🌟 Essential Conversations: 2020-2025
🎉 21st Anniversary of Art of Convening!
🌟 Essential Conversations: 2020-2025 🎉 21st Anniversary of Art of Convening!
ALL TIMES LISTED ARE CENTRAL U.S.
The Community Hearth and some events are free to attend.
Join CPL Communities for access to all events.
Download CPL’s “Recipe Cards” for Great Meetings & Conversations
Upcoming Events
In an era where a
constant message tells
us we are a divided people, CPL is committed to convening opportunities to remember our shared humanity, and discover our common values of caring for one another, caring for all.
Join us at CPL Communities to become part of a vibrant community of purposeful leaders like you.
What to look for at each CPL Gathering? Structures of purposeful community;
Meet fellow change agents.
Find new friends/allies.
Deepen friendships and collaborations.
Explore new ways of thinking and being.
Be inspired by an awesome community.
Photography, audio, and video recording may occur during any CPL event, and by entering the event, you consent to the use of these recordings for various purposes for CPL.
Community Hearth: 9-10am + 15-minute After-party
https://www.cplcommunities.org/spaces/13037179/content
Essential Conversations: Acquaint: A Foundation for a More Collaborative World
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At CPL, our mission is grounded in principles and practices of convening. We cultivate and inspire leaders from all walks of life to be engaged, inspired, and part of essential conversations that imagine and build a world that works for all. We believe that anyone can be a change agent and set intentions that have a positive impact on those we serve.
We have the honor and pleasure of partnering with organizations and individuals from across the globe to engage and focus on what matters and empower you to innovate, to lead.
Each month we host an intentional, convened thought leadership conversation. Please join us! Read below to learn more about this month’s Essential Conversations.
Wednesday, June 11
9:00-10:30 am CT US
A conversation on the joy and importance of non-transactional human connection
Katherine Mahon
Co-Founder and CEO
Alex Szebenyl
Co-Founder and CTO
Join Acquaint’s co-founders, Katherine Mahon and Alex Szebenyi, on Wednesday, June 11 for a powerful Essential Conversation about how intentional human connection can reshape our relationships, communities, and sense of belonging.
Together, we’ll explore the story of Acquaint - a global, volunteer-powered platform designed to make the practice of human connection more accessible and rewarding for people of all backgrounds.
We’ll reflect on why connection matters now more than ever, how Acquaint fosters mutual, non-transactional relationships, and how thoughtful use of AI can support communication growth - without replacing the magic of real conversation.
Through storytelling, breakout discussions, and shared reflection, we’ll consider what it means to value connection for its own sake - and how each of us can play a part in building a more connected world.
Why Human Connection?
We believe that meaningful connection is more than just a skill - it’s a joyful, challenging, and rewarding art. Yet today, it’s often seen as a chore or necessity rather than something to be celebrated and practiced.
We’re losing the incidental spaces where connection once happened:
🎥 Movie theaters
🎳 Bowling alleys
🏛️ Town squares
Acquaint is here to offer something different: a digital space where anyone, anywhere, can connect with someone else for no reason other than to connect. It’s fun. It’s surprising. And it’s meaningful.
We believe that by choosing to connect on purpose, we grow as people and get better at being human together. Every conversation makes a difference, and we’re always looking for more volunteers to help make these moments possible. If you’re someone who values real connection, or wants to have deeper connections in your life, we’d love to have you join us.
Topics We’ll Explore
The Genesis of Acquaint
-How a pandemic pivot and a vision of global community gave rise to Acquaint
-Intergenerational roots and inspiration from early projects like HomeAgain VR
-The journey from idea to a platform supporting thousands of global conversations
-Alex and Katherine’s journey collaborating on Acquaint as a coupleWhat is a Non-Transactional Relationship?
Are friendships transactional? What happens when we connect without expecting anything in return?Society & Strangers
Who still talks to strangers? Why does it feel risky or rare?
What are we losing as spontaneous connection disappears from daily life?The Role of Humility and Vulnerability in Conversation
How do we create symmetrical experiences in dialogue, where everyone contributes and grows?The Future of Acquaint
A global community rooted in the value of human connection
Self-guided journeys and live connection, supported by gentle AI reflection
Making human connection a habit, not a chore
Who This Is For
Anyone curious about:
Deepening their connection with others
Exploring non-transactional relationships
Building community across cultures and geographies
Practicing humility, curiosity, and communication in conversation
Volunteering in a way that helps everyone grow
Acquaint is excited to join forces with the Center for Purposeful Leadership, a global community non-profit organization reimagining the nature of Leadership. Together, we’re breaking down barriers, strengthening global empathy, and celebrating listening as a powerful leadership quality.
