Nature of Trust

An Invitation

Are you working to advance social change, including health equity? Are you a curious thinker who’s looking for new models and mindsets to approach your work? Do you admire the genius of the natural world? The Nature of Trust is seeking participants to engage in a leading-edge project to…

Discover new models for social innovation in the Ecological Age, using NATURE’S BEST STRATEGIES for BUILDING TRUST.

Apply to Nature of Trust and Learning Cohort today!

Deadline March 1st

Applications closed

ABOUT THE “NATURE OF TRUST”

Biomimicry for Social Innovation and Biomimicry 3.8 are excited to launch a new initiative on what we can learn about TRUST-BUILDING from nature. This project will focus on:

  • identifying lessons from nature relevant to trust-building;

  • demonstrating biomimicry’s application as a strategic lens, implementation tool, and regenerative practice for social innovation challenges; and

  • developing a framework, toolkit and other resources to support the application of nature’s lessons to advance health equity and social change.

Support for the Nature of Trust project is provided by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect the views of the Foundation.

WHAT IS BIOMIMICRY?

Biomimicry is a design discipline that draws inspiration from life’s 3.8 billion years of evolutionary intelligence. Applied to social innovation, biomimicry becomes a strategy to shift us away from colonized, mechanistic models and instead apply nature-based, ecological insights to solve human challenges. It is a practice that promotes systemic thinking, fosters an adaptive mindset, and elevates diverse perspectives to meet the complexity of today’s problems.

WHO SHOULD PARTICIPATE?

Nature of Trust is open to leaders, advocates, and grassroots professionals working in health equity and social change. While this includes health advocacy and healthcare sectors, we embrace a broad definition of health equity to include those working across many causes including environmental justice, community development, climate and sustainability, education, policy, and the range of ways to advance the social indicators of health.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENGAGEMENT

Over a two-year period, the Nature of Trust project will engage health equity practitioners through a series of opportunities, co-creating resources that can help communities apply nature’s lessons to equity-focused social change efforts:

  • three short community Listening Sessions to guide the biological research into the question, "What is important for us to learn from nature about building trust?" [completed Nov 2023].

  • a research-informed Bio360 Insights workshop offered to a broad community of practitioners [May 29th-30th 2024].

  • a year-long learning cohort of two people from 4-6 organizations, supported to bring bio-inspired ideas to fruition through training, coaching, and facilitated/funded peer collaboration

  • a documentary film with accompanying toolkit, designed to inspire and guide a wider community of social changemakers to implement nature’s lessons.

Co-Lab Learning Cohort - Frequently Asked Questions

ORGANIZATIONS & CANDIDATES

  • Participants must be from US-based, nonprofit organizations to qualify for stipends. Consultants working in close partnership with community-based organizations are eligible to apply as a team, with the nonprofit receiving and managing the stipend. For-profit organizations are eligible if self-supported, but must apply.

  • While it is helpful to have some experience with biomimicry, it is not necessary. What is most important is that your organization and the participating team members are curious thinkers, eager to learn from nature’s intelligence and hold a willingness to new models and mindsets for trust-building and social change.

  • The Cohort is designed for teams of two from each organization. This ensures that participants have a partner who can reinforce their learning, provide mutual accountability, and support one another’s efforts.

  • The Cohort is open to organizations whose work advances social indicators of health, including those that focus on environmental justice, community development, climate and sustainability, education, policy, and related fields.

TIME COMMITMENT & COMPENSATION

  • All participants must attend three 3-day, in-person workshops and are highly encouraged to join the Bio360 Insights Workshop. Cohort members will also participate in monthly coaching calls beginning August 2024. Additionally, each Cohort member will design an initiative applying Nature of Trust insights into their work (scale and scope will vary). Outside of travel dates, participants can expect to dedicate 6 to 8 hours per month.

  • Organizations will receive a stipend of $20,000 to cover the cost of two participants. Half of the stipend will be granted upon acceptance into the Cohort and the other half upon completion. Organizations will also be eligible for a project grant of up to $10,000 to implement program learnings. Additionally, Cohort members will receive travel support to attend the inperson workshops.

FILMING & DOCUMENTATION

  • The insights and video assets generated by the Cohort will support the production of a 20-minute documentary film, as well as the creation of public educational resources. The film and accompanying toolkit will illustrate real-world applications of nature’s intelligence and inspire others to embrace nature-inspired solutions for trust-building and social change.

  • Cohort participants agree to be filmed during workshops and video calls and will be asked to record their own projects and learning using simple video equipment, with support and guidance from our film team.

APPLICATION PROCESS

  • Great! Fill out the Intent to Apply form by February 12th and we will send you the application. The deadline to apply is March 1st. Please note, all applications must include a Letter of Support from your supervisor authorizing your participation.

  • Interviews of each prospective pair will take place throughout March and early April. Cohort members will be announced April 12th, 2024.