Here are some of the highlights for me so far:

1. Len Scrogan shared stories on how his 5th graders use social media to learn from writing blogs and posting their science experiment hot air balloon videos, to connecting with other students around the world via skype. Wish I had a teacher like that!

2. Dafna Michaelson – decided to travel the country to find ordinary people who are doing amazing work in their communities, solving problems and generating ideas that make a positive difference in the world. Her stories inspire action. Kids solve their own community problems.

3. Potential of 3D in learning? Stereoscopic 3D? I have not even heard of that, and probably did not even spell it correctly! The image can extend from the screen backwards or out into the audience. The image can hover. Think about the possibilities when when studying the universe. Kids get to travel via 3D into space as they study the planet they are visiting. It is already happening in classrooms NOW says Keith Krueger.

New ideas in education embrace learning by doing, aka, experiential education, social media, inspiring kids to learn versus teaching AT them, empowering people to know that they can be problem solvers and make a difference in their communities! It gives me hope for the possibilities that are available to us as we transform education.

It’s time for YouthNOW!

We’ve long believed that you can run a great company, and also do good in the world.

Today, it seems like every time you listen to the news we hear stories of iconic businesses who are being exposed for corrupt or unethical practices.  More people say that they want to do business with companies and leaders who are transparent, and with whom they can trust.

Each time we hear these stories, the case for running a kick butt business that is also doing good for the world increases. People want to work for companies who make decisions based not only on profit, but also on the positive community and environmental impact.

The Center for Creative Leadership recently came out with a study linking how an organizations ability to “Do Good” makes a difference in job retention and turnover.

Their study identified the following key findings:

1. Corporate social responsibility programs are linked to how committed an employee is to an employer.

2. Employee perceptions about corporate social responsibility remained constant during the depth of the economic decline.

3. Corporate social responsibility programs are related to employee commitment, but not necessarily employee retention.

Click here for the press release and full report:

Did you know that lily pads reproduce at incredible speed? Let’s say you discovered a variety of lily pad that doubled it’s number every day, and it takes 10 days for them to cover a pond halfway. How many more days will it take to cover the pond completely?

The answer is … one day. By the next morning the pond would be completely covered.

As an entrepreneur growing a new business, I took some heart in this story.

It often feels like when we begin new ventures, it can take forever to reap the benefit of our labor. We vision, grow, invest, birth and launch new ideas and products into the market, and we wait for people to notice. It takes tremendous amounts of courage and persistence to hold onto the vision of a full lake of lily pads and the gratification of reaping the fruit of your labor.

Yet, as entrepreneurs we keep on going with the confidence that at some point it will be the next morning, we will wake up, and the pond we’re are creating is full. At that point it looks like your venture was easy … an overnight success, everyone could do that!

For all those who have dreamed and started new ventures, you know this feeling.

So here is to all of you entrepreneurs out there. Starting and growing a business in these economic times is not a task for the faint of heart. I wish you all the illusion of overnight success and a pond full of lily pads!

Feel free to share great stories of entrepreneurial success!

A Bit Of Blues - Continuum Blues Jam

For the past 3 years I have been running a Blues Jam at the Broad Street Cafe’ in Durham, NC. It’s all a part of our “Giving Back” initiative. One of the musicians sent me this photo tonight. Usually the room is packed with the electric sound of blues. This set was acoustic.

I am very curious about collaboration these days. I think it is key to our success in dealing with many of the challenges that face us today. Maybe we can learn a bit about collaboration by singing the blues.

Every other week musicians come, bring an instrument, sign in, and wait to be put with a group for a 20 minute set. Often, they may never have met each other before that night. I line up guitar, bass, percussion, vocalist, harp and in this case mandolin, banjo and cigar box bass. I introduce the folks, they pick a song, key and tempo, and away they go. Sometimes it is a bit rocky at first, sometimes there is magic on the stage. I often wonder how they can do that? Just get on stage, play and seem like they have been together for years.

And now I’m wondering, is the jam so different then bringing together multi-sector or multi-stakeholder groups to work together on a common issue? What can I learn from a jam that may help me better design and facilitate those conversations?

Could it be that the musicians have come together for a single purpose that they all agree to, which is to make beautiful music together? In the jam, after the first chorus they pass around the spotlight and each person takes their turn to play. They bring their greatest gifts forward. And after sharing the spotlight, they come back together in a unified voice that hums. Perhaps there is something to be learned from the fact that each player takes time to practice and develop their individual talent? Or maybe the key is that they have to gather their courage and work though personal fears to be able to step on stage. They also have to be open to the possibility that they may not be as good as another, or that they may fall on their face, yet they push past the fear and step on stage. When new people come, the regulars give them extra encouragement. Sometimes, they have to fight their own egos to work together as a band.

Hummmm. Maybe a Bit of Blues can teach us Lots About Collaboration!

Durham Dreams is part of FutureWave’s 2010 Give Back Initiative. Artist, Eleatta Diver, is one of FutureWave’s first PossibilityYOU clients. Her dream was to become a successful, thriving artist, and to use her paintings to inspire others to dream. Twelve people have been selected to be a part of this program. The represent a diverse cross-section of Durham, whose dreams and visions for this city have been instrumental in the transformation of Durham. Each participant is interviewed and shares their dream for Durham. Eleatta translates their vision onto canvas. The project will culminate in a gala event in January 2010. A portion of the proceed will go to fund a new dream for Durham.

