Cafe IFAL with Bonnie Grotjahn & Jan Hall
The Climate Crisis and me – what can Action Learning offer?
This call came recently from more than 1000 eminent climate scientists:
“Wherever you are, become a climate advocate or activist. Join or start groups pushing for policies that help secure a better future. Contact groups that are active where you are, find out when they meet and attend their meetings. If we are to create a liveable future, climate action must move from being something that others do to something that we all do.”
In this session, we’ll be exploring how we can become more effective in our advocacy and action and whether we can use Action Learning to support us. Can Action Learning address the feelings of helplessness many of us feel in the face of these huge challenges? And - what might a network of climate-focused Action Learning groups be able to achieve?
Some of us – John Heywood, Bonnie Greg, Jan and others – have been meeting for the last 6 months as Climate PALS (Peer Action Learning Set) to try this out for ourselves. We’ll share what we’ve found and invite you to share your own thoughts and experiences and your ideas about next steps.
Jan Hall trained as a zoologist, worked in welfare rights for 20+ years and then as a counsellor and coach. She became aware of Action Learning in the early 2000s, subsequently facilitating AL sets and designing facilitator training. She was for several years an executive member of the International Foundation for Action Learning.
Her interest in AL stems from its person-centred ethos and its emphasis on asking questions which enable deeper insight and creative thinking. She believes that AL can make an important contribution to supporting people who are, or wish to be, active in climate change work and campaigning.
Bonnie Grotjahn has worked as an action learning facilitator in the charity sector and social leadership programmes for 13 years and is also a psychotherapist and supervisor in private practice. Originally from the US, Bonnie studied Russian Studies and lived and worked in Russia for 7 years before coming to the UK.
As a Quaker, the action learning process was a natural fit for Bonnie and she loves how its spaciousness, freedom and emphasis on mutual support can activate and energise new thinking, perspectives and action. She was inspired by taking part in a residency last year hosted by the Climate Majority Project to consider how action learning could build resilience and support climate action, whatever forms that might take.
Café IFAL is a virtual discussion forum where Action Learning practitioners can share their experiences of using Action Learning in real situations. Whether you wish to present a piece of work you’ve delivered - the struggles and successes - or simply contribute to the debate, join us at Café IFAL.
The format of this virtual event includes a brief presentation of a particular piece of Action Learning practice, followed by open discussion where we share related experience and create opportunities to learn with and from each other.
Sessions last 90 minutes and take place on the Zoom platform.
Numbers are limited to 20 people.
Costs are free for members and £15 for non-members. All fees go towards hosting further events.
