
CCDA Radical Imagination is designed to challenge and expand your understanding of Christian Community Development philosophy & praxis. Join us as we learn from practitioners who are pushing the boundaries of what development looks like in their communities and expect to radically imagine what community flourish can look like for you, your church, organization and neighborhood.
2023 Radical Imagination Workshop
CCDA welcomed Adaku Utah, from Third Sector New England, Inc. and the Building Movement Project, to the Radical Imagination space to teach the Social Change Ecosystem Map workshop. Read below to learn more about how the Social Change Ecosystem Map workshop can benefit your community, work, church and organization.
In our lives and as part of organizations, churches, workplaces, and communities, many of us play different roles in pursuit of equity, shared liberation, inclusion, and justice. And yet, we often get overwhelmed, lost, and burned out. Some of us are newcomers to Christian Community Development and ongoing social change efforts and don’t know where to start. Still others are catalyzed into action in the midst of a crisis in our community.
The Social Change Ecosystem Map is a framework that can help individuals, networks, and organizations align with social change values, individual roles, and the broader ecosystem. It can amplify Christian Community Development by helping us examine our community roles from a different perspective.

What is the social change ecosystem framework? Why is it important now?
The social change ecosystem framework is a tool to clarify values, identify roles, and support organizations, campaigns, and networks committed to solidarity, justice, and equity. It has two components: shared values embodied in the yellow circle in the middle; ten roles that people and organizations often show up in when they are participating in social change efforts. These are premised on an ecosystem concept, that we are more effective and more sustainable in our social change work when we build connections with others.
The framework has become a tool used by people and organizations particularly during a time of unprecedented challenges, from the global pandemic to the 2020 uprisings to climate disasters, to find ways to engage in social change efforts more effectively, collaboratively, and sustainably.
Who can utilize the framework?
Individuals; nonprofit, education, philanthropic organizations; DEI taskforces; and movement coalitions and networks can all use the framework to sharpen their collaboration and advance social change.
As an individual you could use the framework to provide insights on inquiries such as: what role(s) am I best suited to play in a particular moment; and how do I sustain my contributions for lasting impact. Organizational representatives could use the framework to provide insights on inquiries to such as: do our core values align with our roles and actions; and how do we move from silos to solidarity?
The Social Change Ecosystem framework was created by Deepa Iyer, Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives at Building Movement Project. Deepa first developed the map in 2017, and in 2022, she released Social Change Now: A Guide for Reflection and Connection, a workbook which provides a deeper dive into the framework. You can find ways to purchase the workbook and to get involved at www.socialchangemap.com.
*It is not required but if you would like to purchase the workbook for this class, please do so by August 10 to allow for sufficient shipping time.
FAQ
How do I register for the workshop?
Registration is currently closed. Look for new Radical Imagination workshops in Summer 2024.
What is included in the Radical Imagination workshop?
- An opportunity to learn about the Social Change Ecosystem Map by Deepa Iyer with Adaku Utah from Building Movement Project
- Discussion about how this intersects and is useful within the CCD context
How does this fit into CCD?
Learning about and engaging with the Social Change Ecosystem Map is an opportunity to breathe new life into our current perspectives, individual roles and work within our communities, churches and organizations.
Who is this course for?
Anyone interested in learning more about the Social Change Ecosystem Map, specifically how to expand their perspective on their role within their community and challenge their understanding of Christian Community Development philosophy & praxis. Anyone is welcome to register for this course.
Check out our 2022 Radical Imagination Classes – FREE for members!
Other questions?
Contact Mary Beth at [email protected]
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