Theory of Change
How do we both imagine and live our future?
Grown from Many Conversations, Stories, and Experiences
Rooted in the Queer, Black, Indigenous, and feminist wisdom of many, including bell hooks, Audre Lorde, Angela Davis, June Jordan, Chrystos, Elissa Sloan Perry, Judith LeBlanc, Norma Wong, Omi Osun Joni L. Jones, Sharon Bridgforth, and Monica Dennis, among others, this theory of transformation guides us in our efforts to prefigure liberation together.
It may not be the only way, and it is a way.
Access “A Theory of Liberatory Transformation” in Spanish, here.
To advance a future of interdependence and mutual thriving while living it as much as possible today, we need to be deepening practices of the five elements of liberating transformation—advancing liberation and sovereignty,* sharing leadership and power, valuing multiple ways of knowing, creating and transforming in chaos and complexity, and practicing inner work.
Practicing these elements requires us to include and transcend practices of oppression and healing while investing in and amplifying liberating practices—practices of being in continuous, robust, and intentional relationship with source, body, emotions, and stories.
We don’t claim to have invented or to own this way of working and being in the world. We have named it so that we might bring greater intention and rigor to our being and doing. It asks us to reimagine leadership and power in our current chaotic and complex contexts and to engage in deep inner work. It invites us to embrace complexity by working in ways that are both planful and emergent, structured and adaptive.
It has grown from the rich soil of many conversations, readings, stories, and experiences with partners, clients, nature, ancestors, our bodies, art, community wisdom, and spirit. We invite you to watch Elissa Sloan Perry share one story of influences and ways of understanding and imagining, uplifting some of the seeds that grew this theory of metamorphic** transformation.
Watch: Black Feminist Roots of A Theory of Transformation
Learn more about the five elements of liberating transformation!
“Evolution is about holding the paradox of looking boldly towards the future, being firmly rooted in the present, while always paying homage to the past.”
– Zulayka Santiago, former Change Elemental Governance Team
*Liberation and sovereignty: the twin roots of our theory of transformation. Learn more about the evolution from deep equity to liberation and sovereignty in our work here (link to the LANDS page).
**Metamorphosis: a change of the form or nature of a thing or person into a completely different one, by natural or supernatural means.