This document discusses bridging the social aspiration gap through generative change. It proposes a unified approach to foster healthy development in children, adults, and communities. This approach involves generating a preferred future, integrating efforts across sectors and levels of society, and encouraging participation to make unique contributions to health and well-being. The goal is to align actions with aspirations for a world where people can fulfill their potential and find meaning in life.

1. Genera&ve
Change:
Working
Together
to
Bridge
the
Social
Aspira&on
Gap
www.communi)esthatcan.org
Communi'es
that
Can!
Ins'tute

2. Problem
/
Poten&al
Difference
Making
change
that
makes
a
difference
Genera&ve
Change
Bridging
the
Social
Aspira&on
Gap
Communi)es
that
Can!
Ins)tute

3. Bridging
the
social
aspira)on
gap:
“the
gap
between
the
world
in
which
we
would
like
to
live,
and
the
world
we
create
through
our
ac&ons.”
Beyond
the
Big
Society:
Psychological
Founda'ons
of
Ac've
Ci'zenship
Social
Brain
Project
(RSA)
Communi)es
that
Can!
Ins)tute

4. How
will
we
bridge
the
social
aspira&on
gap?
Aspira&onal
Purpose
“Best
Fit”
Change
Technology
Genera&ve
Change
Levers
Problem
/
Poten&al
Difference
Making
change
that
makes
a
difference
Communi)es
that
Can!
Ins)tute

5. Purpose
• Bridging
our
current
social
aspira)on
gap:
the
gap
between
the
world
in
which
we
would
like
to
live,
and
the
world
we
create
through
our
ac&ons.
• Aligning
ac&ons
with
aspira&ons
for
a
preferred
future
...
a
future
that
inspires
us
to
say
“if
we
could
achieve
that,
my
life
would
have
meaning.”
Change
Technology
• Genera&ve
Change-­‐making:
Adop&ng
a
change
approach
that
addresses
our
problems
and
our
poten&als
by
ac&va&ng
our
unique
human
capacity
for
inten&onal
and
purposeful
ac&on.
• Ac&va&ng
a
simple
set
of
opera&ng
instruc&ons:
Generate.
Integrate.
Par&cipate.
Genera&ve
Change
Levers
• Connec&ng
the
dots
between
healthy
child
&
youth
development,
adult
development
and
social
development.
• Co-­‐designing
a
preferred
future
...
for
kids,
for
adults,
and
for
communi&es.
Working
Together
to
Bridge
the
Social
Aspira&on
Gap
Communi)es
that
Can!
Ins)tute

6. A
Preferred
Future
...
for
kids,
for
adults,
for
communi&es.
Genera&ve
Change
What’s
being
generated?
Communi)es
that
Can!
Ins)tute

7. Health
Human
Development
Educa&on
Coaching
Corporate
Social
Responsibility
Philanthropy
Governance
Ac&vism
Social
Innova&on
Community
Development
Not-­‐for-­‐profit
Organiza&ons
Spiritual
Leadership
Change
Leaders
in
Diverse
Sectors
and
Everyday
Ci&zens
Genera&ng
a
preferred
future...
for
kids,
for
adults,
for
communi&es.
Who
are
the
change-­‐makers?
Communi)es
that
Can!
Ins)tute

8. •
Healthy
development
in
kids
depends
on
healthy
development
in
adults.
•
Thriving
kids
need
thriving
adults
and
thriving
communi&es.
•
Healthy
development,
in
kids
and
adults,
is
the
work
of
communi&es.
•
A
preferred
future
is
possible,
for
our
kids
and
ourselves,
for
our
organiza&ons
and
our
communi&es.
Change
leaders
and
everyday
ci)zens
...
Making
a
stand
for
a
preferred
future
Communi)es
that
Can!
Ins)tute

9. Connec)ng
the
dots
between
desired
changes
in
the
world,
and
healthy
development
...
in
kids,
in
adults
and
in
communi)es.
How
can
the
world
change
if
people
don’t?

