Walden Gathering: Inclusiveness in Times of Change

Diversity is being invited to the party. Inclusion is being asked to dance.

Verna Myers

We value diversity and inclusion at Walden Gathering. All future gathering invitations will include an organization that represents a different perspective on the topic, and we will invite constituents to attend.

This Walden Gathering focused on these questions:

What is inclusion?
How can nature act as a catalyst for inclusion?
How do we create community?
How do we make Walden Gathering more inclusive?

What is inclusion?

Not all families eat white bread

Outsiders

Not everyone is heard equally

We all bleed red

Seen and heard, felt and understood.

Safe place to express opinions

Even AI is biased when trained by men only.

Turning right to spend time with people that are different. Nick’s turning right story.

Rants are expressions of anger.

Philosophy doesn’t matter until we can eliminate anger in our lives.

Diversify the board

Willingness to be vulnerable

Diversity of Thought

Common values matter more than differences.

How can nature act as a catalyst for inclusion?

Fact and truths matter.

Passive homes use what nature gives them.

Prehistoric caves all faced south for more heat.

Ecosystems are interconnected.

Nature is diversity at its best.

Nature has to be invited to the table.

We need to reframe the way we use nature.

Reincorporate nature into our post-virus life.

How can we create community?

Community is about collective value.

We need a shared vulnerability.

Ability to speak up and stand up

Inviting to outsiders

Open to listening to others opinions

Curiosity

Like Fiddler on the Roof

Need to have a vision that is future looking/multi-generational

Co-Creation is key to solving problems

Wisdom sometimes misses vision and a new diversity

Not just be the change you want, but feel the change you want

How do we make the Walden Gathering more inclusive?

Invite other communities to participate

Focus on housing inclusiveness as a topic

Turn right and gather farm workers and Native Americans to attend

Spend more time thinking about the ultimate goal

Let others be leaders.

Catalyze the process of building nature spaces.

Invite others to bring opposites with them

Articulated, easy to circulate invitation

Make events more accessible for all.

Hire an anthropologist to help shape the inclusivity policy.

Solution to put into action

All invitations to future gatherings will include an organization that represents a different perspective on the topic, and we will invite the members to attend.

THE TEAM

We aim to bring together passionate individuals, groups and organizations to gather, learn and collaborate in small groups on how best to contribute and invest their time, talent and resources to innovative solutions -- and then take them back into the world. We see everyone who joins as an equal expert at the table because we believe in the wisdom of the crowd to find solutions.