By Learning Lead – Mckenna Liski
What if we could use our imagination to help shape a better future for our communities, systems, and environment? That’s a question that’s been on my mind for a while now, and it’s what inspired me to host a unique workshop centered around futuristic thinking called “Imagine the Future: A Creative Workshop on Futuristic Thinking”.
This workshop explored the concept of futuristic thinking, how it supports resilience and vision, and how it can be a powerful tool for climate action and building better systems and communities.
As an introduction to the topic, I started by showcasing frameworks like Afrofuturism, Solarpunk, and other movements that blend imagination with justice and sustainability, offering participants new ways to think about what’s possible. Following that, we shifted from theory to practice with a hands-on creative session.
Participants used various art mediums to express their personal dreams for the future, moving from intellectual concepts to concrete creations. It was inspiring to see how everyone, regardless of their creative background, found a way to express their vision. We focused on reflection, connection, and visionary thinking, rather than on the final product, which helped create a safe space for everyone to participate.
What’s next?
One of the most powerful takeaways for me was the incredible diversity of the group and how this showed up in their visions. We had data scientists, educators, public servants, and business executives, and their ages ranged from 20 to 60. I noticed very different lenses that people approached this workshop with and also how, for many, this is something they have never considered and are not typically interested or involved in climate action or social change. At the beginning of the workshop the participants were asked to rank, with their eyes closed, their general feelings towards the future. The ranking was from 1-5 with 1 being frustrated, scared, angry, apathetic, or overwhelmed and 5 was motivated, excited, or inspired. After the workshop, we saw a significant shift, with a 26% increase in positive feelings! In addition, I received really motivating and exciting feedback on the workshop.
What are my takeaways?
- Imagination is a critical tool for action.
- Creativity and imagining a better world is for everyone.
- Hope and joy are strong tools to combat eco-anxiety and fear of the future.
- Small shifts in mindset matter.
Above all, it is important to consider what we want to see in the future instead of only what we want to avoid. This builds excitement, hope, and resilience to shape a better world.
Youth like Danielle Moore believed in a future sustainability was a priority. She started the “Cautious Optimist” project as a way to learn skills to build that future and document her insights. What’s one small step YOU can take today to bring your imagined future to life?
xoxo
Another cautious optimist
