Blog | Projects & Stories | Alphachimp

A Houston Energy & Innovation Ecosystem Map

peterdurand — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 20:39:47 +0000

Kelsey Kearns, the director of Greentown Labs, kept asking:

“Where's our Houston Energy Map?“

The answer which kept coming back was:
“I dunno.... surely someone has made one.“

Turns out... nope.

Well, now we have! ⭐️

Kelsey gathered the data, built a spreadsheet, and I made a hand-drawn map.

But it all came together for the big reveal at the CERA Week Transition On Tap networking event.

We are in a defining moment for the energy industry

ABOVE: Georgina Campbell Flatter, Chief Executive Officer Greentown Labs (left) with Kelsey Kearns Director of GTL Houston (right)

Houston is an energy hub unlike any other that’s capable of leading the way in renewable energy and the decarbonization of our planet — something we see happening every day in our community of climatetech startups.

As GTL puts it:

“We are in a defining moment for the energy industry. Amidst rapidly growing global energy demand and changing market dynamics, the need for a clean and resilient resource supply chain has never been clearer.

“This was undeniably the focus of CERAWeek 2026 — and we are proud to support the cutting-edge innovators who are stepping up to develop, deploy, and scale market-moving solutions that will help transform industries for good.

“Thanks to Peter Durand for partnering with us to convey Houston's energy and innovation ecosystem through an incredible illustration that will stay on display at Greentown!”

NOTE: This project is a great example of collaborative information graphics and journey mapping we create with clients in every industry. Learn more about our creative services here.

Personal Mapping for Meeting Others and meaning Making

peterdurand — Sun, 25 Jan 2026 23:47:42 +0000

Innovation consultant Tanveer Fatma Chaudhary invited me to present to the Houston Design Thinking & Innovation Meetup Group in Houston.

Alphachimp founder Peter Durand showed up, plunged the group directly into visual thinking, and invited them to share their personal journeys, answering the question:

“How did I get here?“

We usually kick off most visual thinking workshops with some version of a personal mapping exercise.

In 20 short minutes the exercise moves participants through a series of learning modalities:

Intrapersonal — internal processing thinking & feeling
Visual Thinking — physical drawing to describe an inner thought process
Interpersonal — meeting & sharing the results with others
Storytelling — choosing narrative details to guide the audience
Active Listening — to other people’s story
Visual Processing — looking at another's visual map while egaged in active listening
Social-Emotional Intelligence — forming a group; acknowledging and encouraging others
Networking — making connections, turning strangers into connections!

It is a fast method to get people thinking, feeling, making, sharing, laughing, and connecting — essential activities for group facilitation, collaborative design, and jumpstarting the innovation process. 💫

PHOTO: Four participants share their personal maps drawn to show “How Did I Get Here?“ as part of the Design Thinking & Innovation networking event.

PLEASE steal and use this in your meetings and meet-ups!! The business term, I believe, would be: “Please leverage this content.“

PS. Want to see more research and insight on how visual facilitation drives innovation? Read this.

World Sketchnote Week 2026: My Personal Journal

peterdurand — Fri, 16 Jan 2026 23:13:28 +0000

Some visual notes from the few sessions that I could attend as part of World Sketchnotes Week

World Sketchnote Week happened online Jan. 12-17, 2026 thanks to Ashton Rodenhiser and friends.

Especially of interest for those of you in Houston who peek over my shoulder while I am scribbling in my Leuchtturm 1917 notebook with a Lamy Safari pen. 📕 🖋️ 👀

Zhuzh Up Your Handwriting

For me, the week started with master calligrapher and handwriting expert Heather Martinez.

After studying with master sign painters, graffiti artists, and calligraphers—which she continues to do today—she decided to translate what she learned to teach other visual practitioners the tradecraft of breaking down any lettering styles into the tools we use when leading from the front of the room.

Heather emphasizes:

“Our handwriting shapes the voice of our sketchnotes — it’s how our ideas speak on the page.“

In this session, we built up from the basics to quickly improve, integrate, and elevate our natural handwriting so it becomes both functional and fun.

While also learning some fun typography terms, like tittle. (The dot of an “i“ :-)

Mirror, Mirror, on the Napkin: What Visual AI Reveals About Us

In this electrifying session with Dan Roam, we traveled from the 1850s with Ada Lovelace, Charles Babbage, and the first analytical machine to energy-slurping data centers. He asks:

“How might Sketchnoters, Visual Thinkers, and Graphic Recorders
reframe AI as a mirror of ourselves?”
🧠 🤖

The author of many books on thinking and drawing, Dan demonstrated how he uses Midjourney as a collaborative tool for image-making, storytelling, and problem-solving with humans.

Even with all of the concerns about Gen AI, he laid down Four Principles for us to consider:

I. Steal with honor.
II. Add your own soul.
III. Become irreplaceable.
IV. Dream BIG and generate with intention.

Draw Your Future: How a Simple Picture Will Change Everything

Speaker, actor, facilitator, and strategist, Patti Dobrowolski says:

“Imagination is the path forward; your drawing is a portal to your future!“

This high-energy session was a process for drawing out your future—and identifying 3 bold steps towards your future reality. (BTW, I am still trying to decide on my 3rd one. 😳)

Sketchnotes in the Classroom: Teaching and Learning

Lavanya Reddy is an IB MYP Math and Design educator, a visual thinker, and a sketchnoter in India.

Her session highlighted simple ways teachers can begin incorporating sketchnoting across subjects to encourage creativity, critical thinking, and joyful learning.

When I first started teaching at age 21, we were in conditions where textbooks were rare and very expensive. Although I had gone to art school, I was teaching English without any training.

I was teaching children in after-school programs without much funding. So, I had them draw and build their own “textbooks“ using doodles, collage… anything! It was a 16-year-old student of mine who introduced me to Tony Buzan's mind mapping.

I was blown away and exclaimed: “Why didn’t they teach ME this in school!?!?“

Kids usually don't need to be taught how to “do sketchnotes,“ only given permission, guidance, and some structure.

BIG THANK YOU to Ashton Rodenhiser and team for making this week open, accessible, and affordable... especially for educators and students who want to practice visual thinking!

Houston 2025 Trailblazer Inspires Innovation Ecosystem

peterdurand — Fri, 14 Nov 2025 22:06:36 +0000

So, why was Wade Pinder awarded The 2025 Houston Innovation Trailblazer Award by InnovationMap and the innovation community? Find out below…

PHOTO: Wade Pinder speaking to the attendees of the 2025 Houston Innovation Awards hosted by Greentown Labs.

Welllllllllll....

Wade Pinder is not a tech billionaire or oil baron.

Wade Pinder is not the president of a corporation or university.

Wade Pinder is not the executive director of a nonprofit or a government official.

Heck, Wade Pinder doesn't even have a day job!

Instead, for people like me who moved to this sprawling metroplex of concrete highway rollercoasters and intimidating glass towers, Wade Pinder helped us to find our way.

Finding Our Way

In the classic Hero's Adventure, there is a moment when The Hero (i.e. you) moves from the Familiar World into the Unfamiliar World.

The Hero (you) may feel lost, uncertain, afraid, imperiled, perhaps bored and demoralized.

Until they meet The Guide: a friendly, wise, often cranky, but independent and experienced soul who points out the way.

The Guide does not do what they do for money or status or glory or self-gain or a free gift card or equity in your startup.

The Guide helps The Hero (you, again) to find The Way.

They help The Hero become aware of some of the pitfalls, detours, demons, and deceptions along The Way.

The best ones help The Hero (YOU!!!) to realize that you already have inside you everything you need: the internal capacity to learn new skills, to navigate moral dilemmas, to persevere, and — just perhaps — to succeed in Your Quest.

The Guide cannot take the journey for you.

The Guide cannot suffer or succeed in your stead.

You (The Hero) must do that.

But The Guide can point out The Way You Seek, however imperfectly and without promise of success or safe passage.

Hence Wade Pinder has consciously chosen his defining moniker and self-appointed role:

The Innovation Ecosystem Wayseeker

At the 2025 Houston Innovation Awards show, Wade Pinder was awarded the "Trailblazer Award."

However, Dear Hero, it is YOU who must blaze your trail, YOU who must find Your Way.

From the stage, Our Ecosystem Wayseeker gave us sage advice:

“Show up and add value without hope of benefit or return. And, if a month goes by and you haven't shown up and added value for someone else, well, you might want to look into that!“

Thank you Wade (and Heidi 💜 ) for welcoming Alphachimp to this wacky, frustrating, rich and wild city of Houston.

And most of all for sharing time and stories with me along The Way.

Onward!!!

PS. You has been Your Guide on Your Way? If they are still in your life, and on our planet, each out and high-five them today!

Alphachimp’s WORK IN ENERGY & CLIMATE

View the Houston Energy & Innovation Ecosystem Map we created.
See our graphic recording images from presentations during Houston Energy and Climate Week.
Learn about our graphic recording services and how visual facilitation drives innovation.
See what Alphachimp is up to in the Houston Innovation Ecosystem.
See sketchnotes from the 2025 Greentown Labs ClimateTech Summit.

The Ecosystem Wayseeker Fan Club Swag Shop

So many folks saw Heidi Pinder's shirt with The Innovation Ecosystems Wayseeker’s face and exclaimed: “I WANT THAT!!!!“
See 4 options for shirts below...