Who is Acquaint?
More than an Organization, but A Foundation for a More Collaborative World. Acquaint believes that collaboration across cultures is vital to addressing humanity’s greatest challenges. The solution to this dynamic was simple: Make everyone a volunteer and put the focus on human connection. With people from over 100 countries, through empathy-building, one-on-one conversations, volunteering helps you connect with people, sharpen your listening, expand your perspective, and create powerful moments with people from all walks of life. Every conversation has a ripple effect.
Join us today to help combat hate and strengthen your relationships!
Human Connection Training:
Our platform offers practical, conversation-based training to help individuals and teams communicate more effectively. As users engage in structured conversations with people from different backgrounds, they unlock self-paced modules supported by AI-powered coaching and interactive exercises that guide reflection and skill-building.
These tools are especially useful for leaders looking to improve collaboration, manage diverse teams, and handle challenging conversations with confidence and clarity.
Practical Application:
We believe that true learning happens through practice and application. Acquaint empowers volunteers to take their skills beyond the virtual realm and make a tangible impact in their communities. By applying their newfound collaborative skills locally and globally, our volunteers become catalysts for change, inspiring others to follow suit.
Partnerships:
Acquaint partners with corporations, educational institutions, nonprofits, and other types of organizations to offer meaningful engagement to their members. In addition to the intercultural dialogue and communication training elements, we can also provide workshops and impact data collection to our partners.
Acquaint is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
About Katherine and Alex
KATHERINE MAHON
Co-Founder & CEO, Acquaint
https://www.linkedin.com/in/katherine-mahon1/
info@acquaint.org
Katherine Mahon believes that disconnection is one of the most urgent challenges of our time, and that practicing human connection is a powerful way to push back. As Co-Founder and CEO of Acquaint, she’s working to ensure that genuine connection doesn’t disappear in a world increasingly shaped by division, distraction, and transactional relationships.
Before co-founding Acquaint, Katherine built a career at the intersection of creativity and technology. She worked in 3D product design at Amazon and in architectural visualization, developing a sharp eye for detail and a passion for designing meaningful experiences. She’s also an alum of the Atlas Corps Virtual Leadership Institute, where she joined a cohort of social change leaders from both the U.S. and Russia to collaborate on cross-cultural problem solving.
Katherine and her husband, Acquaint’s CTO and Co-Founder Alex Szebenyi, welcomed their daughter in March 2025. Becoming a mom has added a deeper sense of urgency and inspiration to her work, fueling her drive to help create a more compassionate and connected world for future generations.
Katherine is determined to see Acquaint grow well beyond its founders and become a lasting force for good in the world.
ALEX SZEBENYI
Co-Founder & CTO, Acquaint
https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-szebenyi/
info@acquaint.org
Alex Szebenyi is a software engineer and systems thinker who co-founded Acquaint to explore how technology can support more reflective, meaningful human connection. With a background in building large-scale systems, Alex became interested in the inner workings of social interaction - how people build trust, shift perspectives, and grow through conversation. He believes the future of technology is about designing for empathy, curiosity, and critical thinking.
Before Acquaint officially launched in 2021, its predecessor was an intergenerational program addressing social isolation during the pandemic. But Alex and Co-founder Katherine Mahon noticed an unintended hierarchy in the model: “volunteers” were seen as the givers, while “participants” were the receivers. They responded by redesigning the system so that everyone would contribute, reframing connection as a mutual practice rather than a service.
Today, Alex leads the development of tools that help people become more intentional communicators - not by removing friction, but by making the effort itself more rewarding and accessible.
Acquaint Testimonials
Make a donation today to support the Essential Conversations and CPL’s work of creating a world that works for all.
Meeting with Purpose Monthly Member CoLab (Copy)
Meeting with Purpose Monthly CoLab
Free for all CPL Community Members.
Fri, May 9
9:00am - 10:00am CST
Repeats monthly on the 2nd Friday
We'll use this time to explore different features, answer technical questions, and share general tips and creative ways to use convenings for your offerings.
Do you have any questions about setting up your convening or conversations?
Are you running into any challenges?
Or maybe you are looking for some inspiration for a project?
Free for all CPL Community Members.
Community Hearth: 9-10am + 15-minute After-party
https://www.cplcommunities.org/spaces/13037179/content
CPL Community Gathering: Dream Session
CPL Community Gatherings
Join us for an inspiring community session on ZOOM:
Weds June 18, 9:00-10:30 am CT US
CPL's vision (needed more than ever):
A just, inclusive, and interconnected world - a world that works for all.... creating a culture in service to life.
