Nairobi Retreat: Intelligence of the Heart

"In a gentle way, you can shake the world," Gandhi once said. It’s hard to believe that, when we feel disconnected. Instead, we fight for a bigger hammer – more money, more fame, more power. Just a few weeks ago, in Economist magazine, the head of Gallup summarized the global status quo like this: "Negative emotions -- the aggregate of stress, sadness, anger, worry and physical pain -- reached a record high last year."

In a context of compounding catastrophes and dystopian narratives in the media, how do we unleash our imagination and become co-creators of a different story? How do we respond to the personal, social and systemic gaps with a heart of compassion? Gandhi's recommendation was counter-intuitive: if an intervention doesn’t work, try a gentler one. If even that fails, go gentler still. Today’s culture tends to equate gentle with soft, but it’s hardly so. To be gentle is to be connected, and with that awareness, we can see more and do more.

Join us for a 1-day gathering, with pioneering friends like Nipun Mehta from America, Jessica Posner Odede from Girl Effect, founder of SHOFCO Kennedy Odede and many more!

We'll be exploring questions like: When our individual flow aligns with the collective flow, what might emerge in the wholeness of our connection? Like a murmuration of starlings, what innovations might we unlock if we are able to come together with heart of service? If, as Einstein said, problems can't be solved at the level of consciousness that created them -- how do we step into a higher consciousness to effectively respond with compassion? What are the unexpected "black swan" events that we might not be seeing alone, that we can spot collectively? How, ultimately, might we go from building barriers to bridges?

In this gathering, we aim to open our minds and hearts to the transformative power of compassion and kindness -- with inspiring change-makers across various different sectors (education, business, nonprofit, government, community and media). We will engage with personal practices, hear from thoughtful speakers, interact with each other and collectively cite patterns of positive deviance that we are seeing around the globe -- and "heartstorm" how we might amplify the presence of that force in today's world.

As a Community, how do we move from weak relationships of social networks to deep connections and noble friendships?

As a Community, how do we move from weak relationships of social networks to deep connections and noble friendships?

As Educators, how can we educate head, hands and heart to ignite the soul-force in each child?

As Educators, how can we educate head, hands and heart to ignite the soul-force in each child?

As Businesses, how can we expand focus on profits towards multiple forms of wealth?

As Businesses, how can we expand focus on profits towards multiple forms of wealth?

As Nonprofits, how can we serve the urgent needs but also nurture deeper and longer 7th-generation "living bridges" for transformation?

As Nonprofits, how can we serve the urgent needs with long-term "living bridges" for transformation?

As Leaders, how do we balance a command-and-control leadership with a gentle “laddership" of an emergent, many-to-many network?

As Leaders, how do we balance a command-and-control leadership with a gentle “laddership" of an emergent, many-to-many network?

As Media + Technologists, how do we shift from sensational and polarizing narratives? Can AI not crowd out our natural intelligence?

As Media + Technologists, how do we shift from sensational and polarizing narratives? Can AI not crowd out our natural intelligence?

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Join us, for an energizing day with heart-centered leaders and "ladders" inspired to hold uncommon questions across different sectors. Hosted in central Nairobi, we invite you to co-create a sacred field of emergence!