10. Robert
Kegan
calls
human
development
the
hidden
curriculum
of
adult
life.
Many
adults,
he
says,
have
not
yet
mastered
the
mental
demands
of
modern
life.
In
our
working
lives,
our
family
lives,
in
our
lives
as
leaders
and
as
ci&zens,
we
frequently
find
ourselves
…
IN
OVER
OUR
HEADS!!
“Can
we
keep
growing
and
developing
in
adulthood?
Yes,
we
can!
And
we
must!”
Communi)es
that
Can!
Ins)tute

11. Adults
Community
Kids
A
unified
change
approach
that
fosters
healthy
development
in
kids,
in
adults,
and
in
communi&es.
Genera&ve
Change-­‐making
Communi)es
that
Can!
Ins)tute

12. Generate.
• A
purposeful
and
prac)cal
change-­‐
making
approach
that
generates
a
preferred
future.
• Taking
important
steps
beyond
adap)ve
change
...
genera)ng
outcomes
that
take
us
from
break-­‐
even
to
break-­‐through.
Integrate.
• Connec)ng
the
dots
between
healthy
child
&
youth
development,
adult
development
and
social
development.
• Connec)ng
the
dots
among
organiza)ons,
and
sectors,
from
business
to
philanthropy,
from
government
to
grassroots.
Par&cipate.
• Making
your
unique
contribu)on
to
the
health,
well-­‐being,
and
healthy
development
of
the
people
in
your
community.
• Everyday
change-­‐
makers,
engaged
in
everyday
change-­‐
making.
Our
Change-­‐making
Model:
Generate.
Integrate.
Par&cipate.
Communi)es
that
Can!
Ins)tute

13. Generate
(verb):
To
bring
into
existence;
to
be
the
cause
of.

14. Genera&ve
change:
To
purposefully
generate
a
healthier
future
for
all
living
systems.
Generate.
Integrate.
Par)cipate.
Communi)es
that
Can!
Ins)tute

15. Genera&ve
approach:
To
choose
and
generate
a
healthier
future
Borrowing
from
Erik
Erikson’s
concept
of
genera)vity
–
“somewhat
akin
to
crea)vity,
but
it
refers
specifically
to
the
mature
adult’s
contribu&on
to
the
well-­‐being
of
future
genera&ons.”
In
Bill
Joiner
and
Stephen
Josephs
(2007)
Leadership
Agility:
Five
Levels
of
Mastery
for
An'cipa'ng
and
Ini'a'ng
Change
Communi)es
that
Can!
Ins)tute

16. Genera)ve
change
is
purposefully
emergent
-­‐
fostering
health,
well-­‐being
and
healthy
development
in
self
and
society,
now
and
for
future
genera)ons.
More
than
adapta)on
…
Communi)es
that
Can!
Ins)tute

17. Integra&on:
Change-­‐making
that
ac)vely
addresses
the
interconnected
factors
that
generate
thriving
...
in
people
and
the
communi)es
we
live
in.
Communi)es
that
Can!
Ins)tute
Generate.
Integrate.
Par)cipate.

18. Health,
well-­‐being
&
healthy
development,
in
self
and
society
...
Psychological
and
Spiritual
Health
Healthy
mind,
Healthy
spirit
Physical
and
Behavioral
Health
Healthy
body,
Healthy
ac&ons
Cultural
Health
Healthy
cultural
values,
beliefs,
a]tudes,
assump&ons;
healthy
rela&onships
Social
and
Ecological
Health
Healthy
environment,
economy,
social
systems,
ins&tu&ons,
policies,
services
Communi)es
that
Can!
Ins)tute

19. Integra)on
might
be
the
principle
underlying
health
at
all
levels
of
our
experience,
from
the
microcosm
of
our
inner
world
to
our
interpersonal
rela)onships
and
life
in
our
communi)es.
Daniel
Siegel,
Mindsight
Communi)es
that
Can!
Ins)tute

20. Par&cipa&on:
Making
our
own
unique
contribu)on.
Communi)es
that
Can!
Ins)tute
Generate.
Integrate.
Par)cipate.
Playing
our
part,
on
our
patch.

