Category Archives: Cooperative Movement

Communities For Our Future Online Summit

submitted by Linda Hill

Brandy Gallagher, Inclusive Leader and Leading Edge Ecovillage Thinker and Leader is an ambassador for the Global Ecovillage Network. Their February 2020 Communities for our Future summit welcomed 20,000 people from over 200 countries in a telepresence conference.

Brandy is also a member of the Inclusive Leadership Co-operative and one of the original founders and developers of O.U.R. Ecovillage, Shawnigan Lake (Vancouver Island) BC, Canada.

O.U.R. Ecovillage is one of 300 Ecovillages around the world that are connected with the Global Ecovillage Network : The organization that hosted the Communities for our Future Online Summit. Continue reading →

How Much Good Can A Person Do Within Systems Set Up to Oppress People?

From Linda Hill’s facebook conversations with Stanley Daniels, and Janice M.

I received this meme from Inclusive Leader Stanley Daniels today: “When people ask ‘What do you do?’ Answer: ‘Whatever it takes.’

As I was reflecting on that message, I received this quote from Janice M: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” (Margaret Mead).

Then as I read their facebook contributions further, I realized that both Stanley and Janice were asking the same question which Stanley stated very clearly:

“How much good can a person do within systems set up to oppress people?”

Continue reading →

Cooperating for Inclusion

Submitted by: Joy Emmanuel, Co-op Developer & Member of Inclusive Leadership Co-op

participatory

Did you know that the Inclusive Leadership Co-operative is part of an international network of co-operatives around the world? Did you know that for almost 200 years, the co-operative model has been adopted both for running businesses (i.e. consumer co-ops, worker co-ops, financial co-ops/credit unions) and for providing a host of community services (i.e. housing, funeral services, social programs and occasionally as educational co-ops)? Did you know that the Inclusive Leadership Co-op was incorporated in 2013 as a non-profit community service co-operative? What does all that mean? And what does being a co-operative have to do with inclusion? Continue reading →

Yes Let’s!

Here is a short survey followed by our creative invitation to show up at Inclusive Leadership Online and In Person and invite others to show up with you by playing Yes Let’s!

  • Do you value diversity and inclusion?
  • Do you consider yourself to be a Bridge-Builder (i.e. Do you often find yourself helping people and places be respectful, fair, peaceful, safe and fun for everyone)?
  • Have you ever participated in an Inclusive Leadership event (in person or online)?
  • Are you a supporter or member of the Inclusive Leadership Co-operative?

If you have answered yes to even one of these questions then you are ready to accept our invitation to share leadership with networking!  Yes Let’s!  Continue reading →

Welcome Joy Emmanuel: Summer ILC Co-ordinator!

Our wonderful Joy Emmanuel will be co-ordinating the Inclusive Leadership Co-operative for the summer while Linda Hill takes a break to spend time with family and do some travelling.

Joy is the perfect person for this challenge! She was the Co-op Developer who guided the founding members of the ILC through the process of becoming a Community Service Co-operative in 2013. She felt so at home with our vision, mission, values and practices that she joined our association and has been sharing leadership in cultivating the ILC ever since.

Joy’s experience as a co-operator and her understanding of the ILC from the grass roots up and from the inside out, is making the transition smooth and easy. Joy facilitated our Spring Update Sharing Circle on April 28 and is helping with organizing our online Heart to Heart Sharing Circle coming up Saturday May 5 9:45 am to 11:30 am Pacific Time (4:45 to 6:30 pm Co-ordinated Universal Time). New and experienced Inclusive Leaders from around the world are invited. Simply email Joy at inclusiveleaders@gmail.com and Harriet at ilc.online.cafe@gmail.com for the url address and other directions on how to drop in.

Joy and Harriet will be co-facilitating an eight week ILC Online Practice Group beginning Thursday May 3. There is still room for a few more Inclusive Leaders to join this weekly zoom video meeting from 8 am to 10 am Pacific Time (3 pm to 5 pm Co-ordinated Universal Time). Join new and experienced Inclusive Leaders from across Canada and around the world in cultivating your Inclusive Leadership skills through sharing, listening and practicing. . Click here for more information and to register.

