PARTNER WITH US TO EVOLVE THE FIELD OF EDUCATION
Mycelium just completed a successful pilot program: The Mycelium Learning Journey. This intergenerational program is for people
dedicated to making a difference in the world who need a little bit of structure and support to bring their visions to life. The model is simple, transferable and readily scalable. We began with adult-learning and are now poised to expand the Learning Journey
pattern into schools, businesses, communities, conferences and elsewhere. Our next step is to develop a facilitator training program to build the capacities for more people to host transformative learning experiences across all sectors. To make this happen,
we need your partnership.
What is a Mycelium Learning Journey?
Watch a 2-minute video to get an overview of what a Learning Journey entails and how it works. Video can be watched at the bottom of this page or here: http://mycelium.is/learningjourney/
The Inspiration
First, a word on our inspiration, the organism mycelium (mīˈsēlēəm). Mycelium is the root system of mushrooms. It’s an underground network that connects to the roots of trees and plants. It’s
intelligent. It knows where there are nutrients and where nutrients are needed. Mycelium transfers information and nutrients across the forest floor to maintain the health of the ecosystem.
Our guiding question is How do we act like mycelium on the social scale?
We use this metaphor to guide us as we weave together a living system of humans driven to build a world that works. We connect these change agents to the nutrients, resources and information that will help them be more successful at doing their work in
the world.
The Value of the Learning Journey Model
Imagine a learning program that is part Life Design, part Leadership Development and part Business Incubator -- while entirely supported by a nutrient-rich community of practice made up of coaches, thought leaders, advisors and other emerging change agents
discovering their paths.
Mycelium supports participants in custom designing a 12-week course that will meet their unique needs and help them actively step into their next stage of life. Participants clarify their direction and develop
the skills, confidence and connections needed to live their life’s purpose… authentically. Learning Journeys are intergenerational and designed to complement people’s every-day lives, jobs and other responsibilities.
The Vision
The challenges facing humanity and our planet are complex, interconnected and constantly changing. We feel responsible education must offer flexible and adaptive models that meet the demands of the modern
world and the unique gifts of every individual. The aim of Mycelium is to cultivate leaders that are life-long learners that are confident, creative and able to address the unforeseen challenges and opportunities of our times.
We imagine a world where all people are living in alignment with their calling and are in turn engaged in meaningful work that adds value to both social and ecological systems. We design educational experiences
that move us toward this vision.
The Plan
Our beta program concluded in March and left us convinced that Learning Journeys have the ability to help social change leaders do their work with greater clarity and impact.
Our second cohort begins in July. From there, we’ll broaden our impact by hosting Learning Journeys for Learning Facilitators. Tapping into decades of research, innovation and personal experience, we will
design and deliver a training program that prepares facilitators to effectively host transformational learning environments. This program will allow us to train both future Mycelium Learning Facilitators as well as people who work in other educational, social
and corporate settings. The aim is to increase facilitators' capacities to create learning environments that encourage collaboration, address complexity, and support the health of whole systems.
In the future, we envision an international, mycelial network of humans and organizations working interdependently to evolve our social and environmental systems.
However, all of that starts now. With us. With you!
Rewards!
Matthew Abrams, Vision Weaver: Matthew’s work as a photojournalist and entrepreneur took him to 40 countries and offered him the chance to experience both the needs and opportunities
of our world from a hands on perspective. These experiences offered the inspiration that gave form to Mycelium. Over the past 7 years he has facilitated workshops on Social Entrepreneurship and Authentic Living across the US in partnership with the Sullivan
Foundation, AshokaU, GOOD Magazine and others. He’s also offered keynote talks at conferences and event such as Sustainable Brands, the Innovation Exchange, TEDxYale, TEDxFurmanU and others.
Ashley Cooper, Learning Architect:
Ashley has spent the last 16 years designing and facilitating experiences that foster authentic connection, long-term learning and meaningful action. She has worked across sectors as an educator, school counselor, group facilitator, strategy consultant
and coach. Ashley has a unique ability to see a big picture, understand its complexity and design with attention to fine details. In addition, she allows her empathy and intuition to influence her understanding of people, groups and the conditions that foster
learning and connection. She was Executive Director of TEDxNextGenerationAsheville and has worked with such organizations as The Bush Foundation, Seeds of Compassion, Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College and LEAF Community Arts.
Dana Pearlman, Lead Facilitator: Dana designs and delivers learning experiences that change lives. She's been a driving force behind the creation of programs such as the Bold Academy, Global
Leadership Labs and The Lotus. She designs and facilitates transformational learning experiences with organizations such as the Dalai Lama Fellows, HUB Impact, GlobeMed, National Bioneers Conference, Sustainability Learning Center, Next-Gen at IONS and Co-Fluir.
She is a practitioner in the Art of Hosting Conversations that Matter and driven to support life affirming systemic change that enables ALL beings to thrive.
Testimonials from Past Participants
“Thank you. Thank you for facilitating this... what feels like a part of the biggest shift of my life to date." Ekua Adisa
“I valued the immediate and intimate relationships that developed through Mycelium and the understanding of how human networks are the most important currency. People are wealth.” Dana Breen
"The Journey made me a more compassionate person. I'm more real with people. I can communicate deeply." Erica Carroll
"Thanks to the Journey, mind is quieter than when it started. Thoughts are more clear. Needs are more defined.” Marc O’Brien