We are passionate about helping people and organizations vision and catalyze their Dreams. It is wonderful to hear the stories of people who DREAM BIG, and also have the courage to step into their dreams.

You can follow the evolution of each of the paintings and the inner thoughts of an artist on Eleatta’s blog – Behind The Easel.

Ran across this TED video that provoked curiousity! 

What we know we don’t know! 

This is a very good video that speaks to the importance of metaphor in our everyday life.  What does the phrase “climbing and climbing everyday” mean to you?  Is this a message telling us about the housing market or a climbing team on Everest.  If it refers to the housing market, we might think it implies a state of nonreversal, and those triggers may have consequences in the system. 

We utter 6 metaphors a minute!  Elvis and metaphor open the doors to discovery or  as Einstein say, “combinatory play” in thought experiments.

So, if we use metaphor to learn, create and innovate the world around us.  Then, I think his exploration-  I shake things up…therefore I am… can be a way we subtly create expectations that influences our decisions.   In this age where shaking things up isn’t always a bad thing, you might ask yourself…what would Elvis do? 

What metaphor do you use….

We learned that the hosting company has grown so fast that they are not able to keep their systems protected.  This must the downside of success.  I know that the downside means many things and ONE good thing.

The good thing…. That this company learns from the experience and never repeats it.

The downside… I will not be an evangelist for them, in fact I will WARN all of my friends and colleagues NOT to use this company.  I was met with nice people in the online chat space, I got tips and tricks from the forum but at the end of the day, my sense of safety was compromised.  I don’t care how much is spent on customer relations, training, good juju…there is no coming back from messing with a companies safety.  We have pulled the plug- left our money on the table.  They never issued any assurance that we would be safe… safety is our responsibility.  So, in order to secure that part of Maslows triangle… we are outta there!  It’s a good lesson if someone pays attention.

It was only a few weeks ago when I found myself bumping into Dawn Carter at SXSW daily and in the most unique places. I will always treasure and love what happens when we leave the space open for things to emerge…and this is one of those times.

Dawn spoke passionately of a conference that was just a few weeks away, the particpants, the speakers, and the vision. I was taking visual notes in all of the SXSW sessions I attended, Dawn always seemed nearby in the common sessions we attended and I think she had glimpses of my notebook…needless to say, the wheels started turning for both of us. First, we started talking about how cool it would be if someone was there to map the conference. Then, the more she described the intent and vision of this conference, the more curious I became, the more bought-in I was in HER success there.

Not more than one week later, Dawn contacted me with the opportunity. Now, here I am on a plane, reflecting on what happens when we stand in the wide open space of possibility!

The speakers are:
• Andy Bales – CEO of Union Rescue Mission
• Idris Al-Oboudi – Manager for City of Manhattan Beach, CA. Parks and Recreation Department
• Brian Cooper – CEO Glimmer of Hope
• Eugene Cho – Co-Founder of One Day’s Wages
• Lee Fox – Co-Founder of KooDooZ
• Nathan George – Co-Founder of Trade As One
• Jake Harriman – Co-Founder Nuru International
• Scot Harrison – Founder of Charity:Water
• Beth Kanter – Autor of Beth’s Blog: How Nonprofits Can Use Social Media
• Wade Kawasaki –
• Keith Kall – Executive Director for Corporate Engagement at World Vision
• Ben Keesey – CEO of Invisible Children
• Nisa Islam Mohammad – Founder of Wedded Bliss Foundation
• Jonathan Olinger – Founder of Discover the Journey
• Isak Pretorius – Joint Aid Management
• Hannah Song – President of LiNK or Liberty for North Korea
• Lotay Yang – President of New Horizons Foundation

We plan to post the images and images here. Please follow us on twitter at Janineunderhill #theideation.

If you are curious about what is happening these next few days, feel prompted to leave a question in the comment section,

Janine left this evening and will be graphically facilitating the event. Check back here to find out what people like Brian Cooper, CEO of A Glimmer of Hope, Scott Harrison photo journalist with Mercy Corp or Ben Keesey, CEO Invisible Children, have to say about how to bring ideas into action to make positive change in the world.

Conference hashtag is #theideation – follow the tweets!

“Culture has been getting faster and shallower for hundreds of years, and I’m not the first crusty pundit to decry the demise of thoughtful inquiry and deep experiences. The interesting question here, though, is not how fast is too fast, but what works? What works to change mindsets, to spread important ideas and to create an audience for work that matters? What’s worth your effort and investment as a marketer or creator?”

I think the answer to what works lies in the leveraging the best of the two extremes of relationship, both the technological and the human component of relationship.

In today’s world the creative use of social media will be instrumental in connecting people, spreading ideas, spurring innovation and creating movements that change culture. And at the same time, we cannot miss the deeper layers of the human connection. To bring about the changes needed to create a more sustainable world, we need to reignite the human connections we have lost in our fast paced, media rich world of wow sound bytes and sparkly things.

In the work we are doing, we are seeing new trends emerging. Real change will require building relationships of trust and authenticity. It is about tapping into individuals passions, engaging community, tapping into diverse perspectives, building collaboration and deeper levels of communication and understanding.

The challenges we face today will not be solved by the drive by clickers. I’m interested in talking to and uniting people who are searching for deeper meaning and sustainable solutions…People who are willing to commit their time and talents to creating a sustainable culture that works for us ALL.

What are your thoughts?