Unconference Announcement for Human Transformation in a Time of Metacrisis Event - Boston May 2-3
Join us at the Unconference to seed new ways of being and doing collectively and build on Day 1’s discussions and learnings.
Harvard University · May 2–3, 2025
A gathering of educators, sensemakers, and inner-work pioneers responding to the metacrisis and seeding a second renaissance through the lens of education.
Join Zak Stein, Rebecca Henderson, Sylvie Barbier, Daniel Thorson, Brendan Graham Dempsey, and Bonnitta Roy - key thinkers across the metacrisis, Second Renaissance, integral, and liminal web scenes - for a two-day gathering on education, human development, and systems change.
Unconference Announcement
On the Day 2 Unconference, Zak Stein and colleagues from the Civilization Research Institute will lead a dedicated deep dive - a rare opportunity to engage with their latest thinking in an open, participatory format.
In addition, we’re welcoming Isabela Granic (McMaster University), Kam Bellamy (Springboard Foundation for Whole Person Education), and Brendan Graham Dempsey (Metamodern Spirituality Podcast), who will also be hosting Unconference workshops across topics including developmental design for youth, artificial intelligence in education, collective healing, and metamodern spirituality.
What is an Unconference?
Day 2 (May 3) is a co-created format, using a lightly structured approach. Once registered you can start to propose your own sessions—dialogues, workshops, embodied practices, or experiments in shared inquiry. Whether you want to lead or simply participate, the Unconference is designed to support peer-to-peer exchange, deep listening, and creative emergence.
Conference Day: Theory, Practice & Inner Development
Day 1 (May 2) is the more structured day, featuring keynotes, panels, and facilitated workshops with some of the most thoughtful voices in education, systems change, and the metacrisis.
Speakers and panelists include:
Zak Stein – Metamodern philosopher of education & developmental theorist
Jon Kabat-Zinn – Founder of MBSR & pioneer of contemplative medicine
Rebecca Henderson – Author of Reimagining Capitalism, systems innovator
Tyler VanderWeele – Director, Human Flourishing Program at Harvard
Daniel Thorson – Ex-Monastic, Podcaster, Coach Principle at the Basin Collective
Isabela Granic – Developmental psychologist reimagining youth flourishing
Bonnitta Roy – Post-formal thinker & architect of collective insight practices
Sylvie Barbier - Co-founder of Life Itself and ritual artist
This gathering is for educators, practitioners, and thinkers ready to move into lived response.
For the full list of speakers and to register now → https://www.sfwhgse.com/
What will we learn?
This event will delve into the essential inner human qualities and capacities that fuel profound transformation in education for flourishing. Esteemed speakers will share their insights on how personal development and psychological growth can lead to positive system-change action in both education organizations and culture at large.
What is the metacrisis and the paradigm shift towards ‘inner’ system-change skills?
What inner capacities are essential to potentiate our activism and system-change efforts in education?
How do we develop qualities of “being” in education?
How does this look on the ground in education and our communities? Exploring a number of approaches, including the arts, academic research, contemplative and justice-centered approaches.
What are the practical implications of a flourishing approach to education at an individual, community and systemic level?
Lead Organisers
Led by the Harvard School Founders of the World, and supported by Life Itself, and the Second Renaissance initiative.
🎟️ Spots are limited and tickets close on 27th April. You are encouraged to register today.
Tickets include both days and food on Conference day 1.
Register now & explore the full lineup → https://www.sfwhgse.com/
Join our Dedicated Facebook Group
We have set up a Facebook Group to support the themes, topics and wider discussions related to the conference, led by Brendan Graham Dempsey. You can join the group here. The group is open to all whether you are able to attend or not.
