Every summer, soon after the frenzy of the Skoll World Forum has passed, we begin to think about what thematic elements will guide the next Forum. We read the news. We listen to our community. We peer ahead while also looking back. Over the course of several months, our thoughts start to take shape and a theme begins to emerge.
Possibility. For me, that word evokes options. Options that encompass both the positive and negative. The world is hurtling toward an inevitable climate change calamity? Possible. Humanity overcomes political and cultural divides to build solutions to this and other global pressing problems? Also possible. As a pragmatic optimist, I choose to focus on the latter. Our theme for this year, Accelerating Possibility, recognizes our shared human journey and the fellowship that is possible, if we work together in earnest.
Several years ago, those of us orchestrating the Skoll World Forum chose to acknowledge the deep divisions that surfaced in recent years through our theme: Faultines. We felt it vital to acknowledge this, but with some beauty and grace.
We also felt it just as vital to follow that year’s theme with a potential solution the following year: The Power of Proximity. Last year’s theme dared us to become more proximate to those whose life experience differ vastly from our own—both at home, and in our work.
We heard voices that called us to go deeper in understanding the beneficiaries of our work and deeper in understanding our own intrinsic biases as we are called to this work.
This year, we are ready to Accelerate Possibility. We are ready to surface opportunities and ideas with great promise that are both inclusive and scalable. We are doubling down on our support of the more than 60 Ecosystem Events in and around Oxford. This strengthens the delegate voices in our programming, pushing those possibilities to the forefront. This opportunity to expand the Skoll World Forum into a global platform for change—will also see more Skoll World Forum Fellow voices in Oxford, hopefully overcoming Faultlines, by marrying Proximity to Possibility.
In Oxford, we’ll hear from social entrepreneurs and innovators who are building a better tomorrow out of broken systems. We’ll learn from those harnessing the power of collaboration to drive large-scale change. Together, we will unleash a relentless pursuit of the possible.
For the first time ever, we’re offering the Skoll World Forum Digital Pass to bring you the discussions, debates, and thought-provoking speakers featured at the Forum on the social issues that affect us all—no matter where we sit. Sign up for your digital pass now!
No Result