Community Futures 101

About the workshop

How can we effectively plan for a future that is increasingly unpredictable, unknowable, and unmeasurable? How can communities and community-serving organizations become more adaptable and resilient to these unannounced futures-in-waiting, while retaining a focus on strategic direction and operational alignment? Foresight, Futures and Anticipation studies have contributed evidence-driven tools, practices and frameworks that enable us to connect with the future and bring it into the present, so that we can shape organizational strategy and collaboration efforts to imagine, plan for, and navigate these unpredictable futures with purpose, creativity and adaptability.

In community change and systems change work, navigating uncertainty, fostering innovation, developing resilience and managing risk are often the pillars at the heart of effective, scalable and responsive community action. For some time now, the emerging fields of Futures and Anticipation studies, and the Futures toolbox of foresight and forecasting, scenario planning, horizon scanning, etc., have been a critical component for building resilience, fostering innovation ecosystems, developing adaptability, and mitigating risk in other sectors. These tools centre equity by asking us to welcome inclusive futures that break from existing mental models, leveraging diversity as a key catalyst for innovation and sustainable change for all.

Through practical examples and working sessions, this workshop will introduce the basic concepts and core practices of Futures Thinking in the context of the community sector. By exploring the use of Futures tools across two community change examples – strategic planning and Collective Impact initialization – we’ll work together to expand your toolbox for catalyzing community impact and building a more robust, adaptive and resilient approach to systems change.

Daren Okafo

Daren leads Tamarack’s Collective Leadership work, leveraging over 25 years of experience in community-based development in Canada, Europe and Africa. He’s passionate about how communities envision and co-create just and equitable futures together, and the ways in which leaders come together to learn and grow.

A veteran community adult educator for over 15 years, Daren honed his community education and facilitation skills at The Coady International Institute, drawing directly from the storied Antigonish Movement. He founded The Coady’s Innovations and Technology department and has pioneered several critical method

Pricing & logistics
Registration for this session is limited to 70 learners to ensure a dynamic learning experience. Registration includes pre-workshop learning, a 3-hour virtual workshop, and a one-hour small-group coaching session with participants. It also includes membership in the Tamarack Institute’s Learning Community. Zoom meeting details will be sent in advance. All participants will have access to a workshop resource page with slides, virtual workspaces, and all linked resources.

Tamarack Members are eligible for the group pricing regardless of their group size.

Post-workshop, participants will be invited to register for a post-event coaching session. At this interactive session, small groups of workshop participants will be encouraged to share their emerging questions and receive further support in translating the workshop’s learning into action.

Can’t attend the workshop, but love the content? Get in touch with Stephanie to learn more about how you can bring a custom version of this workshop to your organization or collaborative.z