One Earth
One Earth, a PIO partner, is a Vancouver-based, internationally-focussed non-profit connecting the dots between who we are, what we buy, where we live, what we make, what we trade, and how we live together to create a positive impact. They have recently launched a new initiative—Beacon for Sustainable Living—and utilized PIO’s workshop planning and facilitation tools with their Beacon network.
“The workshop’s template and the guiding facilitation style it encouraged cultivated an environment of safety and comfort where participants could explore and pursue sustainable changes in their lives”
Max Serpa
One Earth | Beacon for Sustainable Living
A snapshot story of principles in action.
Where they went
In the words of One Earth’s Executive Director, Vanessa Timmer, “In this Partner Lab, we were interested in engaging the sustainable living influencers in reducing air travel. We are engaged in two main campaigns: Beacon for Sustainable Living and Southwest British Columbia Lighter Living initiative. Both are focused on engaging the movement influencers focused on advancing ways of living within the means of our ecological footprints.” As part of their Beacon for Sustainable Living leadership programming, members of OneEarth’s team conducted two workshops focussed on air travel – engaging the Beacon for Sustainable Living influencers in an experience to address reducing air travel. As part of this engagement, the team used PIO’s email and survey templates in advance of the workshop and also as a post-workshop engagement tool. The team also offered Grounding Sessions after the workshop to support the participants in maintaining their commitments.
What they found
The One Earth team made a discovery—the importance of pacing and tone of the workshop and how it was facilitated, in addition to the opportunity to carve out time to connect and engage with each other in a new way. “After the air travel dialogues, we heard from multiple participants who affirmed how positive the PIO approach was for them”, shared Max Serpa, OneEarth associate. To conduct their workshops, our partners modified the PIO workshop. They sent out an email to invite the participants. They invited the registered participants to fill out a survey in advance of the workshop to gauge participant’s state of mind on the issue. The responses to the survey were integrated into the workshop slides. A post-workshop feedback survey was sent and grounding sessions were facilitated. Participants welcomed the approach of setting intentions in order to make sustainable living commitments concrete, and are interested in experimenting with techniques and tools such as repeat questions and a ‘guiding’ approach. Other participants indicated a desire in a future workshop to move from the personal reflection to an exploration of the systemic nature/context of the air travel issue.
Where they are going
One Earth/Beacon’s experience with the PIO materials has influenced how they plan to shift their engagements with their leadership cohorts. As Vanessa Timmer puts it, “The Beacon is actively developing our initiative and PIO processes support participation in more open exploratory ways, including inviting an equitable engagement of many voices. A ‘guiding’ approach is very valuable and necessary in the complex challenge of advancing sustainable living and we intend to share our lessons learned. OneEarth and the Beacon team will keep using and adapting PIO approaches and encouraging others in our community to do the same.”
What they used
What Guiding Principles were in action
Attune 
Reveal 
Equip 
Sustain
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One Earth
Used PIO’s Guiding Principles and materials with their Beacon for Sustainable Living network. READ THE STORY →