In today’s politically charged climate, we are inundated with a pervasive narrative of division, discord, and polarization. Yet many Americans long for a more positive, unified future, and are willing to do the work necessary to make it a reality. Leaders in schools, organizations, and corporations are uniquely positioned to inspire hope, encourage action, and actively shape the civic landscape we want for ourselves, our children, and future generations.

Join a FAN special session on harnessing the power of “futures thinking” and civic imagination with Lisa Kay Solomon, Futurist in Residence at Stanford University’s d.school. Drawing from her bestselling book Moments of Impact: How to Design Strategic Conversation that Accelerate Change, popular classes like “Inventing the Future,” and award-winning civic initiatives such as The Futures Happening and The Team’s civic tailgating program for student athletes, Solomon will share creative strategies to foster imaginative, joyful, and resilient cultures in our schools, communities, and families.

Solomon will explore what we can learn about shaping our future from unexpected sources – from Sesame Street’s Elmo to the powerful fandom movements of Beyoncé and Taylor Swift, and sports legends from the WNBA and USA Olympians. She will also share her new Futures Happening playbook designed to help school and community leaders transform current challenges into flexible opportunities for civic innovation and community building.

Solomon will be in conversation with Liz Gerber, Ph.D. (FAN ’13, ’16), a professor of mechanical engineering at Northwestern University, co-director of Northwestern’s Center for Human Computer Interaction + Design, and faculty founder of Design for America.

BONUS AFTER-HOURS EVENT: Webinar attendees are invited to join a free “Ask Me Anything” AFTER-HOURS event hosted by Solomon and Gerber that will start immediately after the webinar. This is an excellent opportunity for leaders looking for guidance on how to infuse futures thinking and civic imagination into community events and strategic conversations. The registration link for this After-Hours event will be posted in chat several times during the main webinar.

This event suitable for youth 12+. It will be recorded and available on FAN’s website and YouTube channel.