Amy Lamph’s Post

‘The scale and severity of the polycrisis is forcing us to systematically reevaluate the speed and scale of the transition facing our built environment and the social fabric of our neighbourhoods. This transition will be substantive, structural, and systemic, changing how and what we account for, how we interact with and use spaces, how we live and work. It also will redistribute agency, support and resources, enabling fundamental changes in the built environment led by new combinations of actors. These changes are rooted, and will be felt most keenly, in the ways that we live in, govern, and advocate for our neighbourhoods in the everyday. Neighbourhoods will be key places in leading and driving the transition towards our next systems. We believe it is in the heart of the compounding crises and challenge, that investment in demonstration of the future is the most critical and urgent to demonstrate from, and alongside the communities here’ — CIVIC SQUARE + Dark Matter Labs

Having been personally involved with the All Stars Project for the past year and most recently as a member of the NYC Board of Directors, I’ve witnessed firsthand the profound impact their free after-school programs have on the lives of young people and the adults who support them. In a world teeming with boundless potential and unprecedented challenges, our young people stand at the vanguard of change. They are navigating the 4th Industrial Revolution—a monumental shift driven by technological advances that are reshaping the very fabric of our work and lives. As we move forward, a critical question arises: How do we ensure that the upcoming 5th Industrial Revolution is fueled not only by values that are inclusive, equitable, and empowering for everyone but also by individuals who are strong, bold, empathetic, and humanistic, driven by the desire to uplift society so that everyone can reap the rewards and benefits? Recently, at the CEO Roundtable hosted by the All Stars Project, Inc. at Paramount headquarters, I had the privilege of witnessing transformative dialogues led by Chris Street and the dedicated All Stars Project team. These conversations illuminated the indispensable role of out-of-school partnerships in shaping the future workforce. Collaboration will be key to unlocking potential and driving innovation across our nation. In our quest to build a world where opportunity is abundant and accessible for all, I'm reminded of the profound words of Barack Obama: "Poverty is not a lack of character, it's a lack of opportunity." By fostering partnerships and investing in diverse, equitable initiatives, I believe, we can dismantle barriers and create a landscape where every individual, regardless of socioeconomic status, zip code, gender, race, or intersectionality, has the opportunity to thrive. Together, let's embrace this era of change with hope, determination, and a commitment to inclusivity, ensuring that the future we build is one where everyone can succeed. How will YOU contribute to creating a robust pipeline for our society? In what ways can you help raise the tide that lifts ALL boats?

Are university staff agents of change? Should they be? And what would happen if they were rewarded for the difference they make in their places? I explore these questions in a new blog post for the National Civic Impact Accelerator - your thoughts welcome. https://lnkd.in/gbwfSmSN

Coming out of the Campus Compact 24 Conference last week, transitioning to #NationalWeekofConversation and #EarthMonth - takeaways, connections, motivations are abundant. I'm inspired by the humility, vulnerability, and capacity for deep collaboration expressed through storytelling that centers on trust, partnership, and rewards deeper than risks. Stories are born out of a willingness to share personal reflections, respond to curious questions, and engage in courageous listening. Stories fuel meaningful conversations. Narratives of all kinds (oral, written, visual, on and on) and from a multitude of voices are central to truly understanding our shared AND unique experiences; narratives light our future pathways. Ultimately, the combination of storytelling and conversation can be action oriented, in and of itself, or spur us towards action. I'm motivated by heroes all around, who lead by listening, who lead by sharing, and who lead with curiosity spurring me on to action. With thousands #storiesofservice, and as we near Earth Day tomorrow, I want to re-share Brittany's words (https://lnkd.in/erMkqPxb), an AmeriCorps member who served with Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps. I want to celebrate the more than 14,600 AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers who treated more than 3 million acres of parks and public land and more than 25,000 miles of trails and rivers last year alone. Lastly, I want to offer up the Climate Change Discussion Guide as a resource that may help you express your own WHY, hear the WHYs of others, and support / spur your ACTIONS. Bit.ly/ClimateGuide24 In grateful partnership with BridgeUSA, Service Year Alliance, America's Service Commissions, Campus Compact, American Conservation Coalition and The Corps Network. #DisagreeBetter #BridgingInService

