Reimagining Peacebuilding: A Journey of Systems Change
In June’s Sensemaking meetup, held on Wednesday, June 7, 2023, from 17:00 to 18:30 EEST UTC+3, Systems Change Finland organized an engaging event where participants delved into the realm of applied Systems Thinking and Complexity. Instead of conventional lectures, the meetup fostered an interactive space for attendees to collectively make sense of the discussed topics.
Adriana Santamaria and Elisa Ford, representing Sonder Collective (https://www.sonderdesign.org/), took the stage as guest speakers, igniting a thought-provoking discussion on their experiences and unlearning while designing and co-hosting a space dedicated to Reimagine Peacebuilding. This space aimed to unite local peace builders and activists, empowering them to explore alternative futures, challenge existing power structures, and provide each other with unwavering solidarity.
The event was skillfully hosted by Zeynep Falay von Flittner and was a collaborative effort between Systems Change Finland and Design Activists for Regenerative Futures.
Adriana Santamaria P., a designer, entrepreneur, and educator with a focus on social impact, brought her Colombian identity and peacebuilding expertise into her work. Her design approach embraced decolonization, emphasizing participatory processes that honor the knowledge of those with lived experiences, allowing them to connect with their agency and power.
Elise Ford, a nomad and explorer, embarked on a journey to better understand and support social change. With almost 20 years of experience in senior positions within politics, international development, and philanthropy, Elise currently serves as a co-host for a collective of activists dedicated to reimagining, co-creating, and co-leading spaces and actions for a just, equitable, and dignified peace. Her work with the community over the past three years has inspired her to explore deeper, more intimate approaches to driving social change and the transformative potential that lies within collaborative efforts.
Summary of the talk
In the world of today, where borders blur and experiences vary, there exists a shared purpose that brings people together — systems change. Elise and Adriana, along with many others, embark on a remarkable journey that revolves around this very notion. They invite us to join them as they delve into their experiences, challenges, and aspirations in the realm of peacebuilding. In this blog post, we will explore their journey and the transformative space they have created, known as Reimagine Peacebuilding.
Elise and Adriana acknowledge the uniqueness of their journey and express excitement about sharing it with the world. They emphasize the importance of not speaking on behalf of others and commit to sharing their personal experiences as designers and facilitators grappling with imagination and power within their roles.
Their journey, which began in 2020, involves collaborating with 25 activists and peace builders from around the world. Together, they explore the existing system and envision plural imagined futures, striving to bridge the gap between the current reality and the desired future. The journey encompasses aspirations, creative designs, and challenges that continue to shape their work.
The speakers emphasize that the Reimagine Peacebuilding space is not just a project but a prototype — a prefigurative space where imagination and power are central. They invite the audience to embrace a multidisciplinary approach and align their understanding of three key concepts: translocal space, working in service, and a community-centric approach.
The concept of a translocal space aims to honor the individual local realities of participants, weaving them together into a shared tapestry, creating a global that is plural and grounded in the local. As facilitators and designers, Elise and Adriana are dedicated to serving the community of activists and peace builders. They recognize the importance of centering on the lived experiences of those most affected by the issues at hand. By emphasizing relationships and collaboration, they believe in achieving collective goals.
Elise and Adriana introduce themselves as members and collaborators of the Reimagine Peacebuilding project, each bringing their unique backgrounds and perspectives. Adriana, a learner, facilitator, and entrepreneur, navigates the system with a decolonial lens, learning from grassroots experiences. Elise, a Brit living in Britain, has extensive experience within power structures and has learned about the intricacies of change and the significance of people and relationships.
The speakers highlight their commitment to disrupt the norm and create spaces for creativity and recreation. They acknowledge their positions of power and privilege and the responsibility to uplift the voices of those at the heart of system change efforts.
Further, Elise and Adriana discuss their journey from the perspective of funders and design providers. They highlight the importance of cocreation with the community and challenge the traditional power dynamics prevalent in such journeys. They reshape the structure, aiming for independence, autonomy, and proximity to the community, while being transparent about their power and actively designing ways to let go of it.
They conclude by acknowledging the presence of various systemic challenges and isms, such as colonialism, capitalism, and patriarchy, even within the reimagined space. They reflect on the ways these patterns seep into their work and emphasize the need to challenge and break free from them.
Conclusion
Elise and Adriana’s journey in Reimagine Peacebuilding is a testament to the power of collective action and the transformative potential of system change. Through their multidisciplinary and community-centric approach, they strive to honor local realities, empower those affected by the issues, and foster meaningful relationships. As they continue their journey, they confront systemic challenges and aspire to create a space where imagination and power can shape a better future for peacebuilding.
Watch the recording on YouTube
Interested to learn more about Systems Change Finland and about how to join our community?
Systems Change Finland seeks to cultivate a society that can deal with systemic and complex challenges. The purpose of Systems Change Finland is to promote the application of approaches that help people, organizations and society understand and work with systems and complexity.
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