Report: 3rd Beyond 2020 Sustainability Unconference

I now understand completely why the head of the International Olympic Committee can say about each Games that it was the best Olympics in history. The third Beyond 2020 Sustainability Unconference took place last Thursday, May 6th, at KEEN, and it was the best Beyond 2020 so far.

The success of an event like this one hinges on the people, venue, and program.

People

One of the operating principles of events using the open space technology is, “Whoever comes is the right people.” As an organizer, you want every member of your target audience to show up, though of course they can’t. It helps to think of it another way: “Never before, and never again will the assembled group gather in that time and place.” The group is as unique as its members.

The diversity of our participants was palpable: we ranged from a college student, to solopreneurs like myself, to small businesses, to large ones with presence in multiple states. I saw a number of familiar faces, from previous Beyond 2020s and elsewhere, and I had a pleasure to meet many new people. For some Beyond 2020 seems to be becoming a regular item on their calendar, for others, it was the first (and by all appearances not last) unconference experience.

A few unsolicited post-event testimonials from our participants:

• “a really informative and enjoyable evening”
• “I enjoyed seeing how the format of an unconference works and plan to attend again in the future.  I also know others who would really benefit from this type of event and will pass it on with better knowledge of the benefits.”
• “Refreshing format!”
• “a wonderful event!”

Thank you for coming and making a difference!

Venue

Beyond 2020 #3 took place in the large, multipurpose space at KEEN’s world headquarters in the Pearl District here in Portland, Oregon (photos). We couldn’t have asked for a better space: open, flexible, playful, and light (there were some shoes on display, too, as you could expect).

Thank you, KEEN, for providing the space for the 3rd Beyond 2020!

I just wish someone had proposed a hands-on session demonstrating collaboration in a game of fussball (we had to tuck the table out of the way in a corner).

Sessions

Another principle of open space is, “Whatever happens is the only thing that could have.” Once again, leadership of open space requires letting go of the control instinct. You set the theme, the participants will figure out the agenda. It’s amazing to watch the blank wall evolve into a source of fruitful conversations.

Our theme was “Collaboration for Sustainable Business”: we aimed to explore putting collaboration to work for environmentally, socially, and financially sustainable business, and using collaborative tools and processes to share and benefit from abundance.

The following sessions took place at the 3rd Beyond 2020 on May 6th, 2010 (each session title links to its own wiki entry with notes, if available; if you were there, please help improve the notes by editing).

• Collaborate for cause: Nonprofit-business partnership and how they benefit you by Megan Strand
• Every job is a green job by Alison Dennis
• How to collaborate online: The case of “The Portland Bottom Line” by Peter Korchnak
• Ideas to get a “stuck” collaboration moving by Jayne Cronlund
• Leveraging our collective impact for collaboration /​ Money as a positive tool for change, combined session by Robyn Shanti and Mark Nedleman
• Self-sustainability and how it can benefit the homeless by Allie Callow
• Sharing construction jobs with specialists of other trades by Phil Norman
• Sustainability peer learning network by Gary Langenwalter
• Tools for collaboratin’ by Katrina Scotto di Carlo

Thanks, everyone, who proposed and led a session!

At the end, we gathered again for a debrief to commit to future actions. We’re working to figure out the best way to transform Beyond 2020 into something like a project incubator.

Sponsors

Beyond 2020 #3 could not have happened without the support of the following organizations (”Whoever sponsors is the right sponsor.”):

• Green Drinks Portland
• Green Living Journal
• GreenPosting
• NedWater Liquid Change
• ReDirect Guide
• Sustainable Business Network of Portland
• Voice for Oregon Innovation and Sustainability (VOIS)

Thank you!

The next Beyond 2020

We’re already looking forward to it! We are sticking to the quarterly schedule for Beyond 2020. The 4th one will take place mid-summer 2010 (and #5 in early November). For the venue, we’re thinking outdoors — an orchard, a big back yard, a winery, or another suitable natural or green space (email me if you know of a good venue).

As for the theme, we haven’t started pondering it yet, so if you have any suggestions, let’s hear them! A couple of potentials that come to my mind right now: using business to benefit your community; business practices that restore the environment… What do you think?

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