This picture is from a tree that just stopped me in my tracks while wandering through Inverness, Scotland this Spring. It was clearly connected to the other trees, but that didn't stop it from standing out. In fact, on it's own, it might not have been as remarkable. I have been on a semi-sabbatical. For the past 11 months, I was fortunate to create space for consulting, collaborating, co-designing with amazing colleagues and friends and to reimagine my contribution to the work I care about: making education and the pathway into work more accessible and inclusive to everyone. This time to refocus my energy has allowed me to connect with people I love. My kids, who still want to spend time with me; my mom, who never says no to a lunch date; my sister, who is always will to work in the garden with me; my friends, who keep me sane; and my husband Shawn Mathie who is my partner in all things. It also reinforced my belief that real and true human connection matters. It let me (re)connect with people that came to me through work but have become part of my life in ways that are hard to measure. Clare Bertrand, Leah Moschella, Elizabeth McWhorter Rose Nakamoto Edith Njuguna Emily Rusca Joshua Johnson Stephanie Malia Krauss and Amy L.…thank you. You know why. This time to refocus my energy also let me choose new work. Brainstorming with Victoria Shire; partnering with Brittany Brady, and Ricardo Romanillos, for the National Alliance for Partnerships in Equity on a project that I have been itching to do for years (and so much more to come); working with Andy Hepburn and Stephanie Reisner and the GPS Education Partners team to learn, co-design, and wade through the sticky world of building career pathways partnerships. And because this was a year to say yes to everything, I started a project with National Louis University to reimagine the Bachelor’s Degree and the undergraduate experience. I'm glad to share that I have joined this amazing team of social entrepreneurs and innovators as the new Executive Director for Undergraduate Innovation and LE3, a new model for bridging education and work. Those connections continue to grow Eddie Phillips Jr., Ed.D. Andi Koritari Nivine Megahed Thackston Lundy and so many more.

'Yet if universities cannot equip their students to be discerning citizens, and if they fail to act as discerning corporate citizens themselves, one might question the value of their ‘civic’ rhetoric.' Excellent post from Julian Dobson reflecting on complexities of the notion of 'civic university', something I have reflected on a few years ago in a paper around 'Conflux of Interest' (available here: https://lnkd.in/e9xjDU9x)

🤳Crafting The Perfect Post, The World Endowed Stuartship For #BeTheChange 🌟 Creating a Better Tomorrow, One Post at a Time 🌟 In a world where every voice matters, we have the power to create a ripple effect of positive change. Today, I’m thrilled to announce the launch of the Endowed Stewardship for #BeTheChange initiative! This initiative is more than just a project; it’s a movement. A movement to inspire, educate, and empower individuals to make a difference in their communities and beyond. By sharing stories of resilience, innovation, and compassion, we aim to ignite the spark of change in every reader. 💡 Why #BeTheChange? Inspiration: Highlighting stories of individuals who have overcome challenges and made significant contributions to society. Education: Providing resources and knowledge to help others take actionable steps towards positive change. Empowerment: Encouraging everyone to believe in their ability to make a difference, no matter how small. Join us on this journey to create a better tomorrow. Share your stories, engage with our content, and let’s build a community dedicated to making the world a better place, one post at a time. Together, we can #BeTheChange. 🌍✨ “Neurodiversity is not a disorder, it’s a different way of thinking. Our brains are wired differently, and that’s a beautiful thing. Neurodiversity is the key that unlocks the full potential of the human race.” - Dr. Will Nash, Evolutionary Biologist at the Earlham Institute Never Stop Learning #Plowboy Get in the know:) https://lnkd.in/g-NN326a

Are we in a unique a window of possibilities? Will we seize it? A long but exciting day that started with UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose (IIPP) friends and colleagues in discussions with a few cities that have adopted hugely ambitious goals that are now delivering impactful change and closed with an event at The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) exploring how devolution might be shaped to empower overburdened and disadvantaged communities. A few initial reflections: ⏳ Local governments increasingly recognise they need new capabilities to meet society’s challenges and are proactively investing in their organisations and staff to meet the moment. Good work being by Oriol Estela Barnet and Irene Navarro Solé at Pla Estratègic Metropolità de Barcelona (PEMB). 🚧 After over a decade of austerity and our culture war politics, a growing movement of civil servants recognises the need to move away from ‘bureaucratic cultures’ and towards ‘relational cultures’ (thanks Osian Jones!). ⚡️The role of civil servants matters more today than even. This is the moment where civil servants need to take risks and be bold, not retreat into the shadows where their potential for public impact is minimised. Inspiring, practical stories from Almira Lardizabal Hussain and Tim Rettler from GLA and Robyn Smith from Greater Manchester Combined Authority. Looking forward to more learning over the next few days and taking this inspiration back to Oregon Department of Environmental Quality!

If everyone on planet Earth lived like Australians, we'd need 4.5 planet Earths to sustain us. We're living beyond our planetary means - to borrow from Kate Raworth's #DoughnutEconomics, we've busted beyond our ecological ceiling while failing to give billions a fair and adequate social foundation. So, if we are to live in the "sweet spot" of the doughnut, the safe and just space for humanity, we urgently need to consider expanding our toolkit of economic and social approaches to get there. It's all part of expanding our #CivicImagination... One of the philosophies being explored is #Degrowth - an economic theory which acknowledges that exponential growth is incompatible with our finite planet - so what would it look like in practice? Is it possible to get from here to there, and what would ie mean for our laws, our politics and our communities to strive for the very opposite of infinite growth? I'm looking forward to thinking and learning more about Degrowth with UNSW sustainability scientist Tommy Wiedmann, Professor of Law Bronwen Morgan and CSIRO researcher ⚒️ Dr Sabrina Chakori at this UNSW Centre for Ideas event I'm hosting on the evening of September 5. It's free to attend but you do have to register here - I'd love to hear your thoughts on Degrowth and any reading list suggestions as I dive in...

FOUNDATIONS FOR THE FUTURE