At this moment in history — especially with a constant awareness of every news story or personal opinion from every corner of our world due to the “always on” nature of social media — we are painfully aware that, for many, freedom is fleeting, fading and under attack. Countries that are struggling to promote freedom are being invaded by autocracies seeking to reclaim an antiquated past. Radicalized voices are sowing doubt among the masses over the legitimacy of free and fair elections. Landscapes meant to promote greater abundance and freedom are being monetized and commoditized through dying systems of scarcity and unfettered consumption. The idea of freedom for all continues to only apply to those whom society deems to be among the privileged. And, most concerning of all is the fact that the concept of “freedom” is being hijacked by a lust for personal and individual “rights” in favor of a cooperative experience of care and love for one another. In truth, unless all are free, freedom is never safe for any. The attack on true freedom only ends when our desire to create a collective experience of empathy, equity and prosperity begins.
At The Futures School, we have declared 2022 to be the 𝙔𝙀𝘼𝙍 𝙊𝙁 𝙁𝙍𝙀𝙀 ! This means that during these 12 months, we are offering Free Tuition to our foresight learning programs, Free Access (commercial and non-commercial) to our 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁® Framework, and Free Inspiration through a myriad of unique resources. Of course, we don’t mean to suggest that these efforts are on the same level as creating global solutions in our quest for widespread social freedoms, and yet…
• Foresight and Futures Thinking is more than just a critical skill that can help improve our decisions in business or organizational development. Foresight is a fundamental mindset — a “futures consciousness” — for imagining and enacting brighter futures for all. To “democratize the future” means putting this empowering mindset in the hands of everyone so that all have a voice, all can engage, and all can co-create.
• A 𝙔𝙀𝘼𝙍 𝙊𝙁 𝙁𝙍𝙀𝙀 highlights the deep need to promote a Futures Thinking mindset as a means of evolving away from a world of regression, separation, competition and dehumanization toward more cooperative, regenerative and transformative realities. Foresight challenges the status quo and outdated systems that threaten the ever-unfolding march to collective freedom. Futures Thinking cultivates pathways to freedom’s realization.
• To reinforce the collective and cooperative nature of freedom — and the critical role that deep and healthy Foresight plays in freedom’s manifestation — we have fashioned our offer of Free Tuition to our global foresight learning programs as a “nominator/nominee” relationship. In this way, individuals must identify others who they desire to nominate for a free seat in a TFS program. Nominators then submit their nominee for consideration, and this two-way relationship continues right up to the point of entry into the program. This process not only engages more people in the experience of co-creating the future together; it also reflects the cooperative, collective and caring nature of future-empowered freedom itself.
For the team at The Futures School, the 𝙔𝙀𝘼𝙍 𝙊𝙁 𝙁𝙍𝙀𝙀 is not a catchy slogan, a gimmick, or an offering without substance. This initiative reflects our mission to empower individuals, institutions, organizations, and governments to adopt foresight as their 21st century operating system, and to co-create a future where freedom means greater care, equity, reconciliation and love for each and every one.