Unisex grey t-shirt: https://www.alphachimp.com/shop/p/the-ecosystem-wayfinder-unisex-oversized-t-shirt
Men's black premium heavyweight tee: https://www.alphachimp.com/shop/p/the-ecosystem-wayfinder-mens-premium-heavyweight-tee
Unisex black sweatshirt: https://www.alphachimp.com/shop/p/the-ecosystem-wayfinder-unisex-hoodie
Hooded long-sleeve Tee (Navy Heather) - https://www.alphachimp.com/shop/p/the-ecosystem-wayfinder-hooded-long-sleeve-tee-navy-heather

The Ecosystem Wayseeker - Unisex oversized t-shirt from $21.50 This heavyweight oversized tee nails that laid-back streetwear look. Made from 100% cotton, it’s soft, structured, and perfect for layering or wearing solo. With a vintage-washed vibe, it’s made to stand out without trying too hard.

• 100% ring-spun cotton
• Fabric weight: 6.5 oz./yd.² (220.4 g/m²)
• Oversized fit
• Trendy vintage look
• Blank product sourced from Nicaragua

Size:

The Ecosystem Wayseeker - Unisex Hoodie from $30.00 Who knew that the softest hoodie you'll ever own comes with such a cool design of Wade Pinder's face!?! You won't regret buying this classic streetwear piece of apparel with a convenient pouch pocket and warm hood for chilly evenings. Perfect for funder meetings and all-night coding sessions.

• 100% cotton face
• 65% ring-spun cotton, 35% polyester
• Front pouch pocket
• Self-fabric patch on the back
• Matching flat drawstrings
• 3-panel hood
• Blank product sourced from Pakistan

Disclaimer: This hoodie runs small. For the perfect fit, we recommend ordering one size larger than your usual size.

This product is made especially for you as soon as you place an order, which is why it takes us a bit longer to deliver it to you. Making products on demand instead of in bulk helps reduce overproduction, so thank you for making thoughtful purchasing decisions!

Size:

The Ecosystem Wayseeker - Men’s premium heavyweight tee from $18.50

Elevate your outfit with the men’s premium heavyweight tee with the Innovation Ecosystem Wayseeker's face. The tee has a structured, classy fit and is both durable and soft thanks to its ring-spun cotton material. Layer the t-shirt or wear it on its own and enjoy great looks with little effort!

• 100% combed ring-spun cotton
• Charcoal Heather and Carbon Grey is 60% cotton and 40% polyester
• Fabric weight: 6.5 oz/yd² (220 g/m²)
• 20 singles
• Regular fit
• Side-seamed construction
• 1 × 1 rib at collar
• Single-needle edge stitch 7/8″
• Blank product sourced from Bangladesh

This product is made especially for you as soon as you place an order, which is why it takes us a bit longer to deliver it to you. Making products on demand instead of in bulk helps reduce overproduction, so thank you for making thoughtful purchasing decisions!

Size:

The Ecosystem Wayseeker - Hooded Long-sleeve Tee (Navy Heather) from $27.00

With its long sleeves and comfortable hood, this tee is perfect for layering, allowing you to create stylish outfits all year round. Plus, its lightweight construction allows for unrestricted movement, ensuring that you feel at ease no matter the occasion. Although, the Ecosystem Wayseeker will always be watching out!

• 100% airlume combed and ringspun cotton
• Heather colors are 52% cotton, 48% polyester
• Triblend colors are 50% polyester, 25% airlume combed and ringspun cotton, and 25% rayon
• Fabric weight: 3.8 oz/yd² (128.84 g/m²)
• Regular fit
• Side-seamed construction
• Crossover “V” at the neckline
• Blank product sourced from Honduras, Nicaragua, and United States.

Size:

Nancy Duarte’s 6-step process for High Stakes Presentations

peterdurand — Mon, 10 Nov 2025 22:54:11 +0000

These visual notes are from Nancy Duarte’s breakdown of her game-changing TED Talk.

With high-stakes presentations, you only have ONE shot. Mess it up, and you may miss out on an opportunity that may only come once in a lifetime. That's why it's critical to create your presentations using a PROVEN framework. In the video, Nancy breaks down her viral TED Talk to show you a proven presentation structure you can use as the foundation of all your high-stakes presentations.

Nancy expertly modeled how the context and media can morph, while the core message and 6-Step Process remains consistent!

This really is an example of the playful remix of Nancy’s core message in different formats which all connect to each other:

I created these handwritten sketchnotes for myself from…
A 2024 video produced by Nancy Duarte who applied…
A visual framework from her book Resonate: Present Visual Stories that Transform Audiences in order to analyze…
The structure of her 2010 Ted Talk viral video on presentation, then she…
Wrote a LinkedIn post, and…
Embedded my sketchnotes (1) which is a visual synthesis of the 6-step process.

NOTE: The text below are from a LinkedIn post by Nancy Duarte who used my sketchnotes to illustrate her process. See original post here.

Many presenters lose their audience within the first 30 seconds.

If that happens, it’s as if you never even presented...

Your brilliant idea or insights that could change their lives never reach their potential.

That's why half the battle in a high-stakes presentation is keeping your audience engaged.

Here’s a 6-step process I’ve used over the last few decades to win the room during my highest stakes presentations.

1. Know your audience’s values and decision-making style.

The first mistake communicators make is presenting what they think is important.

But persuasion doesn't start with you and your message. It starts with your audience.

Before you build a single slide, understand how they think and what’s driving their decisions.

What drives them to make decisions (are they analytical or intuitive)? Are they risk-averse or risk-tolerant? What are their biggest pain points?

2. Understand why your audience is coming to THIS presentation.

Taking #1 a step further, think through what everyone in your audience is bringing with them into this meeting.

What do they feel about the topic you’re presenting on? What pressures are they facing? What are they afraid of? Are they here because they have to be or because they want to be?

3. Identify how your message solves their problem (make them the hero).

Take what you learned in Steps 1 and 2 to create your presentation’s story structure.

Position your idea as the bridge that connects where your audience is and where they want to be.

Your idea is the catalyst that allows them to overcome obstacles and achieve their goals.

4. Determine the ONE thing you want them to do after the presentation.

You know what outcome you need, so don’t leave it up to chance. Give them ONE action to take and make the stakes crystal clear.

What happens if they say yes? But more importantly, what happens if they don't?

People are more likely to act when they understand the cost of inaction.

5. Distill everything into The Big Idea™.

If your audience forgets everything else, what’s the one thing you want them to remember? That’s The Big Idea™.

When Steve Jobs introduced the iPhone, he said, “Today, Apple reinvents the phone.”

That’s a message that moves people.

The Big Idea™ is your point of view plus what’s at stake. It should be a single sentence.

6. Make sure everything in your presentation supports The Big Idea™.

Once you have that sentence, test every element of your presentation against it.

Your stories, your data, your slides…every piece should reinforce The Big Idea™ and make it impossible to ignore.

Cut anything that doesn’t support The Big Idea™. It will only weaken your presentation.

This 6-step process has worked wonders for me throughout my career, and I’m confident it can help you begin winning the room during your high-stakes presentations.

References

How The Big Idea™ Formula Can Make Your Presentation the Best (Article) by Nancy Duarte (2018) - https://www.duarte.com/blog/how-to-develop-the-best-big-idea-for-your-presentation/
The Secret "Presentation Formula" Behind My 3M+ View TED Talk (Video) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7aymo_E130&t=322s
Resonate: Present Visual Stories that Transform Audiences (Book) by Nancy Duarte, 2010 - https://www.duarte.com/resources/books/resonate/
Graphic Note-Taking Tips, Tools and Techniques by Peter Durand - https://www.alphachimp.com/graphic-note-taking

Houston Energy & Climate Week 2025

peterdurand — Sat, 27 Sep 2025 18:36:51 +0000

Built on the power of "and," this year's 2025 theme is Unstoppable! From breaking barriers in space to leading advancements in energy, climate, artificial intelligence, medicine, andthe arts, Houston is a city of firsts and doesn't just take on challenges—it redefines what’s possible. Visual Note-takers Peter Durand & Kristen McLean were there to capture ideas across domains.

Full details at: www.climateweekhouston.com

Interested in having your next summit captured visually? See how our graphic recording service works.

Opening Ceremonies

Thursday, September 18, 2025

Speakers & Panelists

“Welcome & Opening Remarks“ with Lindsay Roe & Commissioner Lesley Briones

“The Brain Economy–Our Next Frontier for Growth and Innovation“ with David Gow & Katie Mehnert

“Brain, Heart, and Houston“ with David Sandberg, Randy Lack, Katie Mehnert

“Intersections of Climate & Energy“ with Kyle Wiley, Debalina Sengupta, Aaron Fitzgerald, Jolene Gurevich, Juli Rush

“Fireside Chat on Geothermal“ with Sharita Humphrey and Juliana Garaizar

“Houston on the Path to Systems Thinking“ with Juli Allen Rush, Jason Korman, Debalina Sengupta, Katie Mehnert

“Energy Mix Deep Dive into Nuclear“ with Reed Clay, Ryan Neilson, Kreshka Young, Rafael Hernandez

“Closing Remarks“ with Ingrid Velasco, John Rowe

Visual Note-Taking & Graphic Recording | Peter Durand & Kristen McLean

SAF, CCUS & LATAM Panel

Thursday, September 18, 2025

Host: Juliana Garaizar | Energytech Nexus

Speakers:

Powering Tomorrow's Workforce

Thursday, September 18, 2025

Hosted by NES Fircroft

“New Energies – New Opportunities“ | Moderated by: Mark LaCour, Editor in Chief & Podcast Speaker of OGGN

Chris Celano, COO, Stardust Power
Jay Keener, CEO, Altillion Inc.
James Walker, CEO, Nano Nuclear
Don Leach, SVP, Carbon Cycle

“Powering Tomorrow's Workforce” | Keynote by NES Fircroft

“The Heat, Power, and Progress of Data Centers“ | Moderated by Michelle Musson, Analyst, Orennia

Hussein Shel, Chief Digital Officer, Amazon Web Services (AWS)
Rafael Hernandez, VP Commercial, Last Energy
Mansur Masood, Director Data Center Origination, NRG
Ian Rock, CTO, TerraFlow Energy

Visual Note-Taking & Graphic Recording | Peter Durand & Kristen McLean

Closing Ceremonies

Friday, September 19, 2025

Welcome

Allies in Energy President | Lindsay Roe
Co-Chairs 2025 Houston Energy and Climate Week | Ingrid Velsaco and John Rowe

Confronting Climate Gridlock | Dr. Dan Cohan, Professor at Rice University, with Jana Schey, Founder of Practical Evolution

The Intersection & Climate and Energy

Hack the Heat Hackathon Awards - Katie Rosario | Octopus Energy

Reflection on the Week with a musical performance by Raycheal Winters

The Power of AND - Everyone Can Play A Role

Angela Blanchard | Born for Storms
Francisco Sanchez | Senior Advisor for Economic Development, Hagerty Consulting
Lindsay Roe | President of Allies in Energy

Visual Note-Taking & Graphic Recording by Kristen McLean & Peter Durand

Huge gratitude to the many Supporters and all-volunteer Planning Committee.

