12 Global Challenges Local Governance in the 21 st Century Dr. - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

12 Global Challenges

Local Governance in the 21st Century

• Dr. Shariff Abdullah

Commonway Institute www.commonway.org

Lesson #1: Katrina leaders (Federal, state and local) were not prepared to deal with turbulent times . ARE YOU PREPARED? Lesson #2: Katrina leadership was unable to see “invisible populations” (race, class, culture) CAN YOU SEE YOUR “INVISIBLE” POPULATIONS? Lesson #3: Ordinary people quickly adapted to the Katrina crisis, but were blocked and thwarted by their government. ARE YOU READY TO BE CREATIVE, SUPPORTIVE AND CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE?

12 Global Challenges

Security Water Food Energy Health Politics Economics Education Habitat Ecology Media Spiritual/ Cultural

12 Global Challenges

Security Water Food Energy Health Politics Economics Education Habitat Ecology Media Spiritual/ Cultural

Exercise…

Global Challenges and Local Turbulence

1. Name your top 3 (most important) challenges. 2. Prioritize. 3. Come to consensus at your group regarding your top 3 challenges. BONUS: How prepared is your (community/ agency/ church/

• rganization) in dealing with potential

local turbulence?

• 1. Security
• 2. Water
• 3. Food
• 4. Energy
• 5. Health
• 6. Politics
• 7. Economics
• 8. Education
• 9. Habitat
• 10. Ecology
• 11. Media
• 12. Spiritual/

Cultural

Releasing the Shadow – Embracing the Light

Background, History, Process

Unity of Portland

2017

Impetus for “Shadow to Light”…

• Public mass shootings: “Anger-Fueled Suicide”
• Talk on “racism”
• The Age of Trump
• The frustration of the Left (and Right).

What We Will Do in S2L…

• Drilling deep into our historical, cultural, psychological

and Spiritual roots.

• Working with problems at their root, not at their

presenting symptoms.

• The “dojo”: Working hard, getting strong.
• Trying not to “judge”.
• Not a “head-centered” approach.
• The antidote to the Shadow is Ecstasy. (Kingsley

quote)

The Four Themes…

The Shadows:

• 1. The Shadow of VIOLENCE
• 2. The Shadow of the OTHER:

(Racism, Sexism and Other Aspects of Separation)

• 3. The Shadow of LACK:

(Poverty, Greed & Hoarding)

• 4. The Shadow of DESPAIR

(Depression and Suicide)

The Lights:

• 1. The Light of Peace and

Security

• 2. The Light of Inclusive

Community

• 3. The Light of True

Abundance & Enoughness

• 4. The Light of Deep

Fulfillment

Imagine what America will be like!

The Shadow Release Process

• Based on the “Battle Energy Release Process”.

(Machelle Small Wright)

• “Slavery Energy Release Process”. (Commonway)
• City-Wide Meditation Experiment (T.M.)
• Koestler “Baby Chicks” Experiment
• A.A. “12 Steps” Approach

What is “The Shadow”?

“Shadow” is what we fear. “Shadow” is fear itself. Shadow produced by something blocking the Light.

What is the Effect of the Shadow? (Personal and Societal…)

Personal:

• Keeps us small;

unenlightened

• Keeps us from perceiving

Reality

• Magnifies fears
• Keeps us from greatness
• Self-destructive
• Angry
• Disempowered
• Depressed & numb

Societal:

• A society based on fears &

insecurities.

• A society that

perpetuates injustice.

• A society that is

fundamentally unsustainable.

• A society that is immoral.
• A society that is mindless.
• A suicidal society.

What Keeps the Shadow in Place?

(Discuss in pairs for 5 minutes…)

What Keeps the Shadow in Place?

• DENIAL that it even exists
• FEAR of what lurks behind it
• Attachment to a STORY that requires the Shadow…
• Eliminating the Shadow invalidates one’s Story
• Inability to admit wrong means inability to

apologize and seek FORGIVENESS

• Accepting your Shadow as your IDENTITY…
• Inability to face who you have been
• Inability to face who you will become
• Inability to face loss of COMMUNITY (even if its

negative)

• Fear of the UNKNOWN
• Fear of our GREATNESS

The S2L 2017 Process…

• Starting Fall 2017 (Pilot/Pioneer)
• Pioneering Unity churches
• Partnerships with IONS and others
• Training and certifying local catalysts (12

week course)

• Conducting S2L Energy Transformation

Sessions (once per week)

• Major rollout: Fall, 2018
• Formal relationships with UWM,

Noetics, AGNT and others.

• We have 7 churches right now…

S2L Pilot: 3-Step Program…

Step 1: Training the Catalysts/Facilitators Step 2: Energy Transformation Sessions (ETS) Step 3: Community-Building Activities (“Commons Café”)

Step 1: Training the Catalysts/Facilitators

• At least 12 participants per church.
• Small churches?
• Reaching beyond church membership.
• Trained and certified in S2L techniques.
• 12 weeks, at 2 hours/week.
• Start: September, 2017.
• Content:
• Training recorded before live participants.
• Local content

Step 2: Energy Transformation Sessions (ETS)

• Sundays, before or after regular

services.

• Purpose: Actually shift/transform

energy of Shadows and bring in Light.

• Process: 20-30 minutes:
• Orientation
• Visual meditation
• Energy shift affirmations

Step 3: Community-Building Activities (“Commons Café”)

S2L Churches provide:

• Consistent time and location.
• Logistics
• Local facilitation, including facilitate

local discussion (fr prepared materials).

• Reach out to local groups

Commonway provides:

• Certification process
• Training materials, including:
• Primary training content
• ETS content
• “Homework” for certification
• Weekly discussion points

…

MAY I BE WELL. MAY I BE SECURE. MAY I BE HAPPY. MAY YOU BE WELL. MAY YOU BE SECURE. MAY YOU BE HAPPY. MAY ALL BEINGS BE WELL. MAY ALL BEINGS BE SECURE. MAY ALL BEINGS BE HAPPY.

And so it is. THE INCLUSIVITY PRAYER