At CPL I find this every time:💡 Motivation. Momentum. Passion. The energy to keep showing up and stewarding my dreams. - John Armstrong, Full Spectrum Coaching
Dear Valued Member of the CPL Community,
These are challenging times for many nonprofits. At CPL, as we plan for the rest of 2025 and beyond, we are excited to focus on the intention of "Passing the Torch" to future generations for legacy and growth.
More than ever, our strength comes in the collective wisdom of FIVE generations fueling our mission. CPL stands as a vibrant hub and ecosystem of visionaries and creators. More than ever, we uplift and empower one another to transform dreams into reality.
Join us for an inspiring community session on June 18:
Our dreams matter. Join us for an inspiring community session where everyone is welcome to share and explore visions for the future. Let's dream together, exchanging aspirations and insights. This is how we amplify and elevate each other for collective impact.
What will we do?
Discover how CPL is growing for 2025 and beyond.
Art of Convening (21st year!) re-envisioned for the future.
Be inspired by our Collaboration Partners.
Meet our amazing volunteers and interns.
Find motivation in your own voice and ideas.
Be in community with people like you who care about our future.
Y/our aspirations are pivotal in shaping a future where everyone thrives, fostering a culture that celebrates life. How can we envision a world that truly works for all? By working together. Collaborating together. Nourishing each other’s dreams.
Our Collaboration Partners:
Imagine building a world that works for all: It's what we do each time we gather.
We look forward to seeing you on May 15 or May 20.
Patricia Neal
Executive Director, Center for Purposeful Leadership
Questions? just want to talk? Let's connect: https://meetings.hubspot.com/patricia-neal
CPL Connect
CPL Communities Connect (aka Office Hours)
What is CPL Communities? What are all the features of your CPL community?
Free for all CPL Community Members.
CPL Members, join Patricia Neal, CPL Executive Director.
Updates on all things CPL and Community Builder Community of Practice!
Whether you are new to CPL Communities or have been here a while, do you know how to navigate the network, the platform, events, find people, connect?
We'll use this time to explore different features, answer technical questions.
Community Hearth: 9-10am + 15-minute After-party
https://www.cplcommunities.org/spaces/13037179/content
Community Hearth: 9-10am + 15-minute After-party
https://www.cplcommunities.org/spaces/13037179/content
Community Hearth: 9-10am + 15-minute After-party
https://www.cplcommunities.org/spaces/13037179/content
Community Hearth: 9-10am + 15-minute After-party
https://www.cplcommunities.org/spaces/13037179/content
Community Hearth: 9-10am + 15-minute After-party
https://www.cplcommunities.org/spaces/13037179/content
Community Hearth: 9-10am + 15-minute After-party
https://www.cplcommunities.org/spaces/13037179/content
Community Hearth: 9-10am + 15-minute After-party
https://www.cplcommunities.org/spaces/13037179/content
Community Hearth: 9-10am + 15-minute After-party
https://www.cplcommunities.org/spaces/13037179/content
Community Hearth: 9-10am + 15-minute After-party
https://www.cplcommunities.org/spaces/13037179/content
Community Hearth: 9-10am + 15-minute After-party
https://www.cplcommunities.org/spaces/13037179/content
Community Hearth: 9-10am + 15-minute After-party
https://www.cplcommunities.org/spaces/13037179/content
Community Hearth: 9-10am + 15-minute After-party
https://www.cplcommunities.org/spaces/13037179/content
CPL Working Session: Grand Bargain Project
Launching a nationwide movement of purposeful leaders in support of the Grand Bargain.
We will invite the American people to co-create a roadmap for our shared future.
Our overall objective: a society in which all can thrive.
A Working Session:
Reuniting a Divided America around a Roadmap for the Future
Wednesday, May 28 | 6:00-7:30 pm CT US
with Center for Collaborative Democracy CEO Sol Erdman, Executive Director Cheryl Hughes,
CPL Executive Director, Patricia Neal, CPL Board Chair, Cecily Victor
and CPL Members Bud Wilson, Jerry Chang, David O’Fallon & John Harris
and YOU!
Help Shape the Grand Bargain Project
For American democracy to survive, we need a new social contract and brave purposeful leaders forearmed for today's unique challenges.
The Grand Bargain Project is designed to unite Americans around a Practical Plan for advancing 6 Key Issues that 90+ percent of us see as critical to our future.
What Does this Working Session Involve?
Experience a “taste” of the Grand Bargain workshop in which we will engage citizens in deliberation over the project’s proposed roadmap for the future;
Learn the “branches” of the Grand Bargain “tree"
-the “GB App”
-Workshops in 435 Congressional districts
-engaging members of Congress
-inviting stakeholds to participate
-social/digital networking;Explore and discuss the scope and intent of this vital new offering.
