/ Published in Networks & Network Weaving

FSNE Co-Hosting Retreat for Network Leaders

Unlocking Our Food Systems Change Capacity: A Network Leadership Retreat

May 7-10, 2019

University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire

 

Are you a local, regional, or national network leader looking to increase systems-level collaboration for food systems change? Eager to connect with fellow network leaders, learn new skills, and challenge old ways of thinking? Then join the Wallace Center’s Food Systems Leadership Network, Food Solutions New England, and 25 of your peers at the University of New Hampshire’s retreat center in Durham, New Hampshire this May for a unique convening and retreat for food systems network leaders. Register for a 30-minute informational callabout the retreat, taking place February 27 at 1:00 CT.

This retreat will focus on three interconnected skills of network leaders:

  • The ability to see and understand the whole system we are trying to change (systems thinking);
  • The skill of enabling others to see the system for what it is (facilitation of reflection and dialogue); and
  • The ability to serve as a leader grounded in racial equity, inclusion, and a shared vision for the future (leading from the future).

What You’ll Gain:

Over the course of 2.5 days, you can expect to walk away with:

  • Inspiration: a new way to see your work and your leadership from a systems-change lens.
  • Improved facilitation skills: whether you have led one meeting or hundreds, you will have the opportunity to practice facilitation skills that you can take home to help you bring your community together.
  • Systems thinking tools: moving beyond theories of change, you will get tools that help you diagnose the vicious cycles that keep your community from creating the future it wants – and how to change that.
  • A way to unlock the learning and wisdom of individuals in groups: you will experience peer coaching, a structured tool to help leaders and community members answer their own questions with support from others.
  • New ways to see: we will connect with several transformative food systems change programs in the region to learn about the models used to successfully coordinate networks across New England. 
  • A peer support network: you will meet and spend meaningful time with fellow network leaders who share your passion for change and wrestle with similar challenges, and in the months following the retreat you’ll have opportunities to remain in relationship and solidarity through peer and one-on-one coaching.

The retreat will be hosted by the Wallace Center and co-led by Karen Spiller of KAS Consulting and Curtis Ogden of the Interaction Institute for Social Change. Both Karen and Curtis have been deeply involved in the work of Food Solutions New England and are experienced facilitators. In addition, they share an appointment as Thomas W. Haas Professors of Sustainable Food Systems at the University of New Hampshire.

 

Register for a 30-minute informational call about the retreat, taking place February 27 at 1:00 CT.

Applications will be open through March 6. Access the application and learn more about the retreat here:https://foodsystemsleadershipnetwork.goentrepid.com/pages/retreat