Developmental Spaces for a time of Crisis
🌱

We face a polycrisis

We are experiencing a polycrisis and metacrisis: a constellation of escalating and interwoven crises ranging from ecosphere degradation to political polarization. Crucially, these crises are interlinked both in source and solution, linkages which travel all the way down to how we envision ourselves, our societies and our civilization.

This calls for new ways of being in the world

A response to this crisis therefore calls for new ways of being in the world – ways sufficient to bring forth collective movements adequate to addressing this crisis at the level and scale required. Such a transformation in being is essential and foundational.

How can such a transformation come about?

The last few decades have revolutionized our understanding of the potential for human development. We now have substantial evidence on three key points. First, that our development is multi-faceted: including psychological, biological and cultural dimensions. Second, development can be lifelong, continuing throughout adulthood. Third, continued development is neither guaranteed nor straightforward and deliberate effort is often required, especially in adulthood.

However, at present, we are almost exclusively raised and educated in mainstream institutions and culture that integrate little of this revolutionary understanding and its potential.

We need new kinds of space that supports and enables this revolution in our understanding of developmental potential

We need new kinds of spaces grounded in this revolutionary understanding of our developmental potential. Spaces explicitly informed by – and supporting – sustained, multidimensional and multi-level inner growth, both personally and collectively.

Going forward, this developmental aspect should be a conscious and central part of the environments we create for everyone from eighteen to eighty. These spaces will provide the opportunity for individuals and communities to grow in the profound ways needed to hold the complexity and challenges we currently face.

These spaces can take many forms ranging from courses or programs to physical environments such as new forms of monasteries or universities.

Source of hope

We are at the point where we have the research to support this, as well as the ideas, methodologies and tools to make it a reality.

Ultimately, if we see each other differently we may be able to make the difference that has been missing.

We can retain our commitment to redressing deep and long standing social injustices whilst also being able to come together to address the profound crisis we face – a crisis which includes and also transcends any of those individual issues.

Founding Signatories

• Oren Slozberg – Commonweal
• Rufus Pollock – Life Itself
• Tomas Bjorkman – Ekskäret Foundation
• Kam Bellamy – Springboard

Sign the Manifesto