Participant feedback from this session will be incorporated into the Grand Bargain workshops and help inform further advocacy and organizing efforts to improve the proposed policy package.
You will have an opportunity to register for a:
CPL-led Grand Bargain Project Workshop
Special conveners group to explore Workshop leadership.
The workshops will help build a national movement, eventually engaging policymakers to acknowledge the urgent need for adopting a Grand Bargain to protect America’s future.
The Grand Bargain will be built—and certainly benefit—from the input of concerned citizens, civic organizations, and professional associations. Deliberative democracy is a key element of piecing together and building widespread support for the Grand Bargain Project.
To that end, we are hosting participatory workshops across America to help shape the content of the Grand Bargain. The workshops address six issues that most Americans are eager to adopt:
Join us on
Wednesday, May 28
6:00-7:30 pm CT US
Learn more:
Reuniting A Divided America around A Roadmap For The Future
Join CPL and Sol Erdman, from Center for Collaborative Democracy, to be part of this amazing opportunity to reimagine democracy as we know it by:
Creating a new social contract for our future based on the Preamble to the Constitution.
"We the People" are the opening words of the Preamble to the United States Constitution, signifying that the power of the U.S. government originates from the citizens, not the government itself. It establishes the Constitution's fundamental purposes, which include forming a more perfect union, establishing justice, ensuring domestic tranquility, providing for the common defense, promoting the general welfare, and securing the blessings of liberty.
Systemic Remedy
To reunite the American people around a shared vision of our future – before it’s too late -- we are proposing common-sense reforms in the above six areas that, when combined, would vastly improve life for all.
We distilled ideas — from major stakeholders, think tank leaders, former policymakers, political activists and citizen groups — into 41 reforms, each one sentence long, that — when combined — would yield historic progress in all six areas, and at lower cost than current policies.
Building an Exponentially Growing Movement
Bridge Alliance, various Rotary Clubs, and other civic groups are working with us to incorporate the Grand Bargain into their community-building programs.
CPL, Braver Angels and others will host workshops in which participants deliberate over the evolving plan.
To foster nationwide dialogue, we will hold at least three workshops in each of the 435 congressional districts. Citizens will deliberate over the combined reforms — in community meeting and online. We will, in turn, distill the results into a form that we will deliver to political leaders as representing the will of the America people.
Wednesday, May 28
6:00-7:30 pm CT US
Make a donation today to support CPL’s work of creating a world that works for all.
CPL Connect
CPL Communities Connect (aka Office Hours)
What is CPL Communities? What are all the features of your CPL community?
Free for all CPL Community Members.
CPL Members, join Patricia Neal, CPL Executive Director.
Updates on all things CPL and Community Builder Community of Practice!
Whether you are new to CPL Communities or have been here a while, do you know how to navigate the network, the platform, events, find people, connect?
We'll use this time to explore different features, answer technical questions.
CPL Community Gathering
CPL Community Gatherings
Join us for an inspiring community session on ZOOM:
Thu May 15, 7:00-8:30 pm CT US
and/or
Tue May 20, 9:00-10:30 am CT US
CPL's vision (needed more than ever):
A just, inclusive, and interconnected world - a world that works for all.... creating a culture in service to life.
At CPL I find this every time:💡 Motivation. Momentum. Passion. The energy to keep showing up and stewarding my dreams. - John Armstrong, Full Spectrum Coaching
Dear Valued Member of the CPL Community,
These are challenging times for many nonprofits. At CPL, as we plan for the rest of 2025 and beyond, we are excited to focus on the intention of "Passing the Torch" to future generations for legacy and growth.
More than ever, our strength comes in the collective wisdom of FIVE generations fueling our mission. CPL stands as a vibrant hub and ecosystem of visionaries and creators. More than ever, we uplift and empower one another to transform dreams into reality.
Join us for an inspiring community session on May 15 or May 20:
Our dreams matter. Join us for an inspiring community session where everyone is welcome to share and explore visions for the future. Let's dream together, exchanging aspirations and insights. This is how we amplify and elevate each other for collective impact.
What will we do?
Discover how CPL is growing for 2025 and beyond.
Art of Convening (21st year!) re-envisioned for the future.
Be inspired by our Collaboration Partners.
Meet our amazing volunteers and interns.
Find motivation in your own voice and ideas.
Be in community with people like you who care about our future.
Y/our aspirations are pivotal in shaping a future where everyone thrives, fostering a culture that celebrates life. How can we envision a world that truly works for all? By working together. Collaborating together. Nourishing each other’s dreams.
Our Collaboration Partners:
Imagine building a world that works for all: It's what we do each time we gather.
We look forward to seeing you on May 15 or May 20.
