Embracing the Spirit: What is Innovation? ⚡

What is Innovation?     Last week, the EDGE team, with special guests Susie Henderson (Equity and Innovation staff member for Shining Waters Region) and Joshua Fernandes, talked about what the word "innovation" means to them. What happened? The tension between maintaining tradition and trying new things, and the importance of honouring both. Intention’s role in innovative action. The idea that innovation is not a "new and shiny" way of viewing the world, but a way of life for marginalized people and groups. The tendency for innovation to manifest in unexpected outcomes. Whether innovation can be intangible, working through paradigm shifts in individual thinking to produce a change in a group's perceptions. The group also discussed how we may need to divest innovation from its colonial roots and co-opting by capitalism to ensure that everyone fully benefits from it. They also talked about potential theological underpinnings of innovation that may help us to do so. Thanks to all for an interesting and thought-provoking discussion! Watch the whole thing on EDGE's YouTube Channel, and read the article that Joshua referenced here. [Photo credit: Photo by Octavian Rosca on Unsplash]   Join August’s Idea Day EDGE staff have been meeting on selected Mondays during 2021 over Zoom for Idea Days – a chance to think creatively, share ideas, and provide feedback to others! Please join us for our next Idea Day on August 9, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. EDT. The Community Innovation Challenge Seeks Your Feedback!     The Community Innovation Challenge is ramping up for 2021 and is looking for input on how to proceed. Please join us to answer the following questions about the challenge, and to discuss the answers that other people give: What is the appetite of the communities? How do we measure impact? What resources do you need to be successful when going through this process? We look forward to hearing the insights that come out of this, and to working with communities to make the Community Innovation Challenge as meaningful and effective as possible. We hope you’ll be part of the discussion! When: August 12 at 1:00 p.m. EDT on Zoom. Stay tuned as more details will follow in August! [Photo credit: Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash]   Embracing the Spirit is a learning network and innovation fund. It offers funding and support for innovation ideas hatched out of faith communities and communities in ministry. Some of the stories and best practices that are happening throughout The United Church of Canada are shared in this newsletter. If you have an idea that you want to launch, reach out and tell us about it! Proposal deadlines are quarterly, and due on the 15th of the month: January, April, July and October. Find out more.  Share Tweet Forward to a friend Sign up for the Embracing the Spirit newsletter! Facebook Twitter Website Email Instagram YouTube LinkedIn Donate to The United Church of Canada and help fund life changing work around the world!

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