Name
Building Resilient Communities through Systemic Design Approach
Date
Wednesday, May 21, 2025
Time
9:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Location Name
Kinnear Centre, Room KC205
Description

 In an increasingly complex world, leaders across all sectors must navigate uncertainty, interdependencies, and evolving challenges. This session introduces Systemic Design—an approach that blends systems thinking with human-centered design to tackle complexity. Unlike traditional problem-solving approaches, Systemic Design enables public and nonprofit leaders to break down silos, uncover root causes, and co-create solutions with stakeholders. These tools help map dependencies, identify leverage points, and prototype adaptive responses.


Through an interactive, hands-on experience, participants will:
• Develop familiarity with the Systemic Design methodology as a tool for addressing complexity and designing inclusive products, services, and experiences.
• Gain insights from the Community Complexity Lab, an immersive initiative aimed at equipping nonprofit and voluntary sector leaders with tools like Systems Thinking, Systemic Design, and Relational Practices to drive meaningful system change.
• Engage in a hands-on activity to explore "How might we reimagine volunteerism? A Systemic Design approach to civic engagement.
• Collaborate with peers to generate new insights on tackling sector-wide challenges. This session is ideal for those interested in building adaptive capacity, brokering relationships, and weaving connections between government, nonprofits, and the broader social impact ecosystem.