Patricia Neal
Executive Director, Center for Purposeful Leadership
Questions? just want to talk? Let's connect: https://meetings.hubspot.com/patricia-neal
Community Hearth: 9-10am + 15-minute After-party
https://www.cplcommunities.org/spaces/13037179/content
CPL Connect
CPL Communities Connect (aka Office Hours)
What is CPL Communities? What are all the features of your CPL community?
Free for all CPL Community Members.
CPL Members, join Patricia Neal, CPL Executive Director.
Updates on all things CPL and Community Builder Community of Practice!
Whether you are new to CPL Communities or have been here a while, do you know how to navigate the network, the platform, events, find people, connect?
We'll use this time to explore different features, answer technical questions.
CPL Community Gathering
CPL Community Gatherings
Join us for an inspiring community session focused on purpose
Thu May 15, 7:00-8:30 pm CT US
and/or
Tue May 20, 9:00-10:30 am CT US
“There is something in every one of you that waits and listens for the sound of the genuine in yourself. It is the only true guide you will ever have. And if you cannot hear it you will all of your life spend your days on the ends of strings that somebody else pulls.”
CPL Vision
A just, inclusive, and interconnected world - a world that works for all.... creating a culture in service to life.
At CPL I find this every time:💡 Motivation. Momentum. Passion. The energy to keep showing up and stewarding my dreams. - John Armstrong, Full Spectrum Coaching
Dear Valued Member of the CPL Community,
At CPL, for 2025 and beyond, we are excited to focus on the intention of "Passing the Torch" to future generations for legacy and growth.
CPL's strength comes in the collective wisdom of FIVE generations leading with purpose. CPL stands as a vibrant hub and ecosystem of visionaries and creators. We uplift and empower one another to transform dreams into reality.
More than ever, purpose is crucial to the leadership needed to create positive impact for future generations.
Join us for an inspiring community session on May 15 or May 20:
Our dreams matter. Dreams begin with purpose. Share your purpose in a supportive community. If you're not sure what your purpose is, we have ideas for you.
What will we do?
Share your purpose statement within a collaborative community. If you need help with your purpose statement, use the Napkin Test. See below.
Hear from Purposeful Leaders from around the world.
Discover how CPL is growing for 2025 and beyond:
Art of Convening (21st year!) re-envisioned for the future.
Be inspired by our Collaboration Partners.
Meet our amazing volunteers and interns.
Be in community with people like you who care about our future.
Our Collaboration Partners:
Y/our aspirations are pivotal in shaping a future where everyone thrives, fostering a culture that celebrates life. How can we envision a world that truly works for all? By working together. Collaborating together. Nourishing each other’s dreams.
We look forward to seeing you on May 15 or May 20.
Patricia Neal
Executive Director, Center for Purposeful Leadership
Questions? just want to talk? Let's connect: https://meetings.hubspot.com/patricia-neal
Essential Conversations: Grand Bargain Project: A new social contract
-
At CPL, our mission is grounded in principles and practices of convening. We cultivate and inspire leaders from all walks of life to be engaged, inspired, and part of essential conversations that imagine and build a world that works for all. We believe that anyone can be a change agent and set intentions that have a positive impact on those we serve.
We have the honor and pleasure of partnering with organizations and individuals from across the globe to engage and focus on what matters and empower you to innovate, to lead.
Each month we host an intentional, convened thought leadership conversation. Please join us! Read below to learn more about this month’s Essential Conversations.
ESSENTIAL CONVERSATIONS
presents
Reuniting a Divided America around a Roadmap for the Future
with Center for Collaborative Democracy CEO, Sol Erdman
Wednesday, May 14
9:00-10:30 am CT US
For American democracy to survive, we need a new social contract and brave purposeful leaders forearmed for today's unique challenges.
The Grand Bargain Project is designed to unite Americans around a Practical Plan for advancing 6 Key Issues that 90+ percent of us see as critical to our future.
Expected Outcomes
A critical mass of Americans, influencers and stakeholders will increasingly unite around the grand bargain, creating an exponentially growing movement to demand replacing divisiveness and dysfunction with constructive action in all six areas.Pro-Grand Bargain lawmakers will then be empowered to tell their colleagues:
To show voters we’re on their side, and keep our jobs, we need to strongly support this widely popular agreement as the starting point for our deliberations.
An ambitious plan. But no one has shown us any other credible way to reunite America. Nor do we see any other way to induce policymakers to agree on how to boost economic mobility, curb the debt, minimize destructive weather, or attain the other key objectives.
Our country thereby needs the grand bargain if the American people and our democracy are to thrive.
Watch what Sol Erdman has to say . . .
