What on earth is this miracle called a 'we'?  'We' happens when two or more people meet in real or virtual space, generously share that space, and produce synergy (so that 1+1>2).  Far too frequently the reverse arithmetic holds: 1+1<2.  People vie for attention, rush to get the conversation over with so they can do the 'real work', and miss much of the potential that the opportunity to be together invites.  A group might use "we language" (for example, "We came up with a new project idea!"), but did they first set the conditions for rich conversation where all voices are heard, where participants really surprise and inspire each other with their collective imagination, humor, know-how, shared humanity, and vision?  Likely not. 

Not only do groups who interact unusually well find immense pleasure just in being together.  Frequently they discover radically enhanced abilities to accomplish shared goals.  Think of the high-performing sports teams, dance troupes, theater companies, or think tanks.  SEED was founded four years ago to help groups aiming for significant social impact to relax their thinking and tap far more deeply and productively into their creative potency.  SEED devises workshops, toolkits, serious games, and web-based reflection tools that consistently transform groups into high-performance teams.  We have found that individuals and groups have an intherent ability (and in fact, a yearning) to enter into this type of shared creative space.  With minimal initial coaching, groups readily learn the techniques featured in the space and run with them.

SEED methods have been culled and honed from the best practice paradigms available in the fields of business, leadership development, grassroots organizing, and evaluation, as well as over 45+ years of collective experience of SEED senior partners.  SEED now aims to take our accumulated learning of what works, integrate insights and practices suggested by others, and translate this collective wisdom into a virtual meeting space called WOW (The Wonder of ‘WE’).  Here are some examples of what we have in mind: 

>>>A group can meet in WOW-space, focus on a pressing social problem, and be guided through image-expanding exercises and unusual conversational practices that draw upon the group's inherent sense of humor and collective wisdom.  They exit the site with a fresh sense of what they might next accomplish and how to go about it in a far more interesting and productive way.     

>>>A social program doing great work, but having trouble finding the language that attracts new resources and potential funders, can enter the site as a team and invent that language together.  The team might also exercise the option of inviting others to join their on-line exploration.  Scripted exercises will guide the team in the discovery of more evocative words and more visually provocative representations to best capture the impact and spirit of their work.     

>>>Representatives of organizations and initiatives can enter the site to think creatively about potential partners who could help expand their reach and impact.  They will engage in simulated dialogue and roleplays of both serious and playful varieties to explore how they and potential collaborators can most creatively and productively benefit one another.

Through the WOW site, SEED will be positioned to bring our coaching and mentoring tools to vastly larger audiences and sectors.  As word of the site spreads, our vision is that thousands of social-minded enterprises and institutions will log-on to uncover their group's potential like never before.  Many will become fiercely committed to integrating these expansive practices within their social change strategies.  As a result, the fullness of their capacity to achieve striking and measurable results will be unleashed.           

WHAT WE NEED:

Our website, www.seed-ny.org, will require significant redesign to accommodate WOW.  A web site development budget is needed to secure the services of an outstanding web based designer or design team.  We also need to free up the equivalent of a half-person year so that key SEED staff will have adequate time to work on translating existing materials to web-based formats.

Location