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Growth and change involve a necessary cycle of learning and unlearning. At Change Elemental, our clients and peers shape our learning as much as we might shape theirs. We strive to share our learning and insights in order to combine our wisdom and energy, and continue experimenting anew towards a world of love, dignity, and justice.

Photo of a pink lily flower and lily pads on the surface of a pond

Butterflies, Pads, and Pods: Interdependent Leadership for the World We Want

leadership, strategy, systems change

Organizing Liberatory Networks: An Invitation

equity, liberation, movement networks

Rooted in Source | One | July 4, 1976

equity, multiple ways of knowing

July 5, 2020 | See Seer Seeing Seen

equity, multiple ways of knowing

Collage of images that signify abundance. From left top to bottom right: a coastline, a basket of strawberries, a rocky base of a waterfall, a serviceberry plant, a table with dishes of food, loaves of bread, and a forest with sun peaking through the tree tops.

Feasting Together – Stepping into Practice

elements of justice, equity

Photo of convening participants sitting in a circle

Networks: Resourcing Relationships and Interdependence for an Equitable Future Now

equity, movement networks, systems change

Resourcing Networks for Equitable Systems Change: Perspectives from Funders, Intermediaries, Individuals, and Organizations

Resourcing Networks for Equitable Systems Change

equity, leadership, movement networks, systems change

Black and white photograph of black person, wearing a thin-strapped dress, posturing slightly forward with fingers pointed towards collarbone in a dance pose.

Our Bodies, Ourselves, Our Liberation

elements of justice, inner work

Drawing of a larva/caterpillar (molting) with an arrow leading to pupa (chrysalis), leading to butterfly (emerging)

Moving Toward a Culture of Shared Power that Prefigures a Liberated World

equity, leadership, liberation

Tree tunnel

What care does your—does our—shadow need?

Cover: Essential Capacities for Equitable Communities

Report, Story of Change

What Is Needed to Build Community Power? Essential Capacities for Equitable Communities

equity, leadership, philanthropy

yellow leaves on tree against blue sky

The Wisdom of Nature

inner work, multiple ways of knowing

Centering Equity in Intermediary Relationships: An Opportunity for Funders

Report, Story of Change

Centering Equity in Intermediary Relationships: An Opportunity for Funders

equity, philanthropy

Great Blue Herons on black rocks against a grey sky

The End of Hope

Systems Change & Deep Equity: Pathways Toward Sustainable Impact, Beyond "Eureka!." Unawareness & Unwitting Harm, An Interview with Sheryl Petty and Mark Leach

Systems Change & Deep Equity: Pathways Toward Sustainable Impact, Beyond “Eureka!,” Unawareness & Unwitting Harm

equity, systems change

sunflower blooms

Prefiguring Vision, Presence, Wholeness: Pausing for Rest + Joy

Burden Basket drawing

How to Support Black Leaders, Capacity Builders, Facilitators and Racial Equity Practitioners, ie. stop adding to their motherf&^%$ing burden baskets

mural of hand and text of justice, dignity, love on blue ribbon

White Dominance and Inclusion: Spectrums of Organizational Characteristics

elements of justice, liberation

Black Lives Matter flag

The Time Is Now

Photo of sculpture spelling "love"

Care Resources + Liberating Practices for this Moment

elements of justice, equity, inner work, multiple ways of knowing

Display of Food

With Care

inner work, multiple ways of knowing

Tree roots in the shade

Equity Values in Action: Learnings from a Lab

equity, leadership, movement networks

Group of people with fists raised

Building Power for Justice: Shining the Light on Grassroots Efforts in California

equity, systems change

display of food

Invocations, Principles, Ingredients, and Recipes for Nourishing Social Justice Practitioners and Networks

equity, leadership, movement networks, multiple ways of knowing

Medicine deck cover

Weaving Together a World Without Violence Medicine Deck: Invocations, Principles, Ingredients, & Recipes

equity, leadership, movement networks, multiple ways of knowing

Weaving together a World without Violence: A Collection of Principles, Practices, and Recipes for Healing from the Network Weaver Learning Lab