Learn more about Visual Note-Taking

Scribing St. Louis Union Station

peterdurand — Sun, 07 Sep 2025 16:37:18 +0000

St. Louis Union Station combines historic elegance with modern and stunning detail. At this particular industry conference, it was covered in graphic recording and digital visual notes, displayed in a style reminiscent of famous movie posters.

ABOVE: The colorful graphic recording drawings created by Alphachimp artists are displayed in a gallery which resembles a movie marquis with blue LED lights.

Setting the Scene: Union Station’s rich Visual History

Built by architect Theodore Link and completed in 1894, St. Louis Union Station is a landmark example of Romanesque Revival architecture.

Rounded arches, massive stone construction, and a fortress-like, medieval appearance characterize this style.

While the station's main style is Romanesque Revival, its construction and interior details were influenced by the same period that saw a renewed focus on artistry and skilled handiwork. Constructed out of Bedford Stone, the entire complex covers nearly 20 acres. Union Station is a National Historic Landmark.

Opened in 1894, Union Station was a massive train terminal in its heyday, handling passenger services for two dozen railroads and holding the title of the largest and busiest in the nation until its abandonment in 1978.

The historic station was reopened in 1985 after undergoing a process of adaptive reuse.

Reference: www.stlouisunionstation.com/story

photo: w_lemay

To transform the interior of this massive open space, the talented event production team created a rounded movie marquee to showcase the work of our graphic recording artists.

Graphic Recording on location at the station

Alphachimp artists were onsite to capture presentations live, both keynotes delivered in the main auditorium or parallel breakout group sessions with subject matter experts.

Our team visualized content from parallel breakout sessions and keynotes, including an emotional and inspirational presentation by Lieutenant Colonel Dan Rooney, a F-16 fighter pilot and founder of Folds of Honor. www.foldsofhonor.org

Visual note-taking Sparks Engagement & Memory

Why did the conference organizers create such engaging learning environments and incorporate graphic recording?

Each graphic recording board was displayed like a vintage movie poster, underscoring the venue's history, art, and heart. As attendees entered the Union Station’s soaring main hallway, their eyes lit up!

After each content session or keynote, participants and guest speakers loved having a visual summary to keep and share with their friends, family members, and online audiences.

The conference organizers and production team recognized that rich learning environments are supported by visual storytelling and experiential learning:

Enhances retention by combining images and words
Serves as shareable takeaways for attendees
Invites deeper reflection on ideas and concepts

Teachers and facilitators know that if a participant is bored, on their phone, or asleep… they are unlikely to be learning!

As humans, we are hungry for sensory input and stimulation; yet as learning designers, we need to avoid cognitive overload. With the ultimate goal of enabling a “flow state” for participants.

(reference: Psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi )

Engage all of the senses to elevate learning

Learning experts and research emphasize that engaging multiple senses stimulates different areas of the brain, leading to stronger and more resilient neural connections.

To elevate engagement through all the senses, the event designers created rich experiences in each breakout, including a beach scene, a camping scene, and an English library on a rainy day, with the addition of a humanoid robot :-)

This was an excellent use case of Multisensory Learning, an approach that incorporates various modalities and engages multiple senses. Typically, multisensory teaching strategies and activities use some combination of visual, auditory, kinesthetic, and tactile methods.

Visual: Graphics, videos, charts, pictures, closed captioning, VR, and AR
Auditory: Songs, music, audio books, chants, rhymes, text-to-speech
Kinesthetic: Clapping, jumping, pointing, role-play, forming shapes or angles
Tactile: Sand trays, sandpaper letters, manipulatives, playdough

All of these modalities were designed into the uniquely themed breakout rooms to heighten interest and intrigue as participants moved between presentations.

 (References: TeachTown and Wikipedia)

Alphachimp Artwork and expert ideas on display

Our artists’ colorful visual notes were on display throughout the three-day conference, both physically… and digitally.

ABOVE: Alphachimp Artists Nate Dailey, Drew Dernavich, and Leah Silverman

Graphic recording is not about making pretty pictures. Instead, visual note-taking is a tool for connecting people with ideas.

At this conference — and at every event we support — our experienced team members capture the content beautifully and accurately, which is no easy task!

Each artist has their own unique style; however, by sticking to a standard color palette that reflects the client’s brand identity and creating consistent titles before the event, they can achieve a cohesive look.

This creates a singular and consistent visual experience for attendees, while enabling our artists to work swiftly and freely.

Teamwork makes the dream work

To pull this together, it is crucial to design an efficient workflow and communicate handoffs. Communication and collaboration are clutch!

A high-end production like this does not happen without expert leadership and coordination across many vendors, teams, and technical professionals.

Our Alphachimp Artists collaborated with the production team’s experienced AV team to quickly photograph and digitize each physical poster, allowing them to be displayed on large-screen displays.

At the same time, we coordinated with the marketing team and communication team so that images could be broadcast in real-time social media posts to their global audience.

Knowing the workflow, point of contact (POC), and camaraderie of the whole production team is what makes for a seamless experience for attendees. Plus, a fun and safe experience for all involved!

Ready to discuss creative ways to bring your next conference or meeting to life visually?

CONTACT US

2025 Health Scholar Showcase

peterdurand — Tue, 15 Apr 2025 20:54:56 +0000

How might we bridge the divide between the need for mental health services and our healthcare system's capacity to meet that need?

Two levels of health science scholar research posters at the 2025 Health Scholar Showcase.

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When/where health disparities exist, thoughtful systems design is required. It has been a personal benefit to witness health practitioners and researchers working across boundaries—and budgetary uncertainty—to make a difference.

Two levels of health science scholar research posters at the 2025 Health Scholar Showcase. This event brought together faculty researchers, staff, and community guests for an afternoon of interdisciplinary dialogue and discovery as they shares some of the best examples of faculty health research and sponsored programs at Texas State University.

The auditorium at Texas State University Center for Performing Arts with Melinda Villagran, PhD and Daniel Knoepflmacher, MD, MFA and my digital graphic recording of keynote titled “Bridging the Divide” is on a screen above.

Within three days, we had the honor to support three different conversations about boldly meeting the need for mental health awareness, skills, tools, and treatments:

A startup designing suicide prevention programs for teens in Houston.
A keynote presentation by a former Hollywood writer turned clinical psychiatrist on the stigma and systemic challenges facing mental health access in the U.S.
A two-day virtual design workshop involving participants in the US and India on the delivery of meditation and mindfulness practice as an effective tool for treating depression and anxiety.

Interested in having your next summit captured visually? See how our digital graphic recording service works. Or check out our FAQs here.

Breaking Down My Personal Notebook “System”

peterdurand — Mon, 31 Mar 2025 19:08:00 +0000

by Peter Durand

At this point, it is less a “system” and more like a “collection” or a “compulsion.” Like author and artist Austin Kleon, I have landed on four different sizes for different purposes — all are used to organize my Monkey Mind! 🐒

My Pocket Notebook

When I was younger and hitchhiking around Europe — well before the age of the mobile phone — these little books were my lifeline! Usually picked up at a drugstore in the school supply section.

Field Notes are designed and produced in Chicago (USA) and used for shopping lists, mobile scratch notes, measurements, addresses, quick to-do lists, and randomness.

I first learned about this from designer Aaron Draplin. As he says, “I am not writing this down to remember for the future; I am writing this down to remember now!”

SIZE: 3½" × 5½" 48 Pages
BRAND: Field Notes
LINK: https://fieldnotesbrand.com/

My Commonplace Journal

ABOVE: Robert Southwell's Commonplace Book, 1653

I was inspired by my grandfather, a geography professor, who wrote 3-4 lines of tiny pencil notes about his global travels using a 1960s blue essay book.

I later learned about the long tradition of the “commonplace diary,” a collection of daily stats, weather, body weight, quotes of the day, news headlines, and top daily 3-5 highlights.

Mine sits permanently on the kitchen bar, where I eat breakfast, drink coffee, and listen to the morning news.

SIZE: A5 or 5½" x 8½"
BRAND: Karst stone paper (made from real stone!), a tree-free softcover notebook made from high-quality, sustainable, and recyclable stone paper with a flexible vegan leather cover. It was a Father's Day gift from my daughter.
LINK: https://karstgoods.com/en-us/products/stone-paper-softcover-notebook

My Bullet Journal/Sketchbook

This highly customizable, analog organization system uses a notebook to track tasks, schedule events, brainstorm ideas, and more.