21. “We
change
ourselves
to
change
the
world”
is
only
half
the
story.
To
truly
change
ourselves,
we
must
take
an
ac)ve
part
in
changing
the
world.
Community
engagement
is
a
key
component
of
transforma&ve
personal
development
...
and
vice
versa.
Communi)es
that
Can!
Ins)tute

22. Change
leaders
of
all
sorts,
including:
•
Health
professionals,
including
health
promo)on
and
public
health
•
Social
workers
and
allied
professions
•
Educators
•
Coaches
•
Psychologists,
therapists
and
other
mental
health
prac))oners
•
Government
staff
and
elected
representa)ves
•
Spiritual
leaders
and
directors
•
Private
sector
leaders
•
Planners
and
policy-­‐makers
•
Community
development
prac))oners
•
Social
innovators
&
social
entrepreneurs
•
Consultants
•
Engaged
ci)zens
Communi)es
that
Can!
Ins)tute

23. Because
there’s
no
single
sector
that
can
address
the
challenges
and
opportuni)es
that
face
us,
there’s
room
for
everyone
to
contribute.
In
fact,
it’s
necessary!
Crowdsourcing

24. Everyday
Change-­‐making
•
Making
a
difference
in
the
world
by
taking
ac)on
right
here
at
home.
•
Everyday
ac)vi)es,
guided
by
a
compelling
and
collabora)ve
purpose.
•
Genera)ng
the
assets
that
foster
thriving
...
in
kids,
in
adults,
in
communi)es
Communi)es
that
Can!
Ins)tute

25. The
key
is
genera)ve
change-­‐making:
bridging
the
gap
between
the
problem
or
the
poten)al
...
and
the
change
that
makes
a
difference.
Problem
/
Poten&al
Difference
Making
change
that
makes
a
difference
Genera&ve
Change
Everyday
Change-­‐making
...
Communi)es
that
Can!
Ins)tute

26. Building
the
bridge
to
a
preferred
future
...
Now
A
Preferred
Future
Genera&ve
Change
Communi)es
that
Can!
Ins)tute

27. •
It’s
democra&c!
Everyone
can
make
a
contribu)on.
Every
day.
Everyday
Change-­‐making
...
•
It’s
intui&ve!
Rely
on
your
ins)ncts
to
lean
in
the
direc)on
of
thriving.
You
already
know
how
to
make
a
difference.
•
It’s
effec&ve!
What’s
the
evidence?
Just
keep
looking
for
signs
of
“difference.”
Communi)es
that
Can!
Ins)tute

28. This
isn’t
an
argument
against
scien)fic
measurement,
but
an
empowerment
for
everyday
ci)zens
to
do
the
right
thing
...
the
genera)ve
thing
...
the
asset
building
thing
...
the
healthy
change
thing
...
every
day.
It’s
become
part
of
daily
life.
Everyday
Change-­‐making
...
Communi)es
that
Can!
Ins)tute

29.
A
Prac&cal
Tool:
Genera&ve
Change
Communi)es
that
Can!
Ins)tute

30.
Choosing
the
change
technology
that
can
generate
a
preferred
future.
Genera&ve
Change-­‐making
Adap&ve
Change-­‐making
Technical
Change-­‐making
Communi)es
that
Can!
Ins)tute

31. Two
kinds
of
change
challenges:
Technical
and
adap&ve
Building
on
the
work
of
Ronald
Heifetz:
Communi)es
that
Can!
Ins)tute

32. Technical
Change
(tools,
skills,
methods,
plans
to
fix
the
problem…)
Technical
change
has
long
been
our
“go
to”
Communi)es
that
Can!
Ins)tute

33. Technical
change-­‐making
According
to
Heifetz,
technical
change
is
the
right
fit
when:
1.
The
problem
is
clearly
defined;
2.
The
problem
solving
solu)on
is
well
known,
and
the
skill
set
can
be
fairly
easily
learned;
and
3. Our
current
mindset
is
adequate
...
we
have
the
right
mental
tools.
Communi)es
that
Can!
Ins)tute

34. Typically,
the
goal
of
adap&ve
change
is
this:
to
find
balance,
equilibrium,
in
the
face
of
changing
life
condi&ons.
But
Heifetz
adds
something
else
...
Panarchy
Model
of
Adap)ve
Change
Adap)ve
change-­‐making
Communi)es
that
Can!
Ins)tute

35. Adap&ve
Change
(new
thinking
leads
to
new
skills
&
approaches)
Adding
Complexity:
New
learning

New
mental
models
Communi)es
that
Can!
Ins)tute

36. Shibs
our
acen&on
from
the
problem
to
the
person
having
the
problem.
It’s
we
who
adapt
…
Adap)ve
change-­‐making
Robert
Kegan
and
Lisa
Laskow
Lahey
(2009)
Immunity
to
Change:
How
to
Overcome
It
and
Unlock
the
Poten'al
in
Yourself
and
Your
Organiza'on
Communi)es
that
Can!
Ins)tute