Weaving Together a World Without Violence Healing Cookbook

equity, leadership, movement networks, multiple ways of knowing

spiderweb

Change Elemental: A Leap of Faith

elements of justice

Report, Story of Change

Sowing Seeds Cultivating Growth and Harvesting Learning: Network Weavers Learning Lab Evaluation

equity, leadership, liberation, movement networks

Image of a dry tree seen in water

Reflecting on the First Steps on Our Governance Experiments

equity, leadership

Instruments on stage

Practicing the Elements of a Liberating Ecosystem

elements of justice, equity, inner work, leadership, multiple ways of knowing, systems change

Elissa and Susan smiling at the camera, a city behind them

Reflecting on Three Years of Shared Leadership

equity, leadership

Photo of Black Live Matter nighttime protest, slogans glowing

Strengthening Emerging Social Justice Groups and the Intermediaries that Support Them

equity, philanthropy

Photo of small blue egg in nest

Emergent Coaching: Becoming Nimble in Complex Times

Photo of grove of trees in dappled light

The World is Hurting

equity, liberation

Photograph of convening in a ballroom with interactive components and whiteboards

Creativity and Cultivating Intactness as Ways Forward Through Complexity

equity, inner work, movement networks, multiple ways of knowing

Change Elemental staff smiling at the camera

Join MAG as a Board Member or Experimentation Partner!

elements of justice, equity, inner work, leadership, multiple ways of knowing, systems change

Photo of protestors standing on bridge

Blog, Webinar/Video

Systems Change with an Equity Lens: Community Interventions that Shift Power and Center Race

equity, systems change

Map of the United States

Story of Change

Partnering with Ford to Build Power in the States

philanthropy, strategy, systems change

Photo of Elissa and Susan hugging and smiling with the Bay in the background

Two Years In…Notes on Equity and Shared Leadership at MAG

equity, leadership

sunrise at Peconic Bay

Creativity, Spirituality and Liberation: A Personal Reflection Grown in Communion With Many Souls

inner work, liberation, multiple ways of knowing

Cover - Exploring New Connections in Leadership and Organizational Transition: A case study webinar

Exploring New Connections in Leadership and Organizational Transitions: A Case Study Webinar

Defend DACA protest

Advancing Equity in America: Linking Immigrant Communities to the Workforce Investment System

equity, systems change

Photo of hands touching piece that reads "love is powerful"

A Love Sermonette Supreme

double rainbow

A Statement of Values to Guide Philanthropic Collaboration

A protester holding a sign that reads solidarity with Charlottesville

Linking Arms Against White Supremacy and Standing Up to Hate

equity, liberation

plant growth from concrete

Inner Work, Complexity and the Gift of Irrationality

Photo of shoreline

Inner Work as a Pathway to Collective Equity and Pleasure

equity, inner work

Photo of welcome sign that reads, "Welcome to the Confluence"

A Confluence of Love, Dignity, & Justice

elements of justice, liberation

Photo of redwoods

Waking Up To All of Ourselves: Inner Work, Social Justice, & Systems Change

equity, inner work, systems change

mural of hand and text of justice, dignity, love on blue ribbon

Five Elements of a Thriving Justice Ecosystem

equity, inner work, multiple ways of knowing, systems change

Photo of trees reflecting on water

Toward Love, Healing, Resilience & Alignment: The Inner Work of Social Transformation & Justice

elements of justice, inner work

artistic depiction of maze

Influencing Complex Systems Change

elements of justice, systems change

Photo of sculpture spelling "love"

love conjure/blues

multiple ways of knowing

Image of people fishing

Multiple Ways of Knowing: Expanding How We Know

elements of justice, multiple ways of knowing

Photo of Star constellation

Cultivating Leaderful Ecosystems

elements of justice, leadership

Civil rights era protest with men in suits holding hands and picket signs

Tackling Race and Class Together

Photo of small blue egg in nest

Pursuing Deep Equity

elements of justice, equity

Photo of mossy waterwheel

Embracing Action Learning at MAG

experimentation

Photo of protestors standing on bridge

The Path We Are On

bench next to lake and tree

Reflections on Shared Leadership

Photo of tree roots with green growth

Seeing, Reckoning & Acting: A Practice Toward Deep Equity

equity, inner work, liberation

photo of 5 people: Eugene Eric Kim, Jodie Tonita, adrienne maree brown, Elissa Perry, and Alison Lin. Not pictured: Mark Leach.

