We’ve been feeling it for a while now: We’re living in a unique and challenging time. There’s no
need to lay out a reminder of the last few years or provide statistics to prove the point. We
know it in our bones. We’re in uncharted waters.
At the same time, we at Creation In Common are humbled by the incredible acts of shared
creativity that teams, organizations, and communities we work with are applying to the most
intractable problems. Strategic transformation does not necessarily calm the whirlwind of
change; in most cases it makes the winds blow harder. Yet these leaders are doing important
work despite the collective uncertainty we all feel.
Here are a few terrific examples:
– Today’s Harvest, an innovative food pantry model, launched in 2021 to remove
significant barriers to accessing fresh, nourishing food.
– Penland School of Craft has reimagined its business model to create new pathways to
support a diverse, inclusive, meaningful community of full spectrum makers.
– We Are Water, a partnership of multiple state government agencies and the Minnesota
Humanities Center, is inspiring dialogue among often dissenting partners. They’re
rallying us around the importance of local waterways and how we all can be better
stewards of this critical natural resource.
To create these results takes great creativity on the part of many people. This in turn takes
trust. These good people are not waiting for the right environment in which to act or a time
when there is less volatility. They’re just doing what needs to be done with an incredible
amount of courage.