37. Adap&ve
Technical
•
Current
mental
complexity
is
no
longer
adequate
•
Problem
defini)on,
solu)on
and
implementa)on
require
a
transforma)on
of
mindset,
advancing
to
a
more
complex
stage
of
mental
development
•
New
mindset
leads
to
new
skills
• Adapt
to
changing
life
condi)ons
•
Goal:
systems
equilibrium
•
Problem
is
clearly
defined
•
Problem-­‐solving
solu)on
is
well
known;
skill
set
can
be
learned
•
Current
mindset
is
adequate
•
Goal:
fix
the
problem
Two
Change
Challenges
Communi)es
that
Can!
Ins)tute

38. Ronald
Heifetz,
et
al.
(2009)
The
Prac'ce
of
Adap've
Leadership
The
most
common
cause
of
failure
in
leadership
is
produced
by
trea&ng
adap&ve
challenges
as
if
they
were
technical
problems.
And
an
observa)on
...
Communi)es
that
Can!
Ins)tute

39. Another
common
mistake
is
to
try
to
meet
genera&ve
challenges
via
adap&ve
means.
Yes,
and
…
Communi)es
that
Can!
Ins)tute

40. Adap&ve
Technical
•
Current
mental
complexity
is
no
longer
adequate
•
Problem
defini)on,
solu)on
and
implementa)on
require
a
transforma)on
of
mindset,
advancing
to
a
more
complex
stage
of
mental
development
•
New
mindset
leads
to
new
skills
•
Adapt
to
changing
life
condi)ons
•
Goal:
systems
equilibrium
•
Problem
is
clearly
defined
•
Problem-­‐solving
solu)on
is
well
known;
skill
set
can
be
learned
•
Current
mindset
is
adequate
•
Goal:
fix
the
problem,
maintain
the
system
Taking
Change
to
the
Next
Level
What
else
is
needed?
A
change
approach
that
addresses
our
problems
and
our
poten&als,
by
ac&va&ng
our
unique
human
capacity
for
inten&onal
and
purposeful
ac&on.
Our
goal
isn’t
just
equilibrium;
our
goal
is
a
becer
future
for
all.
Communi)es
that
Can!
Ins)tute

41. Genera&ve
Change
(purposefully
emergent,
fostering
health,
well-­‐being
&
healthy
development
now
and
for
future
genera&ons)
Bridging
the
aspira&on
gap:
New
inten&ons
for
self
and
system
Communi)es
that
Can!
Ins)tute

42. ...
one
more
prac)cal
way
to
make
sense
of
our
change
challenges,
and
to
take
appropriate
ac)on.
What
we’re
looking
for
is
the
best
func)onal
fit
between
the
purpose
of
the
change
ini)a)ve,
and
the
change
technology
we
put
into
prac)ce.
Genera&ve
Adap&ve
Technical
Genera&ve
Change-­‐making
Communi)es
that
Can!
Ins)tute

43.
Genera&ve
Change
Adap&ve
Change
Technical
Change
Poten&al
(what
the
individual
or
system
can
become)
Equilibrium
(bounce
back
from
shocks,
re-­‐balance
the
system)
Maintenance
(fix
problems)
Finding
Func&onal
Fit:
The
complexity
of
the
approach
must
align
with
the
complexity
of
the
intended
outcome.
Communi)es
that
Can!
Ins)tute

44. Genera&ve
Adap&ve
Technical
•
Purposefully
emergent,
fostering
health,
well-­‐being
and
healthy
development
...
now
and
for
future
genera)ons
•
Complex
systems
respond
to
life
condi)ons
with
adap)ve
resilience
and
inten)onal
genera)vity.
•
Genera)ng
healthier,
more
equitable
and
more
sustainable
life
condi)ons
•
Goal:
equilibrium
+
nudging
system
toward
a
preferred
future
•
Current
mental
complexity
is
no
longer
adequate
•
Problem
defini)on,
solu)on
and
implementa)on
require
a
transforma)on
of
mindset,
advancing
to
a
more
complex
stage
of
mental
development
•
New
mindset
leads
to
new
skills
•
Adapt
to
changing
life
condi)ons
•
Goal:
systems
equilibrium
•
Problem
is
clearly
defined
•
Problem-­‐solving
solu)on
is
well
known;
skill
set
can
be
learned
•
Current
mindset
is
adequate
•
Goal:
fix
the
problem,
maintain
the
system
Three
Change
Technologies
Communi)es
that
Can!
Ins)tute

