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Pop!Tech 2004: The Next Renaissance
The themes were curated by Andrew Zolli of Z+ Partners and included:
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Alphachimp Studio was honored to be invited to participate this year. We endeavored to capture the truly brain-numbing amount of ideas presented by the world's best thinkers on climate change, world demographics, netcentric politics, and, of course, the politics of chimps. Pop!Tech 2004 explored the interface between great human potential and great human challenges. The collection of speakers explored the nature and role of creativity in solving problems and drilled deep on global conundrums. And as always, Pop!Tech explored the social impact of new technologies and the shape of things to come. Pop!Tech 2004 featured eleven 'connected conversations about the future' with thirty speakers from a mind-boggling array of disciplines and perspectives— from paleoclimatology to demography to Howard Dean's campaign manager. SEE MORE
Ending Homelessness: A Solutions Summit
 Hosted by Common Ground and the Rockefeller Foundation, the Summit was devoted to the theme of Ending Chronic Homelessness. Unlike other gatherings on homelessness, their starting premise is that chronic homelessness is solvable, that the ideas and resources to accomplish this goal, locally and nationally, can be identified. To support this new approach and new dialogue on  the subject, they brought together a hand-picked audience of thought leaders and visionaries, civic and government leaders who have committed themselves to ending chronic homelessness in their localities, and innovators from business and non-profits. The goal was to accelerate the ending of chronic homelessness by connecting those who are committed to this aim with each other— to share ideas, hopeful experiences and strategies, be inspired by the lessons of successful innovation and become the nucleus of the movement to end chronic homelessness in the United States within ten years. SEE MORE
Art in the Garden
Fiber art, quilts and paintings by Alicia Diane Durand, Peter M. Durand and Jeanette Jancius Durand were on display in the Mexican War Streets the weekend of Auguast 1, 2004. Pieces will be available for purchase on-line later this week. SEE ARTWORK
Pittsburgh Social Enterprise Learning Circles  We were asked to design and facilitate the regional program of Learning Circles. Alcoa Foundation launched an International Social Venture/Enterprise Initiative in 2003 designed to improve the effectiveness and sustainability of NGOs by applying business and entrepreneurial strategies and practices. The Foundation began the Initiative with a first-of-its-kind global forum at the Johnson Foundation's Wingspread Conference Center located in Racine, WI. Participants included internationally recognized experts, practitioners, funders and NGOs experienced in social/venture enterprise. As a result of the Forum findings and lessons learned, the Foundation has designed a series of Social Venture/Enterprise Learning Circles that are intended for NGOs in Alcoa communities worldwide in 2004. Our particular program was crafted for the needs of:
Westmoreland Museum of Art
Venture Outdoors
The Center for Creative Play
Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild Jazz
SoL 7th Annual Meeting
The Society for Organizational Learning is an action learning community whose purpose is to discover, integrate, and implement theories and practices of organizational learning for the interdependent development of people and their institutions. In this context, the Seventh Annual Meeting of SoL brought together a community of about 300 deeply committed practitioners, consultants, researchers, and others from around the world to achieve together that which we cannot achieve on our own: increasing our capacity to collectively realize our highest aspirations. MORE 
The Artist's Way at Work
As a trained facilitator in The Artist Way at Work methodology, we can help individuals and goups to work through the underlying and often unconscious attitudes, assumptions and emotions that stifle innovation, cut productivity and damage communication. LEARN MORE
Co-Revolutionary War Game
This event organized by Alidade Inc. is a new style of seminar war game developed with concepts from the “new sciences” to overcome limitations in both contemporary military gaming and corporate strategic planning. Players explore the interplay of technology and operations in a highly competitive environment that provides frequent interaction and dynamic feedback over a four decade gaming horizon. Although the game starts with a given set of possible futures, focused iteration by adversarial interaction drives players toward new and unexpected strategic destinations. The participants represent both active military and civilian policy or technology experts, with Alphachimp serving as graphic facilitators. SEE MORE
Networked Searches & Searches in Networks:New Horizons in Search Theory