ABOVE: Fresh vs. finished sketchbook.

Bullet Journals (bujo) use a combination of bullet points, symbols, and personal organization techniques.

People have gone super-deep on this technique!

But, I have evolved my even lazier version based on the Lazy Genius.

I started posting selective sketchnotes from lectures, podcasts, and conversations here.

SIZE: 5.7" × 8.3" or A5 (aka. “the Medium”)
BRAND: Leuchtturm 1917 Classic (dotted ruling) or Moleskine
LINK: https://www.leuchtturm1917.us/classic-notebooks-1.html

Weekly Work Log

My one-glance view of the workweek.

I set it up on Sunday afternoon with a snapshot of the week’s meetings, projects, to-dos, business operations, etc.

The handwritten schedule keeps me looking at my phone or calendar app.

It is spiral-bound, so it lays flat. It sits next to my computer keyboard. I only need one page to keep me on track for the week.

SIZE: A5 or 5.8” x 8.3”
BRAND: Airship Notebooks, dotted ruling. Designed by architect Eric Reinholdt of 30X40 Design Workshop.
LINK: www.thirtybyforty.com/blank

NOTE: Because the company has me dialed in — and a dope monkey icon! — I have a ton of Howler Brothers stickers on all of my luggage and sketchbooks. This helps me track them in the clutter!!

See more sketchnotes

Visual Stories @ SXSW with TwoLines Studio

peterdurand — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 00:23:02 +0000

Graphic Recording in action, visualizing stories from the Main Stage at SXSW in Austin, Texas.

SXSW photo dump. Still buzzing from a week in Austin, scribing keynotes with Heather Willems and Ona Rygelis of TwoLine Studios. Also got to hang with buds Eva Oloumi & Drew Dernavich.

💡 SCRIBED KEYNOTE SPEAKERS ⚡

Arvind Krishna, Chairman and CEO of IBM, with Jon Fortt, co-anchor of CNBC's Closing Bell Overtime (listen)

Conan O'Brien & Johanna Fairies of Blizzard Entertainment on "The Future of Entertainment" (listen)
Cheryl Miller Houser on “Human-Centered Storytelling”
Rockers John Fogerty & Tom Morello on artists' rights and “A Lifetime in Music” (listen)
Comedian, actor, and podcaster Marc Maron with W. Kamau Bell (listen)
Bryan Johnson on "Don't Die!" and the Blueprint for reversing aging (video)

Learn more about our graphic recording service See all Creative Services

GET ALL THE ARTWORK from the Twoline Studio Team at:
https://www.twolinestudios.com/newsletter-signup-sxsw

Flatstock

The FLATSTOCK poster show series is presented by the American Poster Institute (API). It is an ongoing series of exhibitions featuring the work of many of the most popular concert poster artists working today.

Peeping poster art at Flatstock with Factory 43, The Little Friends of Printmaking, Carlos Hernandez, Stuffed Brain Studio, and the American Poster Institute.

SHOUT OUT to all of the behind-the-scenes work by the SXSW Tech Team, volunteers, SXSW Prez Hugh Forrest, and the many curators, musicians, speakers, and the City of Houston.

Want to bring the power of graphic recording and visual storytelling to your next conference, meeting, or event? See how our graphic recording service works.

CONTACT US, and we’ll hook you up!

Equity Unplugged

peterdurand — Thu, 21 Nov 2024 23:47:43 +0000

"Equity Unplugged" was an honest conversation about the shifting U.S. workforce.

Thanks to Katie Mehnert of ALLY Energy and Xchelsia Jennings of Baker Hughes in Houston for hosting a group of professionals from several Houston organizations interested in making workplaces truly equitable—not simply ticking boxes but creating real change!

Landi Spearman did a great job engaging everyone in the SHIFT that always needs to take place in change efforts of any size.

Thanks to the expert panel of Lemar Marie Brown, Victor V. Wright, Carol Lee Andersen, Julie Shochat, and Juliana Garaizar, who shared personal stories and closely held values.

What struck me most was the emphasis on authenticity and grit to do what STILL needs to be done.

Specifically, there is a need to have honest conversations, build meaningful connections, and be prepared to do the hard work to dismantle systemic inequities.

Equity work requires cross-level discussion on systemic challenges and solutions, particularly acknowledging that "equity" means providing value to shareholders, stakeholders, AND communities.

The event also highlighted the importance of moving beyond tokenism and focusing on systemic change. To make the SHIFT, we must equip our leaders with the tools and data to drive real progress beyond gender and race.

Overall, "Equity Unplugged" was a powerful reminder that equity is a journey, not a destination.

It never ends.

It requires constant effort, a willingness to learn, and a commitment to creating a better future for everyone.

Scribing for Children’s Rights & Humanitarian Action

peterdurand — Wed, 20 Nov 2024 21:40:38 +0000

PHOTO: Peter Durand leaping in front of graphic recording for UNICEF in NYC

Running from job to job... but never gonna give up! I am so thankful for a lifelong career of drawing out the ideas of good people doing good work. In fact, that has been the core business directive of Alphachimp since the beginning:

“Do good work with good people.”

The work behind that spry guy is for the dedicated, hard-working, caring people at UNICEF, who gathered in NYC to design their 4-year plan to help children survive and thrive in 187 countries. They pursue their mandate to uphold the rights of all children, focusing on those left behind by social and economic progress.

It was humbling and an honor to work with the UNICEF team that — along with hundreds of global partners, government agencies, donors, and volunteers — works in hazardous and desperate environments for children.

While doing my little doodles, I had to remind myself that these are the people who coordinate food, medicine, critical supplies, healthcare, education, and hygiene for hundreds of millions of children.

In Gaza. In Ukraine. In South Sudan. In Myanmar. In Congo. In Syria.

In dangerous conditions where diplomacy and negotiations are delicate. Perilous. Lifesaving.

Systems work, humanitarian work, systems work... they require grit, collaboration, innovation, and the courage to never give up. As one of the @UNICEF team members said:

“We owe it to every child to never indulge in despair.”

Hope fuels change.

more information

With the launch of its 2024 Humanitarian Action for Children appeal, UNICEF explains how it plans to build better futures and protect the rights of children living in conflict and crisis through transformative local partnerships — and why flexible donor support is more critical than ever!!

https://www.unicefusa.org/media-hub/reports/humanitarian-action-children-2024

Start a conversation

Ask children about their ideas, priorities, and dreams for the future. To help hold supportive conversations, check out the toolkit from the UNICEF Parenting Hub or some helpful articles:

🙏 Huge gratitude to lead facilitator Eliana Del Bianco and music maestro Dan Newman of Matter Group for having me on the team. 🙏

Seven Days of Sketchnotes

peterdurand — Tue, 19 Nov 2024 17:19:28 +0000

Since I was a kid, I have constantly augmented my notes with diagrams and googly-eyed characters. 👀 Mostly as a distraction. Today, however, I make visual notes to understand and remember! Fortunately, designer Mike Rohde gave us a good term for it: sketchnotes. Below is a short video of a week of pages in my personal notebook.

Sketchnotes are evidence of my attempts to be an active learner, to transcribe information in various forms: spoken word, visual presentations, or dancing!

See Sketchnotes Archive

PHOTO: Peter Durand SXSW 2024 holding his trusty notebook full of sketchnotes.

Most of the spreads shown are from the marathon 10-hour Startup Speedrun taught by Wade Pinder leader of the 1000+ member Houston Product Community. (Highly recommend both!!)

Also in there:

... a spicy talk by Chef Jassi at CreativeMornings in Houston

... a Model of the Month session with the The Value Web Learning Community

... Rice University and University of Houston sessions: EntrepreNeuro

At the gathering of neuroengineers, I was approached by several people who were curious about my sketchnotes.

And they each said: “Oh, I could 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 do that!”

These are amazing people who are building the hardware and software to enable humans to walk and speak again after devastating accidents, brain trauma, strokes, etc.

Even if you are a bit intimidated… try it out!

C'mon! You don't have to show anyone. 😃

They are for you :-)

Interview with Mike Rohde in The Sketchnote Army Podcast (Season 16)

RESOURCES

Mike Rohde’s official website - https://rohdesign.com/

The Sketchnote Handbook - https://rohdesign.com/handbook

Sketchnote Army official website - https://sketchnotearmy.com/

Sketchnote Army Podcast - https://sketchnotearmy.com/podcast

Convening The Entrepreneurship Funders Network in Baltimore

peterdurand — Mon, 21 Oct 2024 17:58:00 +0000

Entrepreneurship strengthens shared prosperity in all communities and closes wealth gaps. But how might we better fund and support entrepreneurs in diverse communities across the United States?

The Entrepreneur Funders Network (EFN) and its philanthropic funder members recognize entrepreneurship as a tool to advance social and economic equity and consider entrepreneurship to have a broad definition and value.

“Entrepreneurship” encompasses the accessibility and readiness to own, run, and develop a business, creating pathways to entrepreneurship and career success and developing an entrepreneurial mindset and innovation skill-building across an individual’s lifespan.

At its annual convening, the EFN creates and holds space for funder members to connect and co-create with each other and other participants in entrepreneurial ecosystems to identify opportunities, advance emergent agendas, and catalyze effective investment in entrepreneurship.

At the 2024 EFN Convening in Baltimore, galvanized philanthropic funders to support and catalyze change to improve conditions for entrepreneurs and inclusive entrepreneurship, foster innovative mindsets and skill development, and strengthen equitable entrepreneurial ecosystems.

