SVN 2011 Unites Conscious Leaders

In 1987, Josh Mailman and Wayne Silby invited 72 people to Gold Lake Ranch, outside Boulder, Colorado, to co-create what became the Social Venture Network.  Today, the organization has incubated many more groups, which, collectively, has enabled some very impactful change in North America and beyond.  

This week, the network, nee family, gathered for one of their two national conferences, bringing together some of the most inspired leaders of change-making organizations across a wide range of specialties and sub-sectors.  

The group celebrated six of the best early stage entrepreneurs with their annual Social Innovation Awards, honoring a diverse set of accomplishments with beneficiaries as diverse as African farmers and American military veterans.  

But you'll never understand SVN by looking at a list of facts and a few images on Facebook.  The power of SVN is the richness and awareness of the community.  To help your understanding, please read the letter I wrote to the W1SDØM team after my first SVN experience.  I've wrestled with whether or not to share it, because, as you'll see, it's a bit more personal than a typical blog post. 

I'm writing this letter from the plane on my way back from SVN, and it's essentially a lightly edited stream-of-consciousness. 

SVN was a extraordinary experience.  As I begin writing this, i feel unsure the words will convey the depth of the impact it has had on me.  

Unlike any other conference I've attended, the SVN gathering embodies our intention and values among a group of people who have been meeting for more than 20 years.  The shared consciousness was not just evident, but cultivated.  It was an experience that nourished my whole being.  The sense of collective community we share was brought to life; 150 leaders from the organizations we seek to serve shared their deepest concerns and highest aspirations, wept openly about profound challenges, and rocked live music sets deep into the 3, 4, and 5 o'clock hours every night.  

Although SVN has a well-earned reputation for being a network of aging rich jubu hippes (my people!), their commitment to diversity and inclusiveness has substantively transformed the demographic mix.  Many elders and peers actively engaged and supported our comfort and engagement; the network of newbie fresh(wo)men wove what was obviously a new trailing edge into the fabric of pioneering work of people like Ben Cohen and Ed Dugger.  The wisdom and elegance of women was deeply integrated into the fabric, and a broad spectrum of white, pink, tan, brown and black skin -- some of which belonged to members of over 20 years -- demonstrated the cultural diversity we sorely lack in boulder.  

I was fortunate to have several friends, acquaintances and folks I had met previously.  From the beginning of the gathering, I felt like I had found our tribe; by the end, i was sure.  

The event was at Skamania lodge on the Columbia River Gorge, a spectacular natural setting, with walking paths, beautiful views and contemplative spots.  I arrived early on Thursday, several hours before activities began, and let myself fall into the flow of the space and community.  Although i took notes and shared materials and demos on occasion, i really brought my full self into the space and left behind the tyranny of ubiquitous mobile communication.  As a result, i had a complete engagement in all aspects of the community, and had the type of deep, honest, authentic discussions i have been honored to have with so many of you.  The collective capacity for listening and honoring allowed deep truths to be spoken.  It was profound to hear of the many personal struggles, tragedies, fears and sacrifices most everyone has faced, and helped me more deeply appreciate the paradoxical nature of people who have achieved significant impacts on the world already.  I gained a new appreciation that everyone has a deep and nuanced back story, formative experiences and -- even among people who appear to have achieved great things -- enormous obstacles, not all of which have been overcome.  

For me, it deepened a journey I've been on for some time.  It was the closest thing to Hogwarts we may ever experience this side of Burning Man.  

If it sounds too touchy-feely for you, then it probably was.  

For W1SDØM, it opened new doors, and allowed our full, integral story to be heard by people who understand.  The opportunities presented by the connections I made will play out over days, weeks, months, years and decades.  I encountered people who are able to transform our business.   How that helps our company is a chapter yet to be written; the results of our future collective activities.  The news -- good, bad and indifferent -- is that we have now planted a seed within the collective mind of the people who will influence our destiny.   The seed is planted, deep, and in quite fertile soil. How we tend to it --  service, nurture, develop, evolve -- will have a lot to do with how things work out for us.  I'm starting to follow-up today.  

I was fortunate to be able to spend time with my own doubts, challenges and fears in a safe environment and with people who helped me see both hard truths and opportunities therein.  Although I'm still processing all of that, it's clear that much of our initiative will remain on track, while other things will have to change.  ....  [logistical details followed]

If you find yourself leading an organization, and find that you need friends, advisors, peers, mentors and co-conspirators who understand the painful struggles and impossible paradoxes inhenent in leading a social enterprise, you really ought to invest some energy to find and engage SVN members in your town.  

We have been lucky to meet many amazing people through, via and around the SVN network, notably John Steiner, Scott Leonard, Scott Kiere, Josh Knauer, Carol Newell and many many more.  We are also deeply inspired by the quality of the SVN operatonal team, led by the extraordinary Deb Nelson.