosted at the Obstacle Course

You've browsed the workshops zone, attended the wellbeing lounge, mingled in the pitch tent – and as you're about to depart the festival grounds, the corner of your eye happens to catch a colorful obstacle course to you right. It looks challenging, enticing. There are prizes just for trying. You read the rules: for groups only. But you came to the festival alone. You look around – are there others you can ask to join the obstacle course with you? 

At the Networks Festival, our obstacle courses bring together movements, networks, and funders who don't know each other for:

• Rapid storytelling sharing significant changes we have witnessed in our work related to climate justice and ecological regeneration
• Collective vision sensing exploring shared – and differing – visions as our driving forces for systemic change
• Mapping key areas of work identifying opportunities, needs, gaps, and challenges within the broader system
• Networking and support deepening connections, building new relationships, and identifying opportunities for learning and peer support
• Focused discussions on common themes, allowing us to delve deeper into specific, common areas of interest
• Statements of collective action around immediate things we can undertake, and long-term visions we can begin to work towards

What is the Networks Festival?

Embark on a month-long journey filled with connection, curiosity, and play bringing together thousands of changemakers, funders, conveners, companies, and governments to explore the power of networks to transform our world.

As you step into the festival grounds, you'll be greeted by a buzzing atmosphere of excitement and innovation. Everywhere you look, there are people eagerly discussing the latest breakthroughs in network theory, sharing stories of how networks have changed their lives and communities, and dreaming up new ways to harness the power of connections.

Leveraging the power of lived experience, we will strengthen our collective practice, directly increase funding opportunities for networks, and foster new collaborations to scale innovations and amplify transformational impact on the lives of billions around the world.

Whether you're a seasoned networker, curious changemaker, or philanthropist interest in "doing things differently" – there's something for everyone at the Networks Festival. Join us!