Join us for this Essential Conversation on
Wednesday, May 14
9:00-10:30 am CT US
Learn more:
Reuniting A Divided America around A Roadmap For The Future
Join CPL and Sol Erdman, from Center for Collaborative Democracy, to be part of this amazing opportunity to reimagine democracy as we know it by:
Creating a new social contract for our future based on the Preamble to the Constitution.
"We the People" are the opening words of the Preamble to the United States Constitution, signifying that the power of the U.S. government originates from the citizens, not the government itself. It establishes the Constitution's fundamental purposes, which include forming a more perfect union, establishing justice, ensuring domestic tranquility, providing for the common defense, promoting the general welfare, and securing the blessings of liberty.
Systemic Remedy
To reunite the American people around a shared vision of our future – before it’s too late -- we are proposing common-sense reforms in the above six areas that, when combined, would vastly improve life for all.
We distilled ideas — from major stakeholders, think tank leaders, former policymakers, political activists and citizen groups — into 41 reforms, each one sentence long, that — when combined — would yield historic progress in all six areas, and at lower cost than current policies.
Building an Exponentially Growing Movement
Bridge Alliance, various Rotary Clubs, and other civic groups are working with us to incorporate the Grand Bargain into their community-building programs.
CPL, Braver Angels and others will host workshops in which participants deliberate over the evolving plan.
To foster nationwide dialogue, we will hold at least three workshops in each of the 435 congressional districts. Citizens will deliberate over the combined reforms — in community meeting and online. We will, in turn, distill the results into a form that we will deliver to political leaders as representing the will of the America people.
Wednesday, May 14, 9:00-10:30am CT US
Make a donation today to support the Essential Conversations and CPL’s work of creating a world that works for all.
About Sol Erdman
Sol founded the Center for Collaborative Democracy to develop innovative tools for reaching constructive agreements on long-festering political controversies. Erdman's expertise on resolving ideological conflict emerged at midlife, when he attended the Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law school and did cutting edge research with two of the program’s founders. Erdman’s articles on how to bridge seemingly irreconcilable differences have appeared in Barrons, the Boston Globe, the Chicago Tribune, the National Civic Review, State Government News, Roll Call and the Los Angeles Times.
Erdman’s first career was at Oppenheimer & Company, a New York investment firm where he rose to senior vice president and head of options arbitrage. He has a BA in theoretical mathematics from Cornell and an MBA from Harvard.
About Howard 'Bud' Wilson, Advisor
CPL thanks Bud Wilson for his introduction to the Center for Collaborative Democracy, Bud Wilson is a nature-based leadership development trainer and advocate for ecological, social, & personal renewal. With over 40 years of experience in executive positions as a researcher, writer, educator, and community leader, Bud brings a keen understanding of systems change and human behavior. After graduating Harvard College with an interdisciplinary degree, he spent a decade as Director of Conferences for Snowmass Village convening thought leaders and change agents across all domains of society. He has designed and coordinated experiential education programs for the United Nations Earth Summit in Rio, Rotary International’s Preserve Planet Earth Campaign, John Denver’s Windstar Foundation, and the University of Michigan, among others. His wide variety of projects and interests have taken him to more than 20 countries for which he is immensely grateful.
Community Hearth: 9-10am + 15-minute After-party
https://www.cplcommunities.org/spaces/13037179/content
Meeting with Purpose Monthly Member CoLab
Meeting with Purpose Monthly CoLab
Free for all CPL Community Members.
Fri, May 9
9:00am - 10:00am CST
Repeats monthly on the 2nd Friday
We'll use this time to explore different features, answer technical questions, and share general tips and creative ways to use convenings for your offerings.
Do you have any questions about setting up your convening or conversations?
Are you running into any challenges?
Or maybe you are looking for some inspiration for a project?
Free for all CPL Community Members.
Community Hearth: 9-10am + 15-minute After-party
https://www.cplcommunities.org/spaces/13037179/content
Community Hearth: 9-10am + 15-minute After-party
https://www.cplcommunities.org/spaces/13037179/content
Community Hearth: 9-10am + 15-minute After-party
https://www.cplcommunities.org/spaces/13037179/content
CPL Connect
CPL Communities Connect (aka Office Hours)
What is CPL Communities? What are all the features of your CPL community?
Free for all CPL Community Members.
CPL Members, join Patricia Neal, CPL Executive Director.
Updates on all things CPL and Community Builder Community of Practice!
Whether you are new to CPL Communities or have been here a while, do you know how to navigate the network, the platform, events, find people, connect?
We'll use this time to explore different features, answer technical questions.
Community Hearth: 9-10am + 15-minute After-party
https://www.cplcommunities.org/spaces/13037179/content
Meeting with Purpose Monthly Member CoLab
Meeting with Purpose Monthly CoLab
Free for all CPL Community Members.
