Changemakers want to create a better future, but what are the methods, mindsets, and means they use to get there?

The Eric C. Douglass Centre for Creative Changemaking at Royal Roads University is proud to host its inaugural gathering—an experiential space for changemakers to connect, dream together, and learn through hands-on workshops.

Join us for Creative Changemaking in Action: Reimagining How We Design a Better World, an immersive, experiential gathering and official launch of the Eric C. Douglass Centre for Creative Changemaking at Royal Roads University.

Creative Changemaking in Action explores Design Thinking—an approach to innovation and changemaking that has been adopted by organizations worldwide—and then asks, “What’s next? How might design thinking be even more creative and even more inclusive?”

We will offer hands-on Design Thinking workshops for both new and experienced practitioners, showcasing how this framework and mindset has given practitioners structured, human-centred, and creative strategies for navigating challenges.

Building from there, we will expand what’s possible for empathizing and ideating on a challenge when we bring in art, nature, story, and our own bodies. We will explore what changemaking looks like when we bring together innovative and engaging facilitation strategies. Collectively, we will explore how we might address the societal topics that are most in need of our attention while making concrete changes in our communities, organizations, policies, and world. What processes might we put in place to ensure all voices are valued?

This conference brings together educators, facilitators, community leaders, public servants, nonprofit workers, business owners, and students seeking creative approaches to hard problems. All sessions will be experiential. You will engage in processes from policy transformation to facilitated dialogue to art creation.

The conference will prove fruitful to anyone seeking creative approaches to leading positive change—from those engaged in Design Thinking to those who want to move beyond it to those who have never heard of design thinking but simply want new creative ways to advance what they care about.

Registration includes access to the Friday afternoon launch event, all workshop materials and supplies, plus food and refreshments throughout both days.

Accessibility & Inclusion: We are committed to making this an inclusive and welcoming event. If cost or any other barrier would prevent you from participating, please reach out—we’re happy to work with you to ensure everyone who wishes to take part is able to do so.