Engage, Experiment, Emerge (E3) – A Creating Conditions Lab

experimentation, multiple ways of knowing

Community members gather outside the Governor's Residence in Saint Paul, Minnesota on July 7, 2016

Black Lives Matter: A Message from MAG

Photo of murmuration (birds flying together)

Being Strategic and Nimble When You Aren’t in Control

Photo of Markers and a notebook laying in the grass

Blog, Story of Change

Actionable and Adaptable Program Strategy

Systems Grantmaking Webinar

philanthropy, systems change

Photo of Person jumping in front of sunset

Being (for) Justice

Photo of "Friends of the Earth" flag

Blog, Story of Change

A Systems Approach to Social Change: Tools for Teams that Think Big

The Systems Grantmaking Resource Guide: Tools & Approaches for Systems Change

philanthropy, systems change

Learning brief: grant making with systems thinking by Amy B. Dean

Learning Brief: Grantaking with Systems Thinking

philanthropy, systems change

Systems Grantmaking Resource Guide

philanthropy, systems change

a lake in the foreground with pines and jagged mountains in the background

The Role of Leaders in Complex Systems Change

leadership, systems change

pile of $1 bills

Raising and Distributing Money in Networks: Moving Through and Beyond the Prickly Parts

movement networks

Complexity Theory 101 for Social Justice Leaders

leadership, systems change

Photo of Lab participants at the final convening

Network Structures Need Heart

leadership, movement networks, strategy

Photo of redwoods

The Future Forward Project: An Interview with Robin Katcher

experimentation, movement networks, philanthropy

Flexible Organization Structures: Some Questions We’re Living Into

experimentation, strategy

Obscured polaroid photo hung on a clothesline with a pin

A Tool for Mapping Successful Movements

Photo of mural depicting raised fists

Emotions, Resilience, & Courageous Conversation

Photo of NLIL group with linked arms

Widening the Spectrum of Leadership Part Three: Building Trust to Flex

leadership, movement networks

wall of post-it notes with people looking at it

Iterative Strategy: From Competition to Alignment

Photo of Black Live Matter nighttime protest, slogans glowing

Widening the Spectrum of Leadership Part Two: What it Looks Like and the Capacity to Flex

leadership, movement networks

Photo of mural that reads "the future is female"

Multiple Ways of Knowing

multiple ways of knowing

Image of a dry tree seen in water

DARCII Decision Analysis

people holding posters with signs such as "No to Dirty Energy, Stop the Climate Crisis" at the People's Climate March in NYC in 2014

Guiding Questions for Leading in Complexity: A Worksheet for Continual Reflection

leadership, systems change

Photo of Elissa Sloan Perry writing on a large piece of paper

Interview: Peter Senge and Elissa Sloan Perry

Cover- Linking in the Lab: Innovating Cross-Movement Leadership and Learning

Report, Story of Change

Linking in the Lab: Innovating Cross-Movement Leadership and Learning

movement networks

Photo of yellowing leaves on a tree

Weighed Down by Stressful Times? Self Care is Key

Photo of BLM protesters

Tools You Can Use: Finding Opportunity in Challenge

Photo of Group of dancers

Widening the Spectrum of Leadership to Dance Where You Are

leadership, movement networks

Photograph from Tina Turner concert

What’s Power Got to Do With It? Owning Your Power As a Manager

Laptop, phone, cup of coffee and open notebook at a desk

Going Virtual in the Nonprofit Sector

Buddha statue in a garden

If the Buddha was a Fundraiser

People's Climate March in NYC - people holding big banner

Story of Change

Partnering with 350.org to Overcome Challenges to Network Building

equity, leadership, movement networks

2014 Building Nonprofit Sustainability: A Virtual Leadership Series, October 14, 2014. Putting Shared Leadership into Practice with Michael Allison of Michael Allison Consulting, Susan Misra of Management Assistance Group & Elissa Perry of Think. Do. Repeat & Management Assistance Group poster

Putting Shared Leadership Into Practice

Story of Change

Centering Racial Equity with Funders for LGBTQ Issues

equity, philanthropy

tree roots and sunshine in a green forest

Story of Change

Shifting Governance with The John Merck Fund

leadership, philanthropy

Story of Change

Alliance Building with Advocates for Youth

movement networks

A group of protesters holding signs and wearing shirts with the slogan, "all above all"