This event organized by Alidade Inc. In short, Search Theory was developed when operators and academics collaborated to apply mathematics to a very tangible task: to find a militarily important object in the quickest, best way possible. As Search Theory matured, two main types of professionals emerged: analysts who work directly with operators to solve pressing operational search problems and academics that work to develop new mathematical results. Civilian scientists, researchers and military analysts discuss the nature of the search, to determine what it takes to bring scientific rigor to the heuristic algorithms. The group noted three broad issues surfaced repeatedly: network design, use of heuristics and specific algorithms to solve real world problems. The 2-day collaborative event ended with a discussion around applications of robotics, evaluation models, distributed force, and applications beyond the military. SEE MORE
Investigating Hider Theory
This session organized by Alidade Inc. concerns a problem that has grown in importance as weapons inspectors have so far failed to local a trove of Weapons in Mass Destruction in Iraq, Osama bin Ladin remains (perhaps literally) underground, and militaries worldwide continue to explore the use of distributed forces and cover, concealment and deception to counter U.S. sensor advantages. These are examples of the obverse of most search problems: strategies and techniques not to find something, but to keep something from being found. The literature of “Hider Theory” is relatively sparse. SEE WEBSITE
Topics and speakers included: Back in Budapest
A recent invitation to help out at a global HR forum in the capital of Hungary, brings Alphachimp back to Eastern Europe for a glimpse at the changes 14 years after the Berlin Wall came down. SEE WEBLOG
Inspiring Change Programme
 The latest evolution of the Career Innovation Group. The ICP helps global companies turn their existing long-term strategic priorities into one-year projects for talented full-time Change Agents. The Programme involves a small number of carefully-selected "Change Agents" from leading-edge non-competing companies coming together as a team. Each Change Agent leads an innovative people-related project for his or her organization while also supporting the delivery of projects in other member companies. We participated on the facilitation team at the recent session in Boston. SEE MORE
Robert Morris University's Open Space Odyssey
 RMU initiated one of the nation's best thinkers, Lester M. Salamon, of the Institute for Policy Studies at Johns Hopkins University to discuss his recent work on the "Resilient Sector" as featured in his recent publication, The State of Nonprofit America. On Friday, we moved our dialogue to the Pittsburgh Zoo's Educational Building. Lucille E. Dabney of Dabney & Associates, Houston is a nationally known practitioner of the Open Space meeting technology. This collaborative workshop was spent using the latest technology to link the 100 participants from area non-profits with others outside the walls. SEE MORE
Customer Evangelism University
 We supported our good friends at Wabash & Lake in the kick-off of their new program. Led by authors and consultants Jackie Huba and Ben McConnell, this exclusive, 2-day workshop, participants learned the successful marketing approaches of the case-study companies profiled in their book "Creating Customer Evangelists: How Loyal Customers Become a Volunteer Sales Force" (Dearborn 2002). The workshop outlined the successful marketing strategies and tactics of large and small firms, from product companies to services firms, including business-to-business and business-to-consumer organizations that have created bands of loyal evangelists. SEE MORE .
For more information, go to www.wabashandlake.com/university/
Strategic Branding Rollouts Over the fall, Alphachimp supported The Russell Williams Group deliver 5 branding events in six weeks. Clients included Fortune 50 companies re-inventing themselves from the inside out, through defining their personality, unique value proposition, core values, and differientiation in the marketplace. www.russellwilliamsgroup.com
Wisconsin Historical Society Website
 Working
with an intergenerational multimedia team in Washburn (pop. approx. 2400), we facilitated
the intense, multi-disciplinary process required to build
a web site in 2 weeks. Team members were drawn from the Washburn
Public Schools, CESA 12, and the Washburn Area Historical
Society, with ages ranging from 14 to 88-years-old. Most
participants had little or no experience with web design,
however, the results are incredible! Interactive maps, historical
photos, 360-degree panoramas and animated ghost stories.
Check it out: http://www.hereathome.org/washburnhistory/
2003
Regional Training Provider Showcase
 The Pittsburgh Regional Alliance, in partnership with the
Pittsburgh Human Resources Association and the National
Speaker's Association, Pittsburgh Chapter, hosted this Showcase
to highlight the training and workforce development providers
in the region.
