Hi everyone, Whether you’ve been taking time off in the summer sun or embracing the quiet of winter break, we hope you’ve had a chance to rest, reset, and recharge. As we ease back into rhythm, we have a couple of dates to mark on your calendar: ☕ Casual Hangout — Tuesday, August 25th: A relaxed, informal space to catch up and reconnect after the break. 👉 Click here to RSVP for the Aug 25 Casual Hangout 🚀 Skillbuilders Return — Tuesday, September 8th (we skip Sept 1st) Here is what else is happening in our ID@Work community : 1. Portugal Farm Gathering: "Painting the Walls" & Being Human Together Dates: September 21st – 27th, 2026 Host & Location: Regenerative Farm near Porto, Portugal — hosted by community member @Maria do Céu Bastos The Story: Rather than a structured retreat or formal workshops, this week is all about simply being human together. We’ll be helping Maria on her farm, cooking together, sharing laughs, and helping her prepare for a big Saturday event on regenerative farming that she is hosting. The Invitation: Maria has space for about 5 people to stay overnight in her home (see pics). Whether you live nearby, are traveling through Europe, or want to fly into Porto: - You can join for the full week, pop in for 2–3 days, or come by for a single day. - It’s completely flexible and relaxed—a special chance to plant "heart seeds and brain seeds" for how we want ID@Work to grow together as a community. 👉 How to Join: If you’re interested in coming along or have questions about logistics, drop a comment below ! *** 2. 💬 Community Discussion: Which program changed the game for you? There's also new thread in the community to collect recommendations on learning experiences, workshops, cohorts, or retreats that have had a real, lasting impact on how we work and live.

Let's share the programs, cohorts, or workshops that actually matter and made a difference for our lives - and our work. For me two come to mind: 1. The Art of Hosting 2. The Holding Space Certification And right now I'm looking at 'Zen and the Art of Saving the Planet' from Plumvillage, with Thich Nhat Hanh and Christiana Figueres. Has anyone done it ? What about you? - 🎓 What program: - 💡 Why this program: - 🌱 How did it make a lasting impact: - Looking forward to reading your stories and recommendations! 👇

I know many of us are listening to Nate Hagen's podcast 'The Great Simplification' I really liked his latest episode with 15 unordinary things we can do now to prepare for a Better future! If you listen to it, I'd love to hear your thoughts on his ideas. My personal favorites are 4, 11 and 12. And joining the local Repair Café is not only helping me learning that pre-industrial skill, but also gives me a sense of belonging. Number 7 also made me think of our gathering at @Maria do Céu Bastos s farm and harvesting together! You can still join us in September!!

This week we were in conversation with Elif whose story begins not with action, but with a pause. After years in research, social science, and academia—and the disorienting experience of moving between countries—Elif found herself “getting lost in the kitchen,” a phrase she uses to describe the quiet unraveling and reassembling of her sense of purpose. It was in this space of stillness and introspection that she began to reconnect with herself. Time slowed down, and with it came the opportunity to reflect deeply on the choices she had made—and the ones she still could. Fast forward to COVID and she attends the 2022 IDG summit online and something clicks, she senses a shift in her and all the pieces she’s been reflecting upon begin to align.... It's 2024, she’s back in Turkey, her country of birth, when 79 women are elected as mayors across Turkish cities. Watching this happen Elif feels a strong calling to reach out to them, believing that the knowledge of the IDGs would support their leadership as mayors. Immediately five very curious newly elected mayors responded! Soon they gathered for an initial meeting where they focused on their inner compass, took time to tell their stories, shared their values and discussed how they wanted to lead as mayors. This initial meeting created a deep bond between them, for the first time they felt connected to each other as well as to something greater that they could aspire to. Over the next 8 months, despite their hectic schedules, the mayors met 3 more times and their energy to co-create change grew stronger. Each session was initiated with intention, and they embarked on a theory U journey, co-sensing leading to co-creation. All the while Elif is connecting the dots of her own uncertainty and understanding from her experiences in Caux, with the IDGs, the SDGs, and with a change process. In December she proposes that the mayors focus on women and climate and organize World Café discussions in each of their cities. Despite numerous obstacles with Elif’s guidance they spend 4 months organizing the events. In April 2025 in 5 cities Turkish women from different backgrounds come together to connect and engage on climate change in their cities.

While in Montreal over the weekend I had the good fortune to meet @Adle Ong in person. We have been in global practitioner calls together for about 3 years and it was easy to spend the afternoon discussing, eating, laughing and eating some more 😁. I learned that Adle - is the top 1% of foodies for TripAdvisor, not surprisingly - launched her consulting and facilitation company 2 years go - has all sorts of interesting projects in the pipeline - Speakes mandarin and is learning cantonese! I love meeting community members and hope to continue to meet with many more!