Why should we bring 1000’s of networks together to “play” for an entire month?

Network weaver Susan Davis once said: “If you want to change the world, throw a better party.”

By now we know it: addressing complex issues requires radically changing the way we work together. The question is no longer if, but HOW we can do so.

Networks are the incredible, often invisible forces with the power to reshape our world. They help us:

• Advance multifaceted strategies instead of single “silver bullet” interventions
• Share wisdom to adapt and spread innovations across communities around the globe
• Foster deep equity, giving people control over resources, decisions, and wellbeing
• Build resilient relationships across diverse stakeholders that support long-term change
• Strengthen movements that mobilize millions to shift habits and ways of thinking

Thousands of networks exist around the globe, driving deep, systemic change across a range of issues and geographies. Every day, we experience their impacts across governments, companies, civil society, and academia. Here are only a few examples:

1. MiSangre activated 1,5 million young people as peacebuilders leading to significant decreases in youth violence in Colombia.
2. Impact Hub accelerates the work of 25 thousand social entrepreneurs through training and co-working in 60+ countries.
3. Catalyst 2030 channeled 2,2 billion dollars into action across 17 sustainable development goals thereby driving collective impact with 1700+ member organizations.

There is an incredible wealth of experience on how networks can (and do) change our world. But for most, network-focused strategies are not widely accessible and the incredible stories that can help us learn how to do this work better remain untold.

And the reality is — the vast majority of networks are remarkably underfunded, disconnected, and misunderstood for the impact they achieve.

In May 2023, we will bring together 1000’s of network leaders, funders, conveners, companies, and governments to deepen our understanding of how to drive social change through networks — and practice centering relationships to transform our world.

Leveraging the power of lived experience, we will invite people from all over the globe to exchange lessons in building movements for climate change and food justice, fostering collaborative networks for education and migration, or strengthening ecosystems for entrepreneurship and culture.

We will explore how to playfully address conflict, distribute leadership, leverage technology, scale equitably, and integrate indigenous wisdom.

And we will engage funders to commit to deepening their understanding and support for networks.

This will help us to:

• Foster new collaborations to scale existing innovations and deliver deeper impact on issues such as climate justice, biodiversity loss, and global conflict.
• Enable network leaders and funders to strengthen their practice through access to new, cutting-edge strategies and best practices.
• Directly increase funding opportunities to enable networks to amplify their transformative impact on the lives of billions of people.
• Inspire broader, more equitable engagement with networks by creating an atmosphere of excitement, joy, and belonging.

Centering on a Theme of “Play”

In our experience, some of the most impactful social change happens when people have fun together.

Networks can be exciting and engaging places to engage with. When done right, they can bring joy, passion, and deep meaning — while providing space for comfort, ease, and connection.

We see play as a universal language, understood and enjoyed by people of all ages, cultures, and backgrounds. For us, play:

• Sparks learning social and emotional skills, such as empathy, cooperation, and communication
• Promotes creativity and discovery as people play with new ideas and develop innovations
• Challenges power structures through imaging and enacting alternative ways of living
• Builds resilience of communities by gaining the skills to cope when things are tough
• Fosters connection and inclusion through shared, meaningful experiences

We will play with these festival “spaces”

• Workshops zone: hands-on learning of practical techniques, like network mapping, impact measurement, distributed ownership, and collective decision-making
• Obstacle course: dozens of movements, networks and funders who don’t know each other find collective solutions across common fields — like education, environment, or migration.
• Pitch tent: funders explore key themes around supporting networks, and help network leaders strengthen their fundraising strategies
• Tech corner: interactive displays of cutting-edge technology to support networks and relations-based change
• Bonfire circles: intimate conversations around how we can reframe our work and approaches
• Local adventures: in-person gatherings and mini-trips to explore network innovations and deepen connections
• Wellbeing lounge: pauses for individual and collective care

Plus interspersed dance parties, poetry slams, comedy breaks, musical performances, and open mics to spark creativity, deepen connections, and have tons of fun!

Collaboratively run by a mini network itself

Our incredible team of co-creators holds vast and deep experience in network weaving, collective leadership, and systems change — collectively bringing decades of experience supporting networks and reaching 100,000+ individuals and communities across the globe.

These individuals, convened under the umbrella of the Fito Network, are dedicating time and resources to co-create a participatory agenda that matches the interests and needs of diverse stakeholders across the globe. They include:

CoCreative • Collective Leadership Institute • Collective Mind • Carri Munn from Converge • Creative Metier • iac Berlin • Global Knowledge Initiative • Network Weaver • Tamarack Institute • Unity Effect • Wasan Community / Together Institute • Weaving Lab

Join us!

Go here to learn more about the festival and stay updated!