Alphachimp
Studio, Inc. was invited to provide graphic facilitation
for all 27 presenters. The audience for this Showcase included
Human Resources Professionals, Training and Development
Professionals, or any other individual within an organization
who is responsible for coordinating training for their staff. SEE
MORE
Entrepreneurial
Thursday
Dowe's on 9th Jazz Club (Pittsburgh, PA); 5:30 PM -
8:00 PM on Thursday, July 17th. This is a casual,
weekly social and networking event featuring live jazz,
soul & blues by vocalist. Alphachimp Studio, Inc will
be featured along with Univ. of Pittsburgh's PantherlabWorks
and Three Rivers Foundry. Everyone
interested in supporting "WHAT'S INNOVATIVE AND POSITIVE
IN THE PITTSBURGH REGION" - including present and future
entrepreneurs, social entrepreneurs, angel and venture investors,
institutional financing sources, large corporate partners,
young and young-thinking professionals, technology and life
sciences industry innovators, arts and economic development
thought leaders, music lovers and musicians, and all those
interested in the growth of the Pittsburgh region. SEE MORE  Making
Connections
This is a ten-year investment by the Annie
E. Casey Foundation to improve the outcomes for families
and children in tough or isolated neighborhoods. The Casey
Foundation's research has shown that children do better
when their families are strong, and families do better when
they live in communities that help them to succeed. One
of these communities is the White Center / Boulevard Park
areas of Seattle. To support and further the Foundation's
initiative in White Center / Boulevard Park, a diverse team
of community members, agency staff members, and Casey Foundation
staff gathered on June 25 and 26, 2003 at Evergreen High
School in White Center to design an Integrated Services
System in a Collaborative Workshop facilitated by InnovationLabs.
SEE
MORE  Allegheny
Conference Regional Investors Council Summit
A gathering
of over 120 of the Pittsburgh Region leaders and investors
to address major initiatives in regional development, namely:
(1) Strengthening Our Regional Assets, (2) Making Government
More Competitive, (3) Building A Regional Destination Center,
(4) Redeveloping Our Industrial Sites, (5) Investing to
Stimulate Job Growth, (6) Preparing Workers for Jobs of
the Future.
DOWNLOAD POWERPOINT | VISIT
OFFICIAL SITE
Co-Revolutionary
Competition: A Public War Game Inspired by the New Sciences
A new style of seminar war game developed with concepts
from the “new sciences” to overcome limitations
in both contemporary military gaming and corporate strategic
planning. Players explored the interplay of technology and
operations in a highly competitive environment that provided
frequent interaction and dynamic feedback over a four decade
gaming horizon. Although the game started with a given set
of possible futures, focused iteration by adversarial interaction
drove players toward new and unexpected strategic destinations.
The game was successful in that the set of futures explored
could not be foreseen from initial conditions and players
achieved a new, informed perspective of possible future
outcomes of today’s policy and strategy decisions.
