about the global collaborative
history & background
From 1990-2011, over 20 years, YES!, an organization based in the US, placed its faith in young people, to inspire them to walk towards a healthier, more just and thriving future for themselves and their communities. Along with global partners, YES! pioneered Youth Jams: week-long gatherings of 30 young leaders (roughly aged 18-35) that explore internal, interpersonal and systemic change. The alumni of Jams are affectionately known as the 'Jamily'; they are a community of leaders who are ushering in a positive present and future.
The Global Collaborative grew out of the Jamily. The facilitators of the 2004 World Jam felt that it would be important to gather an intentional community of peers to better understand the current moment and emerging possibilities. They wanted an on-going community of practice to explore certain questions like : What were we realizing from each of our different contexts? How could this learning be shared in an ongoing way? How could the various movements, projects, efforts be better supported?
A World Jam alumni gathering was convened in 2006, which enabled a connection with other peers who were interested in leading this inquiry forward. Past, present and future World Jam facilitators stayed on after that gathering, and the Global Collaborative was born. We've been going strong ever since...