The participants and speakers explored topics such as:

University of Baltimore and Johns Hopkins entrepreneurial programs
creative pathways for foundations to support entrepreneurship
securing equity and legal threats to diversity
entrepreneurial education and mindset
supporting grantee beyond funding
funder-to-funder collaboration
U.S. government policies
collective giving models
equitable ecosystems
co-ownership models
impact mapping

Peter Durand joined the dpict team to provide graphic recording support for all sessions and plenary discussions.

EFN Convening Gallery: https://www.eshipfundersnetwork.org/annual-convening

View all graphic recording images: https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipNwrCxrTu8Z5j8RRWixUnBpxMJ1-mq-kNCD8qygeiOljd3ZsJJ92VwPvD-3YMMI4Q?key=aVA5emR6T0JIYjNMeWN2aTJSVkJ6YkpjcFM2X1F3

Texas Community Health Workers: Mapping the Ecosystem

peterdurand — Tue, 01 Oct 2024 17:01:26 +0000

Who are Community Health Workers?

Community health workers (CHWs) are frontline health workers worldwide who are trusted members of their communities and are instrumental in reducing disparities and promoting healthy communities.

The dedication and service of Community Health Workers inspire hope and pave the way for a healthier, more equitable future. Yet, CHWs often need to be more appreciated, equitably paid, and better understood by the health systems that depend upon them.

What CHallenges face Community Health Workers?

PHOTO: Team members from The Center for Healthy Communities with participants in a community health worker mapping session in Houston on March 30, 2023

In 2022, The Health Equity Collective (HEC), a multi-sector systems-level collective impact coalition in the Greater Houston region, partnered with the City of Houston Health Department to launch a two-year effort to implement a comprehensive approach towards strengthening the CHW workforce infrastructure to advance healthy communites.

UTHealth Houston — one of the most comprehensive academic health science centers in the United States — conducted a study to understand better the ecosystem of need, support, training, and deployment of CHWs in Texas.

This included promoting parity in living wages, providing a career pipeline for further advancement, recruiting from ethnically and racially diverse communities, and offering full-time employment opportunities with benefits.

The researchers’ baseline assessment findings show the challenges CHWs face, such as being underpaid, experiencing burnout, variability in job definitions, and lack of pathways and support for career development from the systems they are hired within. These issues and challenges stress the need for better support systems for these essential health workers.

The Center for Healthy Communities has a vision of a world populated by healthy people across flourishing communities.

To the end, the research team practices human-centered design (HCD) which is a problem-solving approach that places the needs and experiences of our community and stakeholders at the core of our research design process. They engaged Alphachimp to help facilitate, document, and visualize the CHW journey, using HCD methods — with community health workers and their employers at the center of the process. (See CHW resources.)

What did The Journey Mapping Process look like?

This multi-stage visualization process resulted in several iterations of “journey maps” through interviews, brainstorming workshops, and an iterative design process.

ABOVE: Screenshots showing the multiple versions and iterations of journey maps, including photos of the flipcharts and Post-It Notes from the first workshops, Miro Boards from online work sessions, sketches, and the final script and storyboard for the final explainer video.

The various maps all included the pathways that brought the participants to pursue a CHW career path, their journey through CHW training, personal development, fieldwork, and certification, and how they obtained their jobs, part-time or full-time. They also highlight many challenges, including:

unclear role definition
insufficient systems support
billing for services unavailable
supervisors are rarely CHWs themselves
lack of investment in career pathways and professional development
lack of systems crisis response
overwork, low wages, and underemployment

Conversely, the research identified many opportunities to empower CHWs through community engagement, building trust between the community and healthcare systems, service areas, listening to others, storytelling, peer training, and knowledge distribution.

With the goal of creating an accurate yet compelling, CHW user journey, the design team convened stakeholders and practitioners representing various “vantage points” within the system:

Community Health Worker professionals with different life experiences
CHW instructors
CHW training centers
CHW certified training professionals
CHW training managers
social services organizations
training and certification programs
public health researchers

The final explainer video (see below) is a product of the core research team's extensive two-year qualitative and quantitative research, and a testament to the team’s commitment to thoroughness and credibility!

CHW Explainer Video

The video's goal and primary usage is as a briefing or introduction tool, used both online and in live presentations to level-set audiences on the personal and professional needs of CHWs.

The team did not want an anonymous voice but a trusted messenger, so the video was narrated by Rosalia Guerrero, who has worked with community health workers for over 20 years throughout Texas, including urban, rural, and border communities.

She serves as Director of Vulnerable Populations for the Texas Epidemic Public Health Institute (TEPHI) at the UTHealth School of Public Health (UTSPH) in Houston and as adjunct faculty at Texas Southern University, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.

Conclusions

Our academic, peer-reviewed paper outlines the journey mapping process and the collective impact approach to strengthening the CHW workforce across the Greater Houston region. Strategies and priorities were developed based on CHW voices and engaging stakeholders across all efforts.

These collaborative efforts have contributed to promising systems and policy changes on the local and state levels. The effort has also identified a historical lack of power-sharing and mistrust across CHW stakeholders that needs time and investment and more equitable systems to heal.

Disclaimer

This article is meant for educational purposes only. It is about the collaborative design process and does not represent the views of UTHealth, its faculty, departments, institutions, or government agencies.

Acknowledgments

I want to express profound gratitude to Dr. Shreela Sharma, Heidi M. Hagen McPherson, Rosalia Guerrero, Naomi Tice, Sisan Tennyson, Dr. Jemima John, Deborah Banerjee, Nadia Siddiqui, Sheila Savannah, members of the Health Equity Collective and the CHWs for their invaluable participation and guidance in this research.

The authors also thank the City of Houston Health Department for its crucial role in this process.

Additionally, acknowledgment is extended to UTHealth. Their support and fostering of an environment that enabled this systems change have been invaluable.

And to my bud Jody Lentz for connecting me when I moved to Houston during The Covid Times!

Learn more about CHWs and their important work in communities.

https://sph.uth.edu/research/centers/center-for-healthy-communities/community-health-workers/

LEARN MORE

See our graphic recording images from presentations during Houston Energy and Climate Week.
Learn about our graphic recording services and how visual facilitation drives innovation.
See what Alphachimp is up to in the Houston Innovation Ecosystem.

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The Wond’ry x Nissan: Mapping Innovation

peterdurand — Fri, 27 Sep 2024 20:16:00 +0000

Alphachimp LLC worked with The Wond’ry project team to design and illustrate a physical map that describes a yearlong collaboration between faculty, students, staff, and transportation industry innovators.

As Vanderbilt University’s Innovation Center, The Wond’ry provides students, faculty, staff, and community members with the tools and resources to bring ideas to life.

They work across four practice areas: Making & Design, Entrepreneurship, Innovation & Design Strategy, and Social Innovation.

Headquartered just outside Nashville, Tennessee, Nissan North America partnered with The Wond'ry to drive innovation, harness cutting-edge design, and apply empathy-driven solutions to redefine industry challenges and transform academic engagement.

This partnership is part of a larger ongoing collaboration with the Wond’ry to provide Nissan with a structured framework and prototyping resources to enhance its innovation development capabilities.

The Final Product

click thumbnails below for larger view

Our goal? To surprise & delight!

At first, our project brief was to create a single poster-sized infographic for a 15-minute presentation of the yearlong project.

However, in exploring options, we suggested creating a physical printed piece—similar to an old school road map—which The Wond’ry Team could put directly into the hands of the Nissan team.

Plus, it gives the executives something they would be excited to show their family back home!!

The Collaborative Design Process

Over eight weeks, working virtually as a design team, we used a collaborative Miro Board to:

Collect brand standards, fonts, and colors
Post reference photos and inspiration

Share content and printer specs
Iterate layout design and template
Refine and approve final print versions

The Wond’ry x Nissan Collaboration

Initiatives undertaken by Nissan North America (NNA) Product Planning (PRODT) and Vanderbilt University's Wond'ry during their first year of partnership.

These projects spanned a wide array of focus areas, each tailored to advance Nissan’s strategic goals:

Process innovation
Customer-centric health and wellness
Enhanced user experience design
AI-driven tools

Project Mojo

Addressed the skill disparity within the NNA PRODT team by implementing a comprehensive approach involving surveys, shadowing, interviews, and workshops. This project successfully enhanced the team's ability to tackle innovation barriers and fostered a culture of proactive product planning.

Nissan Innovation Bank

A series of structured educational courses, including a capstone pitching masterclass, were designed to refine the PRODT team's innovative capacities, ensuring effective use of the newly developed electronic Nissan Innovation Platform.

2023 GEMBA Week

Featured immersive projects focusing on direct consumer interaction and practical testing. Teams engaged users to better understand the needs surrounding health and wellness and the functionality of multi-row vehicles. This direct engagement provided invaluable insights into consumer behavior and preferences.

Nissan AI Chatbox

Developed a conversational chatbot to sift through extensive historical survey data to predict future trends, despite facing significant data and tool usage challenges. This AI tool has notably improved Nissan's capability to forecast customer needs and tailor their strategic responses.

Health & Wellness Innovation

Explored varying customer expectations across different driving scenarios to integrate health and wellness features effectively into vehicle designs. The collaboration with Vanderbilt’s Medical Health Panel enriched the project with expert medical insights, translating into actionable design directives.

2024 Touch the Market GEMBA Week

Participants gained firsthand experience of customer preferences through active use of various vehicle types, aligning product development with authentic customer feedback and enhancing global market strategies.

“With your help, we communicated that the Nissan team needs to see and play with a world of loosely defined and roughly articulated ideas. Your illustration style invokes that playfulness so deeply.”

