For the first time in four years, SelfDesign leadership, educators and other contractors gathered together in person to meet one another, in some cases for the first time, to catch up with old friends face to face, and to learn more about SelfDesign’s philosophy.
Almost 110 of our team members, including educators, general contractors and leadership members, took part in at least one of the four events held in mid-June in various locations around the province. This year, we held these events, called LocalLabs, in Nelson, Kelowna, Nanaimo and the Lower Mainland.
“People were really hungry to come together and be together in person,” says River Meyer, SelfDesign’s Director of Organizational Learning and Culture and one of the events’ organizers. “They’ve been asking for that for several years.”
The importance of connection
As a remote learning school, SelfDesign’s educators and contractors, as well as learners, live and work in many areas of British Columbia and beyond. Although we meet frequently online throughout the learning year, we have fewer opportunities to gather in person. During the three-year pandemic, even fewer opportunities were available.
“We’ve always felt strongly about providing our learners with opportunities to get together in person,” River says. “But we don’t just believe in in-person interaction for our learners; we think having our contractors come together in person is just as important.”
“It is a high priority of SelfDesign® Learning Foundation to offer learning opportunities for our community of contractors whenever possible,” says SelfDesign President & CEO Amber Papou. “LocalLabs offered the opportunity for all of those that attended the opportunity to ‘learn’ together — learn about each other and learn about ourselves, both of which strengthen our connection.”
SelfDesign started offering LocalLabs a few years before the pandemic began. The regional day-long gatherings provided opportunities for contractors to explore together topics to strengthen our organization, as well as to get to know one another better in informal social time. Before that, we held multi-day gatherings at a single location each year.
Opportunity to delve into the SelfDesign philosophy
This year’s four LocalLabs provided opportunities not only to connect with one another socially but to dig deeper into SelfDesign’s philosophy.
“SelfDesign is all about conversation, relationship, curiosity and mutual respect. So we put together a day where all the activities are about interaction and learning, with a bit of deepening into the SelfDesign philosophy — the elements that are so important not just for our parents or learners but for our whole organization,” River says. “If our organization lives that philosophy at every level, we are a stronger organization. Those pieces filter into our learning programs and trickle down throughout the whole organization.”
River guided a number of activities and discussions that focused on communication and relationship and delved into SelfDesign’s philosophy. She and Amber also held sessions that dug into personal values, organizational values, and how they tie into SelfDesign’s philosophy and our new strategic plan, which will be launched later this year. Co-organizer and Chair of the SelfDesign Learning Foundation Board of Director Verena Gibbs led sessions on how every aspect of SelfDesign, including its people, creates an interconnected, responsive organizational system, and how what one person does can affect the entire organization.
”For me, SelfDesign is grounded in community and relationship and that is the spirit with which River and I designed the day,” Verena says. “River’s long-term commitment to this organization and holding the philosophy at its heart should be celebrated. Wherever we were in the province, many people would come to hug River. It felt more like a long awaited family reunion than an organizational session.”
The combination of information was received well by participants.
“It was good to have Verena, Amber and River ground the space in SelfDesign practice,” one participant said. “I am glad we brought the focus back to relationship and conversations.”
“I loved the day,” another said. “It exceeded my expectations and remained in my thoughts for a day or so after as I processed all the great activities. I especially enjoyed considering the interconnection of individuals and how together we form a system of learners.”
Coming back to connection
But most appreciated was the opportunity to meet and connect with others. Indeed, feedback from participants about the LocalLabs indicates that gathering in person and meeting new and old colleagues were the events’ highlights.
“I really enjoyed connecting with colleagues and going through the activities,” another participant said. “I had fun, met new people and reconnected with folks I haven’t seen in a long time.”
“This was by far my favourite LocalLab — it had a great pace, had fun, meaningful and engaging activities, lots of time for connections,” another participant said.
“A big shout out to River and Verena who planned and led the activities,” Amber says. “2023 LocalLabs were a great success!”
Read more about SelfDesign’s philosophy
Learn more about SelfDesign’s guiding values
Read about the importance of in-person gatherings to our learners
