What is the Innovation Convening?
The Innovation Convening is a two-day design-a-thon type experience where attendees will stretch their ability to explore innovative solutions to problems and issues they care about as it relates to how might we have the love, sex, family, and community we desire. It will be a fun and low-risk setting to flex our creative muscles, play with ideas, tap our collective ingenuity, and collaborate with folks we don’t often have the opportunity to easily connect with. Together we will rapidly generate solutions to complex movement issues.
What are the goals of the Innovation Convening?
Our hope is that attendees will meet new people and get inspired through the process to tackle issues within the movement that otherwise might seem out-of-reach. We hope the experience will catalyze creativity and the desire to radically collaborate with new partners. We hope you will be inspired enough to take the ideas generated into the real world in your own way and create impact that will resonate through your own work. Some folks may also find a desire to engage in other CoreAlign programs and delve deeper into practices and relationships that strengthen your innovation mindset.
How much do I need to know about “design thinking” prior to attending the convening? Do I need to be an expert in innovation to attend?
The Innovation Convening is designed to be accessible to all participants and no prior knowledge of or experience with design thinking or innovation is necessary. The two days will be filled with a fun, facilitated process that will provide both an introduction for newbies and another opportunity to practice for those with more experience.
Do I need to have a team formed?
No. If there are folks attending that you wanted to partner with, by all means plan to come and form a team with them! But team formation will happen in real time at the event, so don’t feel pressured to form a team prior to coming. You will get an opportunity to build relationships and collaborate with new folks you might be meeting for the first time.
Do I need to have a project or issue to work on?
If you are someone who likes to plan what you’d like to explore prior to attending, you are welcome to do some pre-thinking about the question, “How might we have the love, sex family, community we desire?” Teams will likely form around one piece of that broad question – such as a specific challenge we currently face in having the love, or sex, or family, or community we desire.
If you don’t have a project or issue in mind – just bring yourself, your experiences – visible in your work and/or personal life. You will get a chance to figure out a problem or issue to work on in collaboration with other folks across fields on the spot. Or you can choose to join a team surrounding another person’s idea – most of us will be doing that – moved by other people’s ideas that we want to join them in solving.
If you don’t have a project or issue in mind – just bring yourself, your experiences – visible in your work and/or personal life. You will get a chance to figure out a problem or issue to work on in collaboration with other folks across fields on the spot. Or you can choose to join a team surrounding another person’s idea – most of us will be doing that – moved by other people’s ideas that we want to join them in solving.
Who is coming?
Old and new friends of CoreAlign from across the country will be joining us for the convening. Long-time friends include those who’ve connected with CoreAlign programs, such as our fellowships, 30-year strategy events, Innovation Lab, and our various field events. We will also be joined by local supporters, funders, and partners. Our new friends, come to us through other connections and are curious about innovation and finding human based solutions to the issues the reproductive movement faces.
How will the cash prizes be distributed?
There will be multiple prizes that total in the amount of $5,000. Each participant will have a role in helping to choose the finalists for the prizes.
How much spaciousness will there be for some reflection or quiet time?
The two days will be filled with much interactive activity. We are asking folks to self-regulate for your needs when that interaction becomes overwhelming or you just want some quiet time alone. We encourage you to take a walk alone or take a moment in our quiet room behind the stage or step away from the interactive team work to spend some time creating art in our play spaces.