Story of Change

Network Growth: The Coalition for Abortion Access and Reproductive Equity

movement networks

Photo of NLIL group with linked arms

Movement Leaders Speak Out: An Honest Dialogue About What it Takes to Advance a Movement

leadership, movement networks

Story of Change

Movement Network Leader Case Study: Sarita Gupta

experimentation, leadership, movement networks

Screenshot of nonprofit quarterly article, creating culture: promising practices of successful movement networks by Mark Leach, DBA, and Laurie Mazur

Creating Culture: Promising Practices of Successful Movement Networks

movement networks

Story of Change

Movement Network Leadership Case Study: Gustavo Torres

experimentation, leadership, movement networks

Screenshot of article titled toward complex adaptive philanthropy: preliminary learnings from the network leadership innovation lab

Towards ‘Complex Adaptive Philanthropy:’ Preliminary Learnings from the Network Leadership Innovation Lab

movement networks, philanthropy

Story of Change

Movement Network Leadership Case Study: Eveline Shen

experimentation, leadership, movement networks

Cover - Until waters: The fluid role of networks in social movements

Unstill Waters: The Fluid Role of Networks in Social Movements

movement networks

Screenshot of nonprofit quarterly article, doing more with more: putting shared leader ship into Practice by Michael Allison, Susan Misra, and Elissa Perry

Doing More with More: Putting Shared Leadership Into Practice

Outsourcing Back-Office Services in Small Nonprofits: Pitfalls and Possibilities

experimentation

Screen shot of article from nonprofit quarterly summer 2010, and still Waters: the fluid role of networks and social movements

Unstill Waters: The Fluid Role of Networks in Social Movements

movement networks

Table for Two: Can Founders & Successors Co-Exist So Everyone Wins? cover

Table for Two: Can Founders and Successors Co-Exist So Everyone Wins?

Seven Turning Points: Leading through pivotal transitions in organizational life cover

Seven Turning Points: Leading Through Pivotal Transitions in Organizational Life

Advancing your cars through the people who manage: a guide book for busy leaders

Advancing Your Cause Through the People You Manage

leadership, strategy

Boards matter: Board building tools for the busy social justice executive

Boards Matter: Board Building Tools for the Busy Social Justice Executive

Strategic Planning that Makes a Difference and That’s Worth the Time

Title Page - Managing People: The Most Common Pitfalls

Managing People: Common Pitfalls

Title Page - How to Have Effective Staff Meetings

How to Have Effective Staff Meetings

Board passages: three key stages in a nonprofit boards life cycle bike Karl Mathiasen, III

Board Passages: Three Key Stages in a Nonprofit Board’s Life Cycle

The Power of Purpose by Susan Gross

The Power of Purpose

Title Page: The Planning Dreads: Why Groups Resist Planning

The Planning Dreads: Why Groups Resist Planning

Board membering: what kind of people make good board members? What kinds of people are needed to make up a good board of directors? By Karl Mathiesen III

Board Membering

The 10 Most Common Organizational Problems: Getting to Their Source

The 10 Most Common Organizational Problems: Getting to Their Source

experimentation, leadership, strategy

The board of directors is a problem: exploring the concept of following and leading boards by Karl Mathiesen, III

The Board of Directors Is A Problem: Exploring the Concept of Following and Leading Boards

No board of directors is like any other colon some maxims about boards

No Board of Directors is Like Any Other: Some Maxims about Boards

From Our Partners

Book cover: Pleasure Activism: The Politics of Feeling Good, Written and Gathered by adrienne maree brown

From Our Partners

Pleasure Activism: The Politics of Feeling Good by adrienne maree brown

Cover: Race to Lead: Women of Color in the Nonprofit Sector by Ofronama Biu

From Our Partners

Race to Lead: Women of Color in the Nonprofit Sector by Ofronama Biu

Cover: The Power Manual: How to Master Complex Power Dynamics by Cyndi Suarez

From Our Partners

The Power Manual by Cyndi Saurez

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Change Elemental joins changemakers across organizations and movements to collaboratively learn and re-imagine strategies and systems to remake our world.

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