In fact, the War Game resulted in (gasp!) no war! SEE MORE
Heart
Failure Summit
 A coalition of heart care professionals
representing a broad range of the American medical system
assembled to explore new models for managing the country's
leading cause of death – chronic heart failure (or
CHF). The group explored the needs and vantage points of
patients, family members, physicians, nurses, government
policy makers, insurers and hospital administration. The
goal is to understand the policy and practice implications
of key trends, and to develop a set of recommendations for
improving health outcomes and health economics. The participants
readily came to consensus on the key issues and factors,
and agreed that a report on the Summit will be prepared
and circulated to a wide variety of policy makers and practitioners. www.americanheart.org
IT and Learning at the Advanced
Thinkers Forum
 Snider Associates held the first Summit at Harvard
University, the event included 30 leading thinkers who
actively work on the problem of creating and supporting
change across large organizations. As a result of this
meeting there has been established an ongoing dialogue
on this subject. SEE MORE
 Breaking
the Rules of Sales
The Greater Pittsburgh Convention & Visitors Bureau sponsored a presentation for members by
Peak Performance Management on sales strategies that break
the pattern of the traditional cold call during dinner. SEE MORE
New
Convention Center
Greater Pittsburgh Convention
and Visitors' Bureau held it's 67th Annual Meeting and
Reception for over 400 members at the brand new David
L. Lawrence Convention Center. See the new tradeshow booth,
find out the latest in conventions bookings, meet Blattner
Brunner, our new creative team, and tour the spectacular
new convention center. SEE MORE
Bioinformatics
 The Pittsburgh Tech Council presents a
pair of events about the convergence of the biomedical
and information technology industries. A panel discussed
the increasing role IT plays in the delivery and management
of healthcare, as well as what large IT firms see as opportunities,
and what small medical IT firms should expect, when entering
this space. SEE MORE
The
National Fatherhood Initiative
This forum exposed methods to bring fathers in closer contact
with schools and communities. The Fatherhood Forum was
held during the first major snowstorm of the year in the
St. Paul of the Cross Monastery high above Pittsburgh.
Attendance was light due to weather, but the presentations
and discussions were rich and valuable to anyone concerned
about improving the lives of children and families. SEE MORE
The Coro Center for Civic Leadership
Eleven talented african-american college students explored the effective uses of mental models and graphic facilitation as tools in community problem solving.In the first part of the day, the group was exposed to the theory of Tony Buzan's Mind Mapping techniques as well as Caine and Caine's Brain/ Mind Principles for learning environments. SEE MORE
Visual Intelligence and Math Problems
Alphachimp helps teachers at Columbus Middle School on Pittsburgh's North Side to use visuals
in helping to solve word problems. Alphachimp Studio participated in the school's
in-service day. We introduced the concept of graphic facilitation
and mind-mapping as a tool to be used across the Curriculum. SEE MORE
Marketing
Executive Roundtables
These discussions hosted
by Expertise Marketing engage top management of
professional service firms and national professional groups
on the topic of the strategic importance of marketing
to professional services firms. The conversations are
unique in their focus on the comparison between the perceptions,
practices and performance of marketing across professions.
The participants represent a diverse field of services
including consulting, financial services, construction,
insurance, and technology. www.expertisemarketing.com
Future
of Learning Rave
The Center for Business Innovation
and Cap Gemini's Les Fountaines Business Learning Forum
host a "rave" about the foibles, challenges
and successful implementation of new media to education
and training. SEE MORE
Long-Range
Planning
Graphic facilitation and "cafe
conversations" led by David Isaacs to give focus to a pharmaceutical company's
re-envisioning of itself, not only in terms of the strategic
plan for the year, but for the company's entire reason
for existence... to save lives! www.theworldcafe.com
Organizational
Learning
Peter Senge's Society for Organizational
Learning leads all 250 members of a major pharmaceutical
company through the Five Disciplines of being a Learning
Organization with Alphachimp Studio providing the graphic
facilitation, text documentation and web site production. www.solonline.org
Product
Development Ideation Sessions
 Multiple events for ThinkShop to develop hundreds of concepts for new services and products in existing
or tangential markets in diverse industries ranging from chemicals, international foods and homecare products. www.thinkshop.com
Reinvention
of the Classics and Classically Inspired Theater
 The
board of UNseam'd Shakespeare, one of the region's most
innovative and daring theater troupes explores the needs
of a company that has grown from a budget of two thousand
dollars to a quarter of a million in the last 5 years.
www.unseamd.org
Youth
Technology Summit Idea Session
Exploring
the emerging needs of youth and technology in the region.
We have begun soliciting input to the planning process
of a Youth Technology Summit to be held at the David L.
Lawrence Convention Center in 2004-2005. SEE MORE
Our
Introduction to Graphic Facilitation Workshop
We teach
you the basics of using line, color, and graphic narrative
forms to help give shape and meaning to group discussions.
Topics covered include Maind Mapping, iconography, directional
and framing devices, as well as the importance of drawing
big in order to think big. Contact
us if you would like us to arrange a special workshop
for your organization. SEE MORE
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