— Dr. David Owens | Evans Family Executive Director of the Wond'ry

About The Wond’ry

More at: www.vanderbilt.edu/the-wondry

As Vanderbilt’s Innovation Center…
The Wond’ry provides tools to innovate and collaborate, making involvement in various challenges and opportunities throughout the year possible.

Beginning with the earliest stages of an idea’s development, The Wond’ry provides a continuum of entrepreneurial supports that empower participants with an evidence-based process for idea evaluation and business model development.

The Wond’ry provides students, faculty, staff, and community members with the tools and resources to bring ideas to life. They do this across four practice areas:

Making & Design
Entrepreneurship
Innovation & Design Strategy
Social Innovation

Innovation & Design Strategy | Want to transform innovation challenges into impactful solutions?

The Innovation and Design Strategy practice area offers Wond’ry community members, including students and industry partners, the opportunity to learn proven approaches to tackling innovation challenges.

They teach techniques for generating effective solutions that support positive change in teams, organizations, and society.

Making & Design | Want to Create and Test Ideas?

The Wond’ry features four Makerspaces:

Emerging Tech Lab
Fiber Arts Build Lab
Electrical Makerspace
Mechanical Makerspace

They offer rapid prototyping resources from hand tools to sewing machines to 3D printers and laser cutting, along with the training and guidance to make your ideas real.

Social Innovation | Want to Make a Difference?

At the Wond’ry, we believe that Social Innovation is not the responsibility of just one place or individual.

It means bringing together people and organizations of diverse backgrounds to co-create new opportunities to support lasting, meaningful transformation in our communities.

Entrepreneurship | Want to Start a Venture?

Beginning with the earliest stages of an idea’s development, the Wond’ry provides a continuum of entrepreneurial supports that empower participants with an evidence-based process for idea evaluation and business model development.

Are you looking for help in designing and illustrating
your own visual explainer?
CONTACT US.

Suicide Prevention in Texas, the military & Nationwide

peterdurand — Tue, 24 Sep 2024 15:49:04 +0000

Suicidal thoughts, much like mental health conditions, can affect anyone regardless of age, gender, or background. Suicidal thoughts, although typical, should not be considered normal and often indicate more serious issues. If you or someone you care about is experiencing emotional or mental distress or crisis, there is help:

The U.S. National 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is a hotline for individuals in crisis or for those looking to help someone else. To speak with a trained listener, call 988 or visit 988lifeline.org for crisis chat services or for more information.

The Veterans Crisis Line connects veterans and service members in crisis and their families and friends with qualified resources. Dial 988 and Press 1 or visit veterancrisisline.net for crisis chat services and more information.

The Crisis Text Line is a texting service for emotional crisis support. To text with a trained helper, text SAVE to 741741. It is free, available 24/7, and confidential. crisistextline.org

ABOVE: TX Suicide Prevention Council Member Lisa Sullivan with Bart Andrews, Chief Clinical Officer, Behavioral Health Response

2024 Texas Suicide Prevention Symposium

September is Suicide Prevention Month. This is the time to raise awareness of this urgent nationwide crisis. Organizations such as the National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI), along with hundreds of advocacy and support groups, use this month to shift public perception, spread hope, and share vital information with people affected by suicide.

The ultimate goal of this work is to ensure that individuals, friends, and families have access to the resources they need to discuss suicide prevention and seek help.

In Mesquite, Texas (outside Dallas) approximately 600 healthcare providers, researchers, first responders, and survivors shared experiences and actions that people can use to help prevent suicide.

Whether focused on at-risk youth, survivors, professionals, veterans, or community members, each presentation underscored four key messages:

Prevention works.
Resilience and recovery are possible.
Effective programs and services exist.
Help is available!

Scroll down for graphic recording images produced live during the 2024 speakers and panel discussions. Presentations and videos from all past symposia are available at: texassuicideprevention.org

Learn more about our graphic recording services for nonprofits and other community organizations.

Community-Based Suicide Prevention

2024 TX Suicide Prevention Symposium TX State Update https://988lifeline.org/

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National and 988 Updates https://strongstartraining.org/

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Law Enforcement https://www.y-a-m.org/

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YAM Impact https://bhrstl.com/

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Good Therapy Is Hard Work: Supershrinks and Feedback Loops https://ic2.utexas.edu/people/s-craig-watkins/

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Ai, Suicide Prevention, and the Underserved https://www.cdc.gov/suicide/resources/nssp.html

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New National Strategy for Suicide Prevention and Federal Action Plan and CDC’s Suicide Prevention Resource for Action https://cdphe.colorado.gov/suicide-prevention

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Integrating National and Local Efforts for Suicide in Colorado https://www.mirecc.va.gov/suicideprevention/Research/crasta-bio.asp

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Partnering with Family and Friends to Strengthen Suicide Prevention https://utswmed.org/doctors/latoya-frolov/

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Maternal Mental Health

Department of Defense Suicide Prevention Plan

Colonel (Ret.) Alicia A. Matteson spent her career as an Air Force psychologist and served as a Senior Military Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Manpower and Reserve Affairs. She shared the Defense Suicide Prevention Office's Plan to integrate Federal and State plans to prevent suicides and support veterans and their families.

Texas LOSS Team

LOSS Team provides immediate on-scene support and resources, as well as an installation of hope, to individuals impacted by the suicide death of a loved one. If you or someone you know could benefit from LOSS team services, find teams in your state at: www.lossteam.com/activelossteams

www.lossteam.com and www.brcic.org.

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https://www.lossteam.com/

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https://www.lossteam.com/

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ABOVE: An attendee of the 2024 Texas Suicide Prevention conference taking a cellphone photo of the visual notes created by Peter Durand during panel discussions and keynotes.

Special thanks to the Texas Suicide Prevention Collaborative, the result of a collaborative effort throughout the state of Texas.

This network of community-based organizations, state and local agencies, academic institutions, and many others works together to reduce suicides in Texas. Learn more at: texassuicideprevention.org

Click any category below to learn more about the Texas Coalition Partners:

LEARN MORE

See our graphic recording images from presentations during Houston Energy and Climate Week.
Learn about our graphic recording services and how visual facilitation drives innovation.
See what Alphachimp is up to in the Houston Innovation Ecosystem.

2024 Houston Energy & Climate Week

peterdurand — Sun, 15 Sep 2024 22:15:37 +0000

This year's theme, We Do Hard Things highlights the resilience of Houston, especially in uncertain times.

For years, I have been trying to break through The Big Green Wall of Sustainability and to be of some service in the Energy Transition. Thanks so much to the organizers at Allies in Energy for allowing Alphachimp to play a small role in sharing the stories and ideas

The energy transition is a marathon and team sport that needs unified action.

The inaugural Houston Energy and Climate Week tackled the challenges of the energy transition head-on.

The regional, weeklong series of 75+ events and meetups emphasized fostering an inclusive energy landscape by embracing innovation and sustainability while addressing social disparities. Houston’s commitment to collaboration and proactive leadership positioned it as a frontrunner in energy solutions.

“Achieving Energy 2.0+ is a marathon. However, this race needs an increased pace. We will get there through urgency, teamwork, consistency, continued investment, and collaboration. We also commit ourselves to assessing our collective advancements and setbacks in achieving these goals.”
—excerpt from the Unity Commitment
Sociologist professor Stephen Klineberg says: “The story of Houston is that we are there first.”

According to the 2024 Kinder Institute Houston Area Survey, around three-quarters of residents—particularly younger generations—supported prioritizing renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, and hydrogen.

Despite this optimism, participants remained mindful of the potential challenges that rapid energy transitions could pose to supply stability.

The opening ceremonies focused on the costs, impacts, policies, and community needs involved in Houston’s transition to renewable energy.

Opening Ceremony

The Pragmatic Realities of a Lower Carbon Future

Transitioning to a low-carbon future hinges on advancing technologies, effective policies, and environmental justice.

Panelists:

Linda Lorelle - Emmy Award Winning Journalist Civil Dialogues & Lorelle Media
Jean Becker - Former Chief of Staff - George H.W. Bush
Co-Founder, Civil Dialogues & NY Times Best Selling Author
Pat Wood - CEO of Hunt Energy and Former Chairman of the Public Utilities Commission of Texas
Karl Pettersen - President, Pettersen Consulting
Juliana Garaizar - Founding Partner, Energy Tech Nexus and Co-Chair, Houston Energy & Climate Week
Theo Wilson - Actor, Executive Director of Shop Talk Live, Host of The History Channel's 'I Was

Key innovations include carbon capture, hydrogen, renewable energy, and transportation electrification, which are crucial in cutting greenhouse gas emissions.

Policies facilitate this shift by providing incentives and regulations and supporting infrastructure and research to ensure compliance with climate goals.

Resiliency - Building for Now and the Future

How does Houston build for the future? To ensure a resilient Houston, we must prioritize infrastructure that mitigates flooding risks and enhances the quality of life while investing in sustainability.

Addressing climate change requires immediate actions and long-term strategies to prepare our community. This discussion will highlight the importance of developing a skilled workforce with energy literacy and effective communication to engage the public in resilience planning. By focusing on intelligent infrastructure and risk reduction, Houston can innovate solutions that protect citizens and foster a sustainable energy landscape for future generations, thereby enhancing the overall quality of life for all residents.

Katie Mehnert - Chief Executive Officer, ALLY Energy and Co-Chair, Houston Energy & Climate Week
Angela Blanchard - Chief Recovery and Resilience Officer, City of Houston
Jim Keyes - Former Chief Executive Officer, Blockbuster and 7-Eleven
Kelly A. Burks-Copes, PhD - Chief, Program Support Branch, Mega Project Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Galveston District
Dr. Ramanan Krishnamoorti - Vice President of Energy and Innovation, University of Houston

The Future of Houston’s Leadership on Energy Policy

This engaging discussion explored the rich history and promising future of Houston's leadership in energy policy, how Houston has shaped and continues to influence the national and global energy landscape, and what the next half of the decade might look like.

