Phoenix Conversation Network

Welcome to the Phoenix Conversations Network's presence on web. The primary activity of the Phoenix Conversations Network has been a series of twice monthly networking conference calls that support the initiative and creative efforts of each of us who feels drawn to what we are describing as "Phoenix Conversations". Our intention is to catalyze conversations that use the power of diversity and interactive imagination to nurture proactive and evolutionary responses to potential crises.  This Network is available to provide learning, encouragement, and mutual support relating to these efforts. We encourage people to find one another, engage, and bring insights back to the larger group.

[NOTE: The last call for 'Chapter 1' of the Phoenix Conversation Network is August 2008. No calls are scheduled beyond that, closing this chapter of the activity. People are still welcome to join on and participate in developing content for this website and network with eachother via the web. A static archive of the notes and other materials from 'chapter 1' are available at http://groups.google.com/group/phoenixconversations]

What we mean by "Phoenix Conversations" is outlined in a letter, "Phoenix Conversations - A call to prepare for profoundly uncertain future crises",  that was originally sent out to the National Coalition for Dialogue & Deliberation (NCDD) discussion list and Tom Atlee's Co-Intelligence Institute (CII) list in January 2008.  When 70 people responded to the "call" in a few days, it was clear to us the time was ripe for these conversations. The "Call", and the meme of "Phoenix Conversations"  sparked this series of 'meta' conversations amongst those already involved in Phoenix-like conversations and related activities - or wanting to get involved somehow. Another effort, The Phoenix Project is a great example of one type of "Phoenix Conversation," for which there was some cross collaboration. A May 2008 WordChanging post on "Using Disasters for Systemic Change" is another at a completely different scale. We need many more of these kinds of conversations cropping up all over the place.

Our intention in offering the PhoenixConversations Network - through the conference calls and the website - as a gathering place where we can connect with one another, learn from one another, and draw encouragement and inspiration for whatever initiatives we are already engaged in, or may be wanting to create, support, or have emerge through us. We see this networking space as a service to the larger community in support of anyone who is already hosting/participating in "Phoenix Conversations" akin to those described in the original "Call", or who is seeking to host/participate in such conversations.The conference calls are a powerful way for people to connect, and we see the website as a helpmate to that process, not a stand-alone project. For this reason we encourage people to join in on a conference call whenever you would like, rather than expecting a fully developed website. That said, anyone is welcome to browse this site, which includes notes from prior calls, and also to join and participate in activity on the site as well.

We look forward to joining you in this space,
Jennifer Atlee, Susan Cannon , Rosa Zubizarreta