The Civic Imagination Challenge
The following information regarding a three part Civic Imagination Orientation Conference will provide you with facts about the Climate Challenge conference. The event introduces Thought Leaders at the forefront of new directions and who highlight concepts that drive response and innovation. Be informed by the ideas that are shaping our future to help you contribute to and benefit from them!
Part I: Where We Are Now — Nov 14, 6pm ET
Part II: Step-into-the-Future: Regeneration & The Potential for a New Abundance — Nov 16, 6pm ET
Part III: The Journey Forward Begins with a Mindset for Change — Nov 18, 6pm ET
More from Joyce Freeling below.
The Civic Imagination Challenge
The story of the day on NY1 has been flood insurance. While climate impacts on New York City include extreme heat, water is the greater threat as heavy downpours, sea level rise with coastal storm surges and tidal flooding are particularly challenging for a city with over 500 miles of coastline.
At Trendsetters Network, the impact of Sandy moved us toward a long investment in climate mitigation research, new solutions for communities and a partnership with the CUNY CREST Institute at City College to develop them. During this period of R&D we discovered Innovators from around the world and across all sectors creating solutions, many focused on the largest carbon emitters, Cities. New York has joined the demand for innovation and incentivized it with the most aggressive climate mobilization legislation in the country. The city has birthed accelerators for new low carbon products and services, Higher education has shifted the focus of many of its Research Labs and developed new courses for professionals. Business has worked purposefully on sustainability; nonprofits have organized responsive programs and groups such as the Citizens Climate Lobby, Climate Reality Project statewide chapters, and Harlem-based We Act for Environmental Justice, pressed government for new policy.
We asked ourselves, “What could be accomplished for our city by the end of the decade if we could accelerate and broadly adopt emerging solutions?” So, we interviewed a broad range of people leading responsive efforts and hosted community listening events, Feedback highlighted several consistent barriers to forward movement (1) lack of knowledge on needs, emerging innovations, and the benefits they hold for business, citizens, and the city’s future (2) siloed and status quo thinking (3) turf protection blocking needed collaboration (4) an underlying uncertainty about change. In sharing these findings with our network, we discovered similar issues nationally and worked together to craft a plan of contribution prioritizing two key near-term needs: narrow the gap in knowledge and cultivate a positive forward focused mindset.
We are inviting you to join this effort. Our phase I Step-into-the-Future Civic Imagination Challenge invites professionals to participate in a series of monthly virtual conferences featuring Thought Leaders at the forefront of the innovations shaping pathways to a regenerative and sustainable future. We believe this knowledge can stimulate your creative thinking about New York’s future and have a simple but meaningful ask. When you learn from these leaders of the new promise these innovations present, craft a 2-minute inspiring video narrative on where we can be by the end of the decade with cooperative action. Your voice will be amplified in our companion American Imagination social media channels to engage the public in positive visions for our shared future. We provide an APP, developed by a NY Tech Alliance member, for your phone to record these narratives. Three winning themes are selected monthly, and all contributors celebrated at the close of the Challenge with a digital map of their “new world”, and a Commemorative Civic Imagination Print Publication sent to Congressional & State Representatives, Business & Thought Leaders, cooperating organizations and participants. This media ecosystem created with your voices and those of future focused Thought Leaders lays the foundation for a national Imagine Forward cooperative public engagement and education campaign to launch next year.
The three-part virtual Orientation Conference for the Civic Challenge begins November 14th and is aligned with the COP 27 Global Climate meeting. It brings national and international experts to the story of Where We Are Now, Where We Can Be, and A Mindset for the Journey Forward. Sign-up for these valuable presentations to learn more about the Civic Challenge here: https://ImagineForwardCampaign.org
- Joyce Freeling, President, Trendsetters Network