We explored the recent National Petroleum Council study on America's hydrogen strategy and discussed the critical role of federal, state, and local partnerships, innovation, and collaboration in driving sustainable energy solutions. Panelists include:

Kyle Wiley - Co-Founder, Connector, Inc.
Darin Rice - General Manager, Hydrogen Strategy & Market Insights, Chevron New Energies
Maxine Pitter Lunn, Ph.D. - Public Diplomacy Team Lead, U.S. Department of State
Stan Kitzman - State Representative for Texas House District 85.

Closing Ceremony

The Closing Ceremony on Friday the 13th marked the end of the inaugural Houston Energy and Climate Week.

It fostered greater collaboration across various sectors, including education, entrepreneurship, industry, ecology, the arts, science, sports, and entertainment.

Houston, historically recognized for its investment in oil and gas after World War II and the Great Depression, is now making bold investments in the energy transition.

The theme We Do Hard Things encouraged participants to reflect on overcoming the fear of failure and taking risks.

Lessons on Hard Things: The Collapse of Blockbuster

James Keyes, former CEO of Blockbuster and 7-Eleven, shared his experiences in tackling tough challenges and discovering unexpected opportunities for sustainable success.

He emphasized the importance of investing in education and its broader societal impact.

And in times of change, it is essential to reframe feelings of fear into energy for transformation.

In This Together America: Reimagining The New Energy Future

This inspiring wrap-up session featured special guests from NYC Climate Week, The Texas Medical Center, the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and the Houston energy innovation ecosystem.

The interactive discussion explored how diverse stakeholders collaborate to create a sustainable energy future for all Americans.

The panel dove into innovative solutions, shared success stories, and highlighted the collective efforts necessary to address the pressing challenges of the energy transition.

Lifelong climate activist Bill Shireman, president of In This Together America, moderated the panel, which featured:

Trevor Best - Chief Executive Officer, Syzygy Plasmonics
Adam Lake - Head of Engagement North America, The Climate Group / NYC Climate Week
Elizabeth Carlson - Chief Sustainability Officer, Tricon Energy and Chair, Sustainability, Houston 2026 World Cup
Jason Fischer, MBA - Director, Officer of Sustainability, Houston Methodist Hospital

A special thanks went to Fernando Moguel for his last-minute performance of the new HECW Anthem, delivered with less than 24 hours’ notice!

And, of course, praise to the power team of Katie Mehnert, Juliana Garaizar, Lindsay Roe, and all of the sponsors, hosts, and volunteers who pulled off 75+ events across the region.

The organizers are already looking forward to building on this momentum in 2025 with the theme of UNSTOPPABLE.

When planning Houston Energy and Climate Week, the organizers stressed their desire to cultivate a spirit of inclusion.

The event was co-created by many individuals, reinforcing the idea that UNITY is central to COMMUNITY. They also aimed to reshape the narrative of Houston.

And they succeeded.

They showed the world what resilience and determination look like.

But this is only the beginning—the storytelling continues, and everyone has a role to play. Houston’s oil and gas industry will remain a critical part of the solution to the global challenges of climate change.

The path ahead won’t be easy, but progress will come through collaboration. Moving forward requires leaving the past behind and embracing the future with intentional design and systems evolution.

Success will depend on recognizing the importance of all players in the system and forging strong connections between them.

Learn more at climateweekhouston.com

Marriott's Climate Commitments On the Road to NetZero

peterdurand — Wed, 29 May 2024 15:23:15 +0000

On the journey towards NetZero, leadership matters. However, as they say, the 👿 is in the details!

BTW: Interested in having your next summit captured visually? See how our graphic recording service works.

ABOVE: Peter Durand of Alphachimp, LLC, posing with panelists Jeff Poullath, Marriott Director of Facilities, Americas; Rob Bahl, Marriott Global Vice President, Engineering and Facilities; Erika Alexander, Marriott Chief Global Officer; (Not pictured) Robert Guidice, Marriott Senior Vice President, Global Operations.

When companies proclaim their climate commitments, we may feel a mix of skepticism and curiosity. We are eager to understand their concrete steps to back up these bold claims.

This is especially true when a company commits to being NetZero by 2050 and has 9000 hotels, properties, and resorts worldwide.

Each property depends upon hundreds (or thousands) of staff members and vendors to make hyper-local decisions that impact water consumption, heating, power, mobility, accessibility, training, measurements, reporting, and actual impact.

This week has been eye-opening (and quite impressive!) to witness Marriott International, Inc. engage, educate, and motivate its directors of facilities and engineering on internal and external processes, tools, measurements, and behavior change models to transform each of their properties.

The Marriott company as a whole has committed to reducing absolute scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 46.2% by 2030 from a 2019 base year. This commitment directly affects the work of these directors of large facilities, such as hotels, resorts, and corporate campuses.

They received practical information on leveraging 3D printing, data analytics, and the tactical implementation of the company's Climate Action Program (CAP).

These engineers learned about:

Practical application of Gen AI from Shelly Palmer
The power of an individual to influence systems change from sociologist Jeni Cross
Courage and commitment to an ecological mission from Arctic and Antarctic explorer Robert Swan
Implementation of the CAP from Shannon Rinella
Design thinking and engineering experiences from Jeff Voris
How everyday heroes show up and do essential from Kevin Brown

What was emphasized repeatedly was the importance of (and love for) all of the Marriott associates, the people who are on call 24/7, wake up early in the morning, and arrive home late at night to make hotels clean, safe, and hospitable.

For me, it was a living example of the practicalities required to implement climate commitments: on the grounds, on the roof, in the kitchens, and the rooms of hotels worldwide.

Behavior Change for NetZero

ABOVE: Sociology Professor Jeni Cross on stage at the 2024 Marriott Engineering conference.

Jeni Cross is a Sociologist and Director at the Institute for Research in the Social Sciences at Colorado State University.

As a self-described “community sociologist,” she collaborates with schools and community agencies on various community-based participatory research projects centered on sustainability and community development.

Prof. Cross's research interests, which are of significant importance in the context of sustainability and behavior change, include energy conservation, community attachment/sense of place, land use and conservation, sustainability, inter-agency collaboration, social networks, and social norms. Her current projects involve research on land conservation decision-making, energy conservation, and sustainability in public schools, and behavior change campaigns among college students.

ABOVE: Graphic recording by Heather Willems of Prof. Jeni Cross’ keynote

Cross provided the audience with an insightful and practical set of actionable points, offering tangible steps for physical institutions and facilities to implement policies and practices that align with sustainability goals.

Myths About Behavior Change

First, she shared three myths that we tend to have about behavior change.

Education alone will change behavior. While knowledge is crucial, it’s insufficient; people often know what they should do but fail to act on it.
Changing attitudes will lead to behavior change. Shifting attitudes is challenging and often unnecessary. Focus directly on changing behaviors.
People understand what motivates them. Individuals often need to be more accurate in their true motives. Leaders need to recognize and tap into the actual drivers of behavior.

So, what takeaways from Prof. Cross can we implement in our climate journeys?

Social norms play a powerful role in influencing behavior.

Descriptive norms highlight what others are doing, harnessing peer pressure. When people see their peers engaging in sustainable practices, they are more likely to follow suit.
Injunctive norms, which underscore the approval and value of these behaviors within the community, reinforce this effect.

Effective communication is essential for fostering a culture of sustainability.

Tailoring messages to different audience segments ensures that communication resonates & prompts action.
Positive framing, emphasizing the benefits of sustainable behaviors, is often more motivating than focusing on negative consequences.

Creating opportunities for social interaction can significantly boost sustainability efforts.

Organizing collaborative activities, such as workshops and events, brings people together and fosters a sense of community.
Encouraging peer-to-peer influence through sharing success stories and practical tips can amplify these efforts.
Integrating behavior change principles into the design of processes & technologies is crucial.
Setting sustainable options as the default choice simplifies decision-making & encourages compliance.
Providing regular feedback on energy consumption & other sustainability metrics keeps individuals informed and motivated.

Offering incentives can reward and reinforce sustainable actions.

A supportive organizational environment is fundamental to sustaining behavior change.
Visible commitment from leadership is crucial; leaders should model sustainable behaviors and actively support sustainability goals.
Tracking progress and celebrating achievements are vital components of a successful sustainability strategy.
Establishing clear metrics allows organizations to measure the impact of their initiatives.
Recognize and celebrate both individual and collective successes!

Interested in having your next summit captured visually? See how our graphic recording service works and learn more about how visual facilitation drives the innovation process.

MORE OF OUR WORK IN ENERGY & CLIMATE

View the Houston Energy & Innovation Ecosystem Map we created.
See our graphic recording images from presentations during Houston Energy and Climate Week.
Learn about our graphic recording services and how visual facilitation drives innovation.
See what Alphachimp is up to in the Houston Innovation Ecosystem.
See sketchnotes from the 2025 Greentown Labs ClimateTech Summit.

Facilitating Group Conflict: What Primates Teach Us About Human Dynamics

peterdurand — Thu, 20 Jul 2023 22:26:00 +0000

by Peter Durand | July 20, 2023

DISCLAIMER: THIS ARTICLE IS ABOUT GROUP FACILITATION IN A TYPICAL PROFESSIONAL ENVIRONMENT, NOT A CLINICAL SETTING OR AN ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH PHYSICAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL, OR EMOTIONAL HARM IS A REAL AND PRESENT THREAT.

