Great Turning conference wisdom council

The Wisdom Council: A Tool to Facilitate the Great Turning

Presented by Jim Rough

To address the complexity of the issues we face in society (globalization, climate change, peak oil), we must elevate the quality of our individual and collective thinking. We need to come together in all our diversity as "We the People" and take responsibility for our wayward system. The Wisdom Council is a social innovation that promises to make this possible. It's a tool that can be used by just a few citizens in large systems like cities, states and nations to elevate the collective intelligence of all. It sparks a "We the People" with the power to make systemic change.

Developed by organizational development consultant Jim Rough, the Wisdom Council is an ongoing series of randomly selected groups of people. It uses "Dynamic Facilitation" to help each group produce a unanimous message, which is made available to the larger population for further dialogue and action. This sparks a new public conversation seeking what's best for all. Wisdom Councils have been used successfully, and experimented with, in cities, corporations, schools, government agencies, cooperatives and conferences.

As a part of the conference, participants will have an opportunity to participate in a simulation of the Wisdom Council, examining issues and strategies of the Great Turning, including the environmental movement and environmental education. This offering will facilitate whole-system dialogue and build community among conference participants, help us choose next steps in our work for sustainability and provide participants with an experience of this tool for their work in co-creating The Great Turning. Two Wisdom Council conversations will be offered (Thursday and Friday) to a random selection of interested people. Those selected will engage in a day-long dynamically facilitated conversation and will share their conclusions and experience with the larger conference community on Thursday night and Saturday morning. Past Wisdom Council participants agree: It's fun!!

For more information about the Wisdom Council go to the Center for Wise Democracy website. You can also email Jim directly with questions at jim@dynamicfacilitation.com.