Joy has three more things to co-ordinate this summer. To learn how you can become involved, email Joy at inclusiveleaders@gmail.com

1. The ILC has been invited to join with Cowichan Intercultural Society, schools and NGOs in our local Cowichan Valley community in Canada in “The Inclusion Project.” TIP aims to build inclusive and welcoming bridges between students who are transitioning from small elementary schools to a larger high school. One goal is to build safe, respectful, peaceful and enjoyable relationships between  Indigenus students and Non-indigenous students.  Thank you to Project Co-ordinator, Linda McDaniels of the Cowichan Intercultural Society for inviting the ILC to work with you on this exciting initiative. (Linda McDaniels is also a founding member of the Inclusive Leadership Co-operative).

2. Joy will be reaching out to invite you and other new and experienced Inclusive Leaders to bring your families, friends, colleagues, students, volunteers and other champions of diversity and inclusion to come to our Sept 28 to 20 annual Inclusive Leadership Co-operative gathering for 1, 2, or all 3 days. Joy says, “One of my take-aways from the weekend is just how amazing each of us are when we have the opportunity to show up in a space of respect, openness and support and share our stories. The gifts of our lives can really shine through.” Register online or email Joy at inclusiveleaders@gmail.com for more information.

3. Contact Joy at inclusiveleaders@gmail.com if you would like the ILC to facilitate an Inclusive Leadership workshop for your organization, community group or school during Fall 2018 or Spring 2018. Trained and experienced ILC facilitators will guide your group to explore and develop skills for connecting with differences, communicating with compassion, responding with Anti-Discrimination First Aid and Building Bridges to equality. These are essential skills for everyone who wants to live, learn and lead more inclusively in our diverse communities.

“Inclusive Leadership is a crash course on community and possibility that I love being part of. I’ve been trying to work Inclusive Leadership skills into everything I do with Youth 4 Diversity and trying on ways of facilitating modeled by many Inclusive Leaders. Every time I do that, I see a glimpse of possibility – even if it’s brief – of the compassionate world we are trying to create.” (Moss Dance, Youth Worker, Campbell River, BC)

“Inclusive Leadership is a strength-based focus where there is appreciative inquiry into group or community strengths. Inclusive Leadership focuses on what gives life to community-building, communicating needs and solutions. It gives a community a positive, solution-focused way of problem-solving. It brings people of all ages to the table, circle or forum. It celebrates what works, and gives room for dreaming, designing and celebrating.” (Wedlidi Speck, Director of Aboriginal Service Change, Government of BC)

Inclusive Leadership has been incredibly instrumental in our school’s connectedness and our students’ and staff commitments to social and environmental responsibility.” (Gillian Berry, School Counsellor, Duncan, BC)

 

Voice of Women Peace Education Award Presented to Dr. Linda Hill

submitted by Linda Hill

I was thrilled to be one of five women honoured at the annual Canadian Voice of Women for Peace banquet in Toronto, March 8 2018. I received the The Dr. Anne Goodman Peace Education Award which is based on Anne’s commitment to peace-building and peace education that took her to Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Slovakia, Israel, Croatia and other countries. Anne’s view was that transformative learning involves experiencing a deep, structural shift in thought, feelings and actions – and building strong relationships with each other. Anne believed that by working together we can create that culture of peace of which we dream. Continue reading →

Building Bridges: A Labour of Love

This Labour Day Message featuring ILC Board Member Kix Citton, is dedicated to everyone – everywhere – who is Building Bridges to inclusive and welcoming communities based on respect for people and nature. Inclusive Leadership is for everyone who is passionate about the magnificence of diversity!

We invite you to discover your potential for shifting work-places, schools and entire communities in inclusive and welcoming ways  by developing skills for embracing the diversity in all living beings as gifts that enrich the world.  Continue reading →

Daring To Be – Cooperative!

(submitted by Joy Emmanuel)

9018942What do Inclusive Leadership and Co-operatives have in common?  Everything!

They are both about embracing the values of respect, diversity, support, and collaboration in our everyday lives. They both offer us tools for creating caring communities that are enhanced by the quality of connection with one another in our interactions at work, play, accessing or offering services, and for whatever we are doing.

cooperative-course-flyerThat’s why I am passionate about being an inclusive leader and being someone who helps groups develop co-operatives. I am delighted to be offering an upcoming course in Victoria, BC that will introduce people to the BIG picture of what co-operatives are all about, Click here for the cooperative-course-flyer

The co-operative movement has been around a long time – well over 150 years! The co-operative model has been used in multiple ways to provide housing, employment, social programs, food, financial institutions (such as credit unions) and much more. It has been said that co-operatives have been developed to care for every aspect of our lives – from the cradle to the grave.
Continue reading →