Story shared by Naomi Schatz

Last week, the Rise team had the privilege of participating in the Openfield Consulting Systemic Change Masterclass — a two-day Openfield experience focused on creating the conditions for change from within, rather than imposing change on people.

What unfolded was not a linear training, but a collective practice in slowing down, noticing the systems we are part of and remembering that systems are living networks of people, power, stories, and structures. Here are some of the teachings and learnings that made us buzz with excitement that were shared so generously with us. 

Thinking Beyond the Now: Generational Planning 

One of the strongest throughlines was the importance of generational planning. We were reminded of orienting toward planning and impacts that are designed to outlast us — twenty-five years and in some cases, even one hundred years into the future. This alignment with Indigenous teachings of seven generations resonated for us – how every decision should result in sustainable relationships for seven generations. This long-term thinking reframes systemic change not as a project to complete, but as stewardship.  

Reciprocity and Walking Alongside 

Another central teaching was reciprocity, one that we hold close at Rise. In the context of systems change, it is understood not as an abstract value, but as a biological and relational necessity. Reciprocity stimulates trust, builds oxytocinand creates the relational stability systems need to evolve. We were reminded that systems change cannot be done to people. It requires walking alongside one another with an agreement of the desired impact in doing so, learning with newrelations, and remaining accountable to the relationships that make change possible, with trust at the core. Our work — at Rise and beyond — is fundamentally dependent on trust. 

Stepping Outside of the Usual 

Sandra Daniel, CEO of Openfield Consulting shared, “It is hard to read the label from inside the bottle. When you are the system, the boundaries of that system become invisible to you.” People rarely consider their system — especially when they are inside it.  

This signals to the importance of stepping out of our usual environments… by using different language, or being in a different physical space, for example. By shifting physical and relational space, we are invited out of compliance and into curiosity so that we may actively shape what is possible within a system. Sometimes, systems don’t shift because we need better answers — but because we need a different place to ask the questions. 

Carrying Our Learning Forward 

We return from the training with humility, gratitude and renewed responsibility. Systemic change asks more of us than technical skill. It asks for presence, ethical maturity, care for one another, and a willingness to design for futures we may never see. 

At Rise, we remain committed to this practice — walking alongside people, communities and organizations, tending to the conditions that make change possible, and holding a long view rooted in relationship, reciprocity and respect. 

To learn more about our friends at Openfield Consulting, check out their website and reach out to learn more.