RadicalxChange 2020
I had one of the most wonderful weekends in recent memory.
RadicalXChange, a growing movement/community introducing and testing innovations around everything from economy and currency to voting and democracy to ownership and governance to art and storytelling.
The opening talk was by the digital minister of Taiwan, Audrey Tang who shared the mind-blowing, heartwarming, imagination-sparking successes the people and government of Taiwan are having in working together. The government is leveraging technology to really let people’s voices be heard and taking immediate action to keep people safe and informed — while using humour. It’s a shining example not only of what’s possible with today’s technology, but of what’s possible when a government adopts the spirit of a parent or a nurturer, nourishing, rearing and truly caring for its people. I encourage you to watch her session here.
What a way to start! The event had panels, talks and interviews running 24 hours/day on multiple channels, each of them featuring someone on the cutting edge of thought and progress in their field. Everyone had some deeply thought out insight, perspective or action and all felt present open-hearted and openminded, offering something impactful. The founder, Glen Weyl wrote Radical Markets introducing, highlighting and combining innovative new mechanisms for establishing a more fair, equitable democracy, economy and government — notably quadratic funding and quadratic voting. Etherium cryptocurrency founder, Vitalik Buterin, liking many of the ideas, reached out on Twitter and out of their connection, RadicalxChange was born. It’s a unique collection of thinkers, entrepreneurs, activists, artists, technologists and academics all working earnestly to theorize, test and build a better world.
The most valuable part for me was not just the learning or great atmosphere, but the people. The event was hosted on Brella, a super cool platform which made it really easy to find members with common interests and suggest, book and hold 15 minute video calls seamlessly. The folks I met were all so different, but very much the same in a fantastic way. Some had founded global organizations, some were opening hearts and minds through story and film, others were testing different forms of governance, and others still, fintech mavericks. But everyone was tapped in and spoke my language. When I spoke about Global Unity, everyone got it instantly. Each has their own version and vision, but it felt as if everyone was aligned in spirit. A collection of positive, impact-focused leaders of all stripes. It felt like I really found my tribe.
Amazingly, RXC hasn’t been my only exposure to an inspiring change-focused community recently — in the last few months I was happily introduced to “Game B” a concept and community that’s a seemingly looser movement of thinkers exploring the theoretical principles behind a healthy, just, sustainable transformational global society. The theory is that civilization so far has been “Game A” — competitive, rivalrous and destructive. It seems to be folk trying to piece together what a “Game B” society would look like. I’ve been blown away by the brilliance of some of the figureheads, Daniel Schmachtenberger, Jordan Greenhall and Jamie Wheale most notably.
I’m grateful to have also recently been exposed to Peter Limberg’s Toronto-based-but-now-online The Stoa, a very different but also inviting, positive, growth & understanding-focused online community/space “where we can gather and talk about what matters most right now”. They offer free (gift economy) weekly events, activities and interviews. I’ve been thoroughly impressed with the calibre of thinking from the presenters, guests, elders and community members. In a time of separation, it feels like a place of connection.
While RXC holds a special place in my heart after having gotten so much inspiration and encouragement from those I met, this recent general exposure to thoughtful, active, open-hearted change-maker communities (not just passionate individuals!). Each in their own way, they are working to articulate what a better world would look like while making space for and inviting evermore voices into the conversation. It’s refreshing, energizing and inspiring.
I was so enamoured with the quality and caliber of RadicalxChange’s event production from start to finish, from their organizers to their speakers to their topics to their people that in part, I just wanted to shout them out. In part though, I’m sharing because I was surprised that only a few of the folks I spoke to in each community had heard of the others. Hopefully if anyone from any of them come across this, they’re now exposed to the rest. And, of course, I think you reading this might benefit from and have something to contribute to any and all of them.
Thank you to the organizers of RXC2020 and all of the wonderful folk everywhere working to build a better world.
Elliott