Fri, April 11
9:00am - 10:00am CST
Repeats monthly on the 2nd Friday
We'll use this time to explore different features, answer technical questions, and share general tips and creative ways to use convenings for your offerings.
Do you have any questions about setting up your convening or conversations?
Are you running into any challenges?
Or maybe you are looking for some inspiration for a project?
Free for all CPL Community Members.
Essential Conversations: Being, Becoming, Belonging: 3 Human Rights - Part 2
Being, Becoming, Belonging
An exploration of Our Three Human Rights:
Our right to Be. Our right to Become. Our right to Belong.
Pele Rouge Chadima
CoFounder, Timeless Earth Wisdom
David O’Fallon
Elder Patriot Warrior
Join us for a two-part conversation: March 12 and April 9.
In these Essential Conversations sessions we will explore:
The relationship of Freedom - Autonomy - Responsibility - Community.
Addressing Challenges and Finding Identity
Developing the Courage (even when I don’t “know”):
to embody… who I am, the right of Being
to discover… what is mine to do, the right of Becoming
to live into…who are My People, the right of Belonging
and from these Three Human Rightsto choose in each moment To Be Free
This is an ongoing Journey of Self-Discovery, Practice, Grounding, Self-Authority, and Collective Power.
Leadership in These Times: In these challenging times, the importance of self-reflection and authenticity, and the need for collective embodiment and experience, is crucial to include as a leadership imperative.
What is a map to follow in this journey of self-discovery? A focus on the need for a deeper transformation in society, the importance of learning and growing together, and the need to face and overcome fear. Community support is crucial: how to help each other and move together, rather than feeling alone.
The importance of learning and growing together, and how this process can lead to increased safety and understanding, is a way to face and overcome fear, and how this can lead to personal growth and strength.
What to consider for this session… A story of being, becoming and belonging (click on the image to hear)
PELE ROUGE CHADIMA
CoFounder, Timeless Earth Wisdom pelerouge@timelessearthwisdom.com
Pele Rouge is a carrier of an ancient body of Earth Wisdom Teaching. These powerful teachings are a design which foster wholeness and balance within the self, with others and all aspects of life. Working in tandem with her husband FireHawk, she has brought these teachings into a wide variety of individual and organizational settings in the U.S. and Europe. At the heart of Pele’s passionate journey is her love of co-creating sacred ceremonial space in which people can gather to “do their work”.
She is a contributing author to Community Building and author of the children’s story, Never Shout at a Bear. Her professional background includes service in the Peace Corps, a decade as a Continuing Education Specialist at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and as the Senior Context Designer for the International Center for Organization Design. Her journey walk has taken her to more than 50 countries around the world.
Pele’s large family is of primary importance to her and continues to be a major source of joy, learning and nurturance.
“An example of Pele and FireHawk’s work”
https://www.centerfortimelessearthwisdom.org/2024,_2025_winter_dreaming_online
DAVID O’FALLON
davidof43@gmail.com
North of 80, https://davidofallon.substack.com/
Elder Patriot Warrior.
Life has always had three themes: education/learning; the arts/theater; and community, especially those on the margins, the edge. My titles and jobs and roles have changed many times. The three themes never. They are the themes in every life improvisation, from major federal programs, universities, to smallest NPO.
At this time I think we are in the second Axial Age; the depth and complexity of the changes in every system, and the cascade and convergence of crises, challenge us—me—in ways I struggle to admit and understand. It’s a compelling reason that I am part of CPL.
I have three adult kids, in Boston, Salt Lake City, and Minneapolis, and five grands! I live in Minneapolis just a mile or so from George Floyd Square. His murder ignited fires of change that are still burning, and that provoked a great destructive reaction.
We see the rise now in the USA of a racist, nationalist, party that desires control and flaunts law and civic norms. Our democracy is threatened.
I’m committed to do whatever I can, where I am, the best I can, to turn this time, turn the wheel around the axle, towards a creative, cooperative, sustainable culture.
Make a donation today to support the Essential Conversations and CPL’s work of creating a world that works for all.
Community Hearth: 9-10am + 15-minute After-party
https://www.cplcommunities.org/spaces/13037179/content
Community Hearth: 9-10am + 15-minute After-party
https://www.cplcommunities.org/spaces/13037179/content
Community Hearth: 9-10am + 15-minute After-party
https://www.cplcommunities.org/spaces/13037179/content
CPL Connect
CPL Communities Connect (aka Office Hours)
What is CPL Communities? What are all the features of your CPL community?
Free for all CPL Community Members.
CPL Members, join Patricia Neal, CPL Executive Director.
