For More Information: Values into Action, www.valuesintoaction.net
Purpose:
To explore an issue through questions focused on its external (global and local) complexity and internal relationship to deeply held values, convictions, and perspectives, leading to individual commitments to act.
Outcomes:
• People of different views and values, stature and status understand and support each other
• People learn from the convictions of others without having to give up their own positions
• People make commitments and discover that individual acts unfolding over time can make a difference
When to Use:
• Positive change around an issue (e.g., AIDS, elimination of hunger, affordable housing, accessing clean water) is desired, and consensus vision and collaborative planning are not necessary or practical
When Not to Use:
• A shared vision and collaborative planning and action are desired or there’s not a compelling issue
Number of Participants:
• 30–1,000+
Types of Participants:
• Within an organization: internal and external stakeholders
• Within a community: stakeholders from different segments of the community
• Across diverse geographies (regional or global gatherings): multisector teams from the same area
Typical Duration:
• Preparation: Up to 3 months
• Process: 1–3 days
• Follow-up: Optional tracking support
Brief Example:
Carry the Vision: Building Cultures of Peace in Our Families, Our Communities and Our World was a one-day community-based conference with 400 participants from diverse segments of the regional community focused on how people can work for peace. Workshops and panels highlighted stories of what is working in the world. An afternoon reflecting on the Values Into Action questions moved from stories of connection to the issue, through reflection on values and convictions, culminating in commitment to individual simple and profound acts for peace. The conference collected 250 commitments.
Historical Context:
Created in 2003 by Susan Dupre, Ray Gordezky, Helen Spector, Billie Alban, Emily Axelrod, Jorge Estrada, Thava Govender, Sam Magill, Rita Schweitz, and Nan Voss in partnership with Dirk Ficca, executive director of the Council for a Parliament of the World’s Religions. Principle-based processes including Future Search, Open Space, and Appreciative Inquiry.
 Values Into Action |