45. Genera&ve
Change
Purpose:
Vision
for
a
preferred
future
Power
Par&cipa&on
Poten&al
Four
Guiding
Principles
Communi)es
that
Can!
Ins)tute

46. Four
Guiding
Principles
Poten)al
Genera)ve
change
focuses
on
the
poten)al
of
the
system;
what
the
system
can
become.
Purpose
A
preferred
future
...
a
future
that
inspires
us
to
say
“if
we
could
achieve
that,
my
life
would
have
meaning.”
Power
The
capacity
to
make
a
difference
...
in
my
own
life,
and
in
the
lives
of
others.
Par)cipa)on
Ac)ve
engagement
in
future-­‐shaping
...
kids,
adults,
organiza)ons,
neighbourhoods,
communi)es
...
Communi)es
that
Can!
Ins)tute

47. One
unified
purpose:
Making
a
stand
for
a
preferred
future.
Communi)es
that
Can!
Ins)tute

48. Adop&ng
a
“next
step”
change
technology
...
Genera&ve
Change
Making
a
stand
for
a
preferred
future
Communi)es
that
Can!
Ins)tute

49. •
Shaping
our
lives
•
Shaping
evolu)on
Genera&ve
change-­‐making:
Communi)es
that
Can!
Ins)tute

50. Genera&ve
Change-­‐making
•
Based
on
science
•
Informed
by
life
Communi)es
that
Can!
Ins)tute

51. Communi'es
that
Can!
Ins'tute
Genera&ve
Change
Technologies:
new
maps
and
models
for
bridging
the
social
aspira)on
gap,
including:
1. Genera&ve
Asset
Building:
genera)ng
higher
levels
of
health,
well-­‐being
and
healthy
development
–
in
kids,
in
adults,
in
communi)es.
What’s
in
our
toolkit?
3. Dialec&cal
Change
Prac&ces:
new
perspec)ves
on
complex
change
challenges,
plus
prac)ces
to
generate
a
preferred
future
for
people
and
communi)es.
2. Collabora&ve
Mindsight:
applying
insights
and
innova)ons
in
brain
science
to
our
problems
and
our
poten)als,
in
teams,
in
organiza)ons,
in
communi)es.
Communi)es
that
Can!
Ins)tute

52. Communi'es
that
Can!
Ins'tute

Webinars,
workshops
&
training
intensives
How
can
we
support
your
work?
Communi)es
that
Can!
Ins)tute

Capacity
building
for
leaders
&
teams

Coaching
–
individuals,
organiza)ons,
change
labs

Keynotes
&
conference
presenta)ons

53. Communi'es
that
Can!
Ins'tute
Workshops
Communi)es
that
Can!
Ins)tute

Enac)ng
the
Principles
of
Genera)ve
Change:
Poten)al,
Purpose,
Power
&
Par)cipa)on

Change
Up!
Growing
our
Skills
to
Lead
Genera)ve
Change

Genera)ve
Community
Development:
Working
Together
to
Build
Resilience
and
Response-­‐ability
Learning
for
change-­‐leaders
and
everyday
change-­‐makers
...

Genera)ve
Asset
Building:
Everyday
Ac)ons
to
Promote
Thriving
in
People
and
Communi)es

54. Communi'es
that
Can!
Ins'tute
Leader
Training
Communi)es
that
Can!
Ins)tute

Dialec)cal
Change
Prac)ces

Collabora)ve
Mindsight

Genera)ve
Asset
Building
Next-­‐step
learning
for
change
leaders:

55. Communi'es
that
Can!
Ins'tute
Professional
Development
Communi)es
that
Can!
Ins)tute

Community
Leadership
&
Collabora)on
Prac)cal
applica)ons
in:

Organiza)onal
&
Community
Development
(including
policy
&
planning)

Coaching

Health
Promo)on

56.
For
more
informa)on
…
Communi&es
that
Can!
Ins&tute
Making
change
that
makes
a
difference
...
so
that
people
and
planet
can
thrive
Contact
Janet
Keller
or
Tam
Lundy
Phone:
510.230.0939
Phone:
604.862.9213
(if
calling
from
Canada)
Email:
info@communi)esthatcan.org
www.communi)esthatcan.org