Updates on all things CPL and Community Builder Community of Practice!
Whether you are new to CPL Communities or have been here a while, do you know how to navigate the network, the platform, events, find people, connect?
We'll use this time to explore different features, answer technical questions.
Community Hearth: 9-10am + 15-minute After-party
https://www.cplcommunities.org/spaces/13037179/content
Meeting with Purpose Monthly Member CoLab
Meeting with Purpose Monthly CoLab
Free for all CPL Community Members.
Fri, March 14
9:00am - 10:00am CST
Repeats monthly on the 2nd Friday
We'll use this time to explore different features, answer technical questions, and share general tips and creative ways to use convenings for your offerings.
Do you have any questions about setting up your convening or conversations?
Are you running into any challenges?
Or maybe you are looking for some inspiration for a project?
Free for all CPL Community Members.
Essential Conversations: Being, Becoming, Belonging: 3 Human Rights - Part 1
Being, Becoming, Belonging
An exploration of Our Three Human Rights:
Our right to Be. Our right to Become. Our right to Belong.
Pele Rouge Chadima
CoFounder, Timeless Earth Wisdom
David O’Fallon
Elder Patriot Warrior
Join us for a two-part conversation: March 12 and April 9.
In these Essential Conversations sessions we will explore:
Addressing Challenges and Finding Identity
Developing the Courage (even when I don’t “know”):
to embody… who I am, the right of Being
to discover… what is mine to do, the right of Becoming
to live into…who are My People, the right of Belonging
and from these Three Human Rightsto choose in each moment To Be Free
This is an ongoing Journey of Self-Discovery, Practice, Grounding, Self-Authority, and Collective Power.
Leadership in These Times: In these challenging times, the importance of self-reflection and authenticity, and the need for collective embodiment and experience, is crucial to include as a leadership imperative.
What is a map to follow in this journey of self-discovery? A focus on the need for a deeper transformation in society, the importance of learning and growing together, and the need to face and overcome fear. Community support is crucial: how to help each other and move together, rather than feeling alone.
The importance of learning and growing together, and how this process can lead to increased safety and understanding, is a way to face and overcome fear, and how this can lead to personal growth and strength.
What to consider for this session… A story of being, becoming and belonging (click on the image to hear)
PELE ROUGE CHADIMA
CoFounder, Timeless Earth Wisdom pelerouge@timelessearthwisdom.com
Pele Rouge is a carrier of an ancient body of Earth Wisdom Teaching. These powerful teachings are a design which foster wholeness and balance within the self, with others and all aspects of life. Working in tandem with her husband FireHawk, she has brought these teachings into a wide variety of individual and organizational settings in the U.S. and Europe. At the heart of Pele’s passionate journey is her love of co-creating sacred ceremonial space in which people can gather to “do their work”.
She is a contributing author to Community Building and author of the children’s story, Never Shout at a Bear. Her professional background includes service in the Peace Corps, a decade as a Continuing Education Specialist at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and as the Senior Context Designer for the International Center for Organization Design. Her journey walk has taken her to more than 50 countries around the world.
Pele’s large family is of primary importance to her and continues to be a major source of joy, learning and nurturance.
“An example of Pele and FireHawk’s work”
https://www.centerfortimelessearthwisdom.org/2024,_2025_winter_dreaming_online
DAVID O’FALLON
davidof43@gmail.com
North of 80, https://davidofallon.substack.com/
Elder Patriot Warrior.
Life has always had three themes: education/learning; the arts/theater; and community, especially those on the margins, the edge. My titles and jobs and roles have changed many times. The three themes never. They are the themes in every life improvisation, from major federal programs, universities, to smallest NPO.
At this time I think we are in the second Axial Age; the depth and complexity of the changes in every system, and the cascade and convergence of crises, challenge us—me—in ways I struggle to admit and understand. It’s a compelling reason that I am part of CPL.
I have three adult kids, in Boston, Salt Lake City, and Minneapolis, and five grands! I live in Minneapolis just a mile or so from George Floyd Square. His murder ignited fires of change that are still burning, and that provoked a great destructive reaction.
We see the rise now in the USA of a racist, nationalist, party that desires control and flaunts law and civic norms. Our democracy is threatened.
I’m committed to do whatever I can, where I am, the best I can, to turn this time, turn the wheel around the axle, towards a creative, cooperative, sustainable culture.
Make a donation today to support the Essential Conversations and CPL’s work of creating a world that works for all.
Community Hearth: 9-10am + 15-minute After-party
https://www.cplcommunities.org/spaces/13037179/content
Community Hearth: 9-10am + 15-minute After-party
https://www.cplcommunities.org/spaces/13037179/content