Futurists should apply
Are you a futurist millennial with a great project idea that could better the world? Looking for a platform to help you build, launch and spread your project?
During the APF virtual meeting Millennials by Millennials (hosted by the wonderful Emily Empel (Alum ’12) and Jason Swanson (current program student)), speaker Lindsea Wilbur introduced The Millennial Train Project, a 10 day train ride across the United States, where Millennials with crowd funded projects travel across country, introduce locals at each stop to their projects, are introduced to the locals’ innovative and entrepreneurial projects in turn, and co-create and co-innovate new ideas with fellow Millennials on board. Last year, Lindsea, an IFTF research affiliate and futurist, took on the Institute for the Future’s Governance Futures Lab’s Social Inventors Toolkit as her project (check out the details here) to spark new ideas about reinventing governance.
In her own words, “I want to take the Governance Futures Lab across the country to examine our beliefs and assumptions about society, and create communities of co-inquiry. Holding DIY philosophy discussions in the style of Philosophy for Children Hawai’i, I’ll act as a collaborative facilitator as we examine our beliefs about the basic foundations of society, human nature, and civic governance. The questions I’ll be asking are being collected on the Tumblr Gov Futures Inquiry. Gov Futures Lab USA introduces DIY philosophy as an important tool for contextualization, critical thinking, and foresight. Promoting a culture of system and futures thinking in an intellectually safe environment, it creates social space for people to better understand their own beliefs, and apply critical thinking to some of the complex questions we face today.”
This year, 40 spots are allotted to the first 40 Millennials (between 18-34 years old) who hit the $5000 mark with crowd funding. The train travels between March 16-26, from Los Angeles to Miami, with stops in Albuquerque, Kansas City, Louisville, Chattanooga and Atlanta. In the words of their website, “Over the course of 3,000 miles, you will become a better leader, thinker and doer–and you will inspire other Millennials to do the same.”
Interested in applying? Check out the How to Apply site, and for more general info, click here. The funding deadline if Feb 1st, so hurry up!