Primers in Primate Politics

The intellectual roots of Alphachimp's approach to group dynamics run through two of the most important primatologists of the 20th century, both of whom I met briefly at important moments of my life:

Frans de Waal (1948-2024) coined the term "alpha chimp" in his landmark book Chimpanzee Politics: Power and Sex among Apes — and his research on reconciliation and conflict resolution among primates directly inspired this company's name. I met de Waal in person at a conference when expecting our first child. Both he and his wife gave us excellent advice on what our baby primate would need!

Robert Sapolsky (b. 1957) His research on stress, hierarchy, and the physiological effects of dominance behavior illuminates why groups under pressure behave the way they do, resulting in the book, Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers. Recommend A Primate's Memoir for an entertaining and emotionally devastating view into early days of his research following a baboon troupe in East Africa.

Insights from Social Norms, Sympathetic Systems, and Polyvagal Theory

Facilitating a contentious group of workshop participants feels like directing a cameraperson through a dense rainforest during a chimp civil war.

No doubt: Facilitating groups that are experiencing tension and conflict can be a challenging task.

I am a huge fan of the recent four-part series Chimp Empire on Netflix. But, oh man! I totally got the cold sweats just watching it.

And the 2024 HBO documentary Chimp Crazy — by the same director of 2020’s Tiger King — will hopefully convince any view to reconsider keeping chimps in captivity… especially in their home!

This documentary — narrated by the inimitable Mahershala Ali — is on par with any Scorsese or Tarantino film in terms of dramatic tension and sudden violence. When watching the social hierarchy and gangster alliances form within the warring troupes of primates, I found myself saying: “Yep. That's where we get it from!”

This leads me to ask...

Are unanticipated tensions and disagreements derailing your design or strategy workshops?

As facilitators, guiding groups (of humans) through conflict and emotional distress is one of our most important and challenging roles.

While I am no trained clinician or mental health specialist, I have cobbled together some research and tips (see below) that provide a framework for understanding group dynamics and proven strategies for navigating conflicts.

By understanding social norms, the biology of our sympathetic and parasympathetic systems and applying lessons from polyvagal theory, facilitators can create a safe and productive space for resolving conflicts and promoting harmony within groups.

Norms, Baby, Norms!

Social norms are unwritten rules of behavior based on what is considered normal or expected within a certain group. These norms can significantly impact group members' behavior and evolve over time. Descriptive norms, perceived norms, and injunctive norms play significant roles in shaping behavior within a group. Here’s a basic distinction:

Descriptive norms describes how you think people actually behave. (assumptions)
Perceived norms describes how you witness people actually behaving. (direct observation)
Injunctive norms is how you think people feel about a behavior. (assumptions re: values, beliefs, opinions of others)

Facilitators can recognize—and call out—the power of norms in influencing group dynamics and utilize strategies to promote positive norms such as pattern disruption, nonviolence, inclusivity, and cooperation.

One of the most infamous and oft-cited research studies to explore these malleable norms is the 1971 Stanford Prison Experiment (SPE).

photo by Philip Zimbardo

The Stanford prison experiment (SPE) was a psychological experiment conducted in August 1971. It was a two-week simulation of a prison environment that examined the effects of situational variables on participants' reactions and behaviors. Stanford University psychology professor Philip Zimbardo led the research team who administered the study.

Participants were recruited from the local community with an ad in the newspapers offering $15 per day ($113 in 2023) to male students who wanted to participate in a “psychological study of prison life.“

Volunteers were chosen after assessments of psychological stability and then randomly assigned to being prisoners or prison guards. Critics have questioned the validity of these methods.

Volunteers selected to be “guards“ were given uniforms specifically to de-individuate them, and instructed to prevent prisoners from escaping. Over the following five days, psychological abuse of the prisoners by the “guards“ became increasingly brutal and the study had to be shut down early. SPE has been referenced and critiqued as one of the most unethical psychology experiments in history.

The harm inflicted on the participants prompted universities worldwide to improve their ethics requirements for human subjects of experiments to prevent them from being similarly harmed. Other researchers have found it difficult to reproduce the study, especially given those constraints.

The flawed and controversial study did, however, elevate societal awareness that many “normal” citizens will adapt their behavior in extreme ways when the social norms of their environment are altered.

Become a Biological Guru

Do your clients ever seem to emotionally shut down or dissociate during difficult discussions or experiences in your sessions? Polyvagal theory provides a scientific explanation for why this happens and gives practical strategies for helping people re-engage.

Whether you facilitate personal growth groups, addiction recovery programs or lead corporate teams through change, this helpful episode of the Psychiatry Podcast/Psychotherapy Podcast may provide actionable and compassionate actions to support your participants through their most vulnerable moments.

Understanding that our sympathetic and parasympathetic systems play a crucial role in our responses to tension and conflict is an important tool.

The sympathetic system activates our fight-or-flight response, which can heighten tensions and escalate conflicts.
On the other hand, the parasympathetic system helps us regulate emotions and promotes a sense of safety and connection.

And, the science behind fight, flight and freeze responses continues to evolve.

Poly-what now?

Polyvagal theory describes how our nervous system has three responses to stress: social engagement (normal state), fight or flight (anxious state), and shutdown (dissociation).

Developed by Dr. Stephen Porges, the theory offers further insights into our physiological responses during social interactions and conflict situations. According to this Porges, our autonomic nervous system plays a significant role in regulating our social engagement and emotional states.

(For a deeper dive into the science, read Porges’ 2007 paper, The Polyvegal Perspective, cited over 2000 times by other researchers.)

Understanding the different states of the autonomic nervous system, such as ventral vagal, sympathetic, and dorsal vagal, can help facilitators create an environment that promotes safety, connection, and effective communication within groups.

When people perceive a threat, their nervous system can activate the fight or flight response. If that doesn't work to escape danger, the body goes into shutdown mode by decreasing heart rate, blood pressure, and awareness to survive.

This is known as dissociation, defined as “the separation of some aspects of mental functioning from conscious awareness, leading to a degree of mental dysfunction or to mental conditions including dissociative identity disorder.”

Also known as shutdown.

The good news is we can help clients come out of shutdown by:

Building a trusting relationship. Address the effect of past events or conditions (aka “past trauma”) on current group dynamics only when the client is ready.
Know your depth and be clear on your role. If your role is as a facilitator of a design process (vs. an expert in organizational psychology) be super clear on what you are and are not qualified to handle. Provide a mechanism to capture important issues that are out of scope for the workshop (ex. a “Parking Lot” or “Important Issues” type list).
Staying calm and present yourself. Mirror neurons in the brain allow us to feel what others feel, so remain grounded.
Letting the client lead. Don't prompt them to discuss anything they aren't bringing up themselves.
Normalizing their response. Explain that going into shutdown was their body's way of protecting them, even if it's overactive now. This reduces shame.
Helping them find their anger. Anger shows us where our boundaries were crossed and gives us energy to overcome obstacles. Even a small expression of anger can help.
Introducing slow, mindful movement. Have clients slowly move in ways they wanted to during the traumatic event. This reconnects their body and mind.
Practicing assertiveness. Help clients feel more in control of their responses and safer in relationships.
Recommend breath work, mindfulness, yoga. These techniques increase awareness and connection to the present moment.

Applying these Insights in Group Facilitation

Successfully facilitating groups experiencing tension and conflict requires a basic understanding of social norms plus the biology of our autonomic systems and neural pathways.

By creating an environment that promotes positive norms, fosters safety and connection, and encourages perspective-taking and empathy, facilitators can guide groups towards resolving conflicts and cultivating harmonious relationships.

Recognize the Power of Norms: Facilitators should be aware of the influence of social norms within a group. By promoting positive norms through engaging with norm referents (respected leaders or influential group members), facilitators can set the tone for nonviolence, inclusivity, and cooperation.
Foster Safety and Connection: Creating a sense of safety is crucial for resolving conflicts within a group. Facilitators can encourage activities that activate the ventral vagal system, such as deep breathing exercises, grounding techniques, and active listening, to promote emotional regulation and build trust among group members.
Encourage Perspective-Taking and Empathy: By helping group members understand and appreciate alternative perspectives through activities like role-playing or guided discussions, facilitators can foster empathy and reduce hostility. This can promote a more nuanced understanding of the issues at hand and lead to constructive dialogue.
Address Misconceptions and Shift Norms: Facilitators should actively challenge and correct negative norms that contribute to tension and conflict. Communicating positive norms through examples of positive behavior and highlighting the rejection of harmful behaviors can help reshape group dynamics.
Provide Tools for Conflict Resolution: Equipping group members with effective conflict resolution skills, such as active listening, respectful communication, and mediation techniques, can empower them to address conflicts constructively and find mutually beneficial solutions.

Utilizing these strategies, conflict can become an opportunity for growth, understanding, and positive change within groups.

REFERENCES

The Polyvagal Perspective (Porges, 2007) - https://europepmc.org/backend/ptpmcrender.fcgi?accid=PMC1868418&blobtype=pdf
The Official Stanford Prison Experiment Website - https://www.prisonexp.org/
Psychiatry Podcast/Psychotherapy Podcast. Episode 023: Emotional Shutdown - Understanding Polyvagal Theory - https://www.psychiatrypodcast.com/psychiatry-psychotherapy-podcast/polyvagal-theory-understanding-emotional-shutdown
Over Zero article on social norms in understanding violence prevention: https://overzero.ghost.io/publishing-options/
More on how movement and body awareness can help: https://somaticmovementcenter.com/what-is-polyvagal-theory/

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