Colin Aitken’s Post

I try to minimize the amount I re/post on the open internet that isn’t accessible to everyone on the internet, but this session deserves an exception in the interest of maximizing the number of BC Public Service folx that attend. Why? Don’t mind me as I lazyweb cut and paste an answer to that question straight from Jen’s book website: “Our future depends on our ability to implement. While factions fight about policy, it’s delivery we need now. But our government[s are] stuck in a rigid, Industrial-era culture in which policy is disconnected from the details of implementation — how it is delivered to the public. Despite this, creative and courageous public servants are learning how to make a government that works for people. We should listen to them.” We should listen to Jen, and the voices of the demonstrated practitioners that she amplifies. I hope as many of my colleagues as possible take the opportunity to do so in three weeks. Shouts of gratitude and respect to my former teammates at the Exchange Lab for both making this session possible, and modeling already the ways of working Jen advocates.

“In today’s world, making our laws and policies into reality will almost always involve some sort of digital technology, but what’s valued in government isn’t the nuts and bolts of implementation but rather the rarefied work of policymaking. … There’s a debilitating distance, too, between the people creating government systems and the people who use them. …The temporal, organizational, structural, and cultural gaps between policy and tech teams, and between tech teams and the users of that tech, make it hard to try out strategies, learn what works, resolve ambiguities, and readjust.” In the summer of last year, I read Jennifer Pahlka's book "Recoding America." What I thought would be a book about government technology, was actually an exposé on the challenges that public servants face working within the system. Using public sector case studies, mostly out of the US, Jennifer provides some actions that can help to reshape our systems to better serve our communities. For anyone in the BC Public Service, I want to extend a heartfelt recommendation to join the upcoming conversation with Jennifer Pahlka, CJ Ritchie, and Shannon Salter, KC on May 22. It’s about building a better system, not just for public servants, but also for serving the public. https://lnkd.in/gB9URD4X #DigitalBC #DigitalGovernment #DigitalPublicService #Agile #Innovation #BCGovernment #OneTeamGov

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Go Joe 27 | Here’s what you need to know

Often we talk about philanthropy and this is focused around charitable giving, which really just tackles the short term crisis. It is important that we continue to do so, but more importantly how do we progress towards transformative change and influence. This video touches on the power of philanthropy (whether that's grants, trusts or corporate giving) and ideas on how we could change this. It really challenged my thinking... Worth a watch if you or your organisation are involved in 'charitable giving'. https://lnkd.in/eiyHgRZ2

Newsletter Alert! Learn more about what we've been up to!

Did you join Dr Salman Younas' first Live Lecture Session? If not, don't worry you can watch the lecture in full now!🌙 Dr Salman Younas introduces his topic and provides an overview of what's to come. 🔴 Watch on YouTube: https://lnkd.in/efB8QS3u

The phrase "Let’s un-divide the world, together" has been resonating deeply with me lately. This is, of course, the core motivation of our non-profit, the Fierce Civility Project. It’s a vision that keeps showing up in my work, my interactions, and even my personal reflections. In a world that feels more divided than ever, this idea has become a guiding light for me—a reminder of the power we have when we choose to connect with open hearts rather than retreat into our fears or judgments. As we move closer to the upcoming election in the US, the air is thick with tension. You can feel it everywhere—on the news, in our communities, and even in our personal conversations. Many of us feel the weight of this moment, the heightened stress, and the sense of conflict, as if everything is being pulled to opposite sides. But here’s the thing: We have the power to change that narrative. We can choose connection over division. We can choose heart over fear. This is why I’m inviting you to join me for our next Global Heart Gathering. These sessions give us the space to ground ourselves, to come together in unity, and to remember that at the core, we are all seeking the same things: peace, understanding, and a better world for ourselves and others. We have two more gatherings before the election on November 5th, and I believe these next ones can provide a moment of stillness and connection as we navigate through some of these stressful times. These gatherings are more than just meetings; they are a space to reconnect with the values that unite us, rather than the forces that divide us. Join me for the next Global Heart Gathering: 📅 When: Tuesday, Sept 10th ⏰ Time: 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM EST 📍 Where: Zoom - Get the link here: https://lnkd.in/eAx9vgwH Let’s come together and choose connection, choose heart, and choose to un-divide the world. 🌎

Back-to-school is our topic for this week's insight...