Invoking the Pause’s Multi-generational Commitment to Community

In October 2011, I had the life-changing opportunity to meet Maggie Kaplan, the creator of Invoking the Pause, at a lunch following a plenary keynote speech I had just given at the Bioneers Annual Summit.  That fateful day my life was about to be singularly and profoundly transformed by a conversation about collaboration. » Read More

In looking back 8 years to the origins of ITP, I continue to be inspired by how my twin visions:  (i)offering a pause in busy professionals’ lives in a place of natural beauty for reflection and development of initiatives about some aspects of climate change combined with (ii) the power of working collaboratively and even among cross-disciplines -- continue to be validated in work on this enormous planetary issue.  » Read More

The two-day ITP retreat was a very wonderful way to connect to a large network of really outstanding people from many different fields and backgrounds in a beautiful location in Sonoma.

Most grants partners we have worked with require a post-grant report. The ITP method offered a more interesting opportunity to actually spend several days with all the other ITP grant recipients and mentors in order to share findings and make presentations to over 40 collaborators and leaders, with follow-up discussions.  » Read More

Intro by Maggie Kaplan, Founder/Executive Director Invoking the Pause:  Last week, on October 26-27th, Invoking the Pause brought together almost 40 people at the Westerbeke Ranch for its first ever 2-day Gathering!  In addition to  current 2015 ITP and "Seeding Possibilities" Grant Partners attending, several "outsider allies" from various business and non-profit organizations were invited to add some flavorful additions to the diverse group of grant partners.  

We inaugurated a theme for the first time, too -- Joseph Campbell's  "S/hero's Journey", a 12 step process, which all of us undertook individually and collectively. 

Starting in ordinary reality with " meeting and greeting"  each other on the first afternoon through a series of fun exercises, we followed the "call to adventure" culminating in a festive evening at the outdoor firepit -- complete with s'mores, music and singing.  The next morning, we "crossed the threshold" into challenges and ordeals, which eventually leading to our return at the end of the day with the "elixir" of inspiration and renewal for the dedicated efforts of so many working to make significant contributions in the field of climate change/disruption!  

One of our "outsider allies" William Shutkin, President and CEO of the Presidio Graduate School of Sustainability, was  moved to write the following blog: 

My Presidio Graduate School colleague Ryan Cabinte and I had the pleasure of attending the Fall 2015 Invoking the Pause Retreat in Sonoma last week as ITP “Allies.” True to form, the event was a welcome opportunity for me and Ryan to take some time out of our usual schedules to gather with inspiring people, engage in thoughtful conversations and return to our day-to-day routines refreshed and reinvigorated. » Read More

Invoking the Pause is blessed to have such diverse new and past Grant Partners (GPs) sharing a common bond of expanding the reach, messaging and knowledge of how to mitigate the effects of climate change through their various ITP projects.  As ITP partners, we all gather together once a year to present and brainstorm with each other and gain common awareness of our desire to be change agents for environmental sustainability. 

This coming fall, ITP's beautiful home-base of Sonoma, CA will be the backdrop for the 2015 Grant Partner Gathering taking place at Westerbeke Ranch Conference Center.   » Read More

Invoking the Pause  (“ITP”) experienced spring a little early this year as we read through the applications from budding collaborations and seeds of creative solutions for climate change. We received 16 proposals this year, and from those we selected 5 grant partners that best fit the spirit of the "Pause" and show promising solutions to address some aspect of climate change. While we were unable to fund all of the worthy proposals that we received, we were heartened by each and every one of the efforts we read about.

This year’s cohort of grant partners include: » Read More

We invite you to take a sneak peek into our very special Grant Partner Gathering day that took place in San Francisco in October 2014.  This annual occasion provides ITP's current and past GPs the opportunity to present their projects, make connections with like-minded individuals and groups, and perhaps the opportunity to collaborate with one another.  Watch here.

Invoking the Pause is now accepting 2015 Grant Proposal applications.  Please check the Application Process page for details.  

At our recent Invoking the Pause Grant Partner Gathering, 16 groups of Grant Partners (28 people) came together to share stories of their respective "Pauses", build connections, and collectively brainstorm on future pathways for their work. One theme that resonated throughout the day was the idea that careful attention to the “process, or how we go about creating change”, is essential if we are to unearth new solutions to the challenges facing our planet.
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