Dreamfish Labs advances

open source relational technology

to empower human work

 

Dreamfish Labs is where we design and build technology to realize the Humanifesto.

Since 2006, we have carried out several large-scale innovative action research projects.

 

Dreamfish Way: Our Theory of Thrive

Scale the Use of Self by your use of self.

Dream big. In Dreamfish, we make big dreams happen by being active agents of service. Each of us actively reach out to help ourselves up. We actively reach out to help each other up. Fish together.

Many of us grew up in places where others dominated, whether it was teachers, bosses or colonial patterns. We learned to be passive and let others do things to get by. Dreamfish encourages you to build awareness of yourself, others and the environment, and make choices. As you make choices, you build self-efficacy, the knowledge that you can do something.

Humans are interactions to unfold. Not problems to solve.

In designing and facilitating any development (human, organization, community, technology product, or event) we start with this transformative approach to knowledge. Knowledge does not equal information.  In Dreamfish, we explicitly cultivate Four Types of "Knowledge" in this order: Relationships, Practical know-how, meaningful understanding, and responsive capacity. This interactivist approach to development is part of our kernel set of models that builds upon multicultural sociology of knowledge and transformative learning research.

Design Relational Technology

Our technology enables development-in-connection. In Dreamfish, we use the word "technology" to mean any purposeful enabler. Technology is not necessarily software. Technology can also be a community process design, or a model for relational leadership.  To further relational technology, we draw from applied social sciences, social software design and applied arts.

 

Dreamfish Labs Objectives

 Any member can propose a project to be sponsored by Dreamfish Labs. Work is project-based. The projects that Dreamfish Labs sponsors meets these criteria:

Objective 1. Making a Humanifesto Difference

Dreamfish Labs projects support the realization of the Humanifesto. Dreamfish Labs projects serve Dreamfish members as key stakeholders. In the past, our project stakeholders have also served multiple work networks, including thousands of nonprofit leaders, small business owners and leading educational institutions.  In 2009, with our turn into a cooperative, our mandate is to be of service to Dreamfish members.

Objective 2. Providing transformative service learning to Dreamfish members

Dreamfish Labs projects provide service learning opportunities to service team members that further "four types of knowledge", which includes: building meaningful relationships, experiencing new practices, cultivating new understanding, and building developmental capacity. Many project team members report that their service projects have been challenging and personally transformative.

Objective 3. Advancing relational technology for sustainable work

Dreamfish Labs projects are interdisciplinary, blending types of relational technology: Software, Human Process, and/or Media. From social software, we draw from open source software, Agile manifesto and wiki patterns. From the social sciences, we draw upon relational, indigenous, somatic, feminist, ecological perspectives. From the arts, we draw upon participatory arts as method, such as group improvisation.

 

Sponsorship Partners of Dreamfish Labs

To carry out projects, Dreamfish partners with innovative organizations that are creating social impact. Our program and sponsor partners include:

 

Dreamfish Labs Projects

In the Project Hub, you will see projects sponsored by Dreamfish Labs. Our current and past projects include:

Social Software Projects

Dreamfish Network v.10

Building and iteratively developing the first version of an online collaboration platform for micro-work networking that is accessible for first-time web users and low-income markets.  We are extending and integrating open source software services, including  Elgg, Mailman, Vanilla Forums and Etherpad.  Beta launched on March 1, 2010. Joe Bogner, Maureen O'Malley, Fabio Barone, Astrid Johannsen, Devin Blong, Lisa Abbott, Johannes Klose, and Peter Kaminski have been significant contributors. This project serves as the platform for the Dreamfish cooperative. (We are here) Learn about Dreamfish Network V.10 Project

Project Network Platform

Dreamfish has developed a platform to enable networks of grassroots projects. The platform is built in Drupal. This project was carried out by Tiffany von Emmel, Maiya Holliday, Patty Nason, Loni Davis, Ted Ko, Anne Chao, and Gravitek Labs, a leading Drupal development group.

Community Inquiry Projects

Change Jam

Change Jam is an open group event for individuals interested in social impact to network and work on emerging projects. The group event design works well for 10-50 people, and can be carried out in 3 hours to a day. Learn more about Change Jam

Dreamscape with ISSS

This was the first project that started Dreamfish. In 2006, twelve Dreamfish members developed and co-facilitated Dreamscape, a group collaboration technology, to engage hundreds of systems scientists in the International Society of Systems Sciences in developing knowledge of sustainability, democracy and complexity. Dreamscape method is based on feminist relational, somatic and feminist approaches to knowledge. Publication of Dreamscape: a multi-media collaboration method in (2009, Schapiro, Geller, et al) Innovations in Transformative Learning, named as 1 of 6 essential readings by Transformativelearning.org. This project was sponsored by Fielding Graduate University. Learn more about Dreamscape Project

Appreciative Inquiry for Dreamfish

A service learning project, Dreamfish trained 15 practitioners in Appreciative Inquiry while carrying out strategic visioning process for Dreamfish as a community. In the process, the research team developed new approach to Appreciative Inquiry to engage more diverse ways of knowing, based on relational theory of knowledge, and applying arts-based research methods. The research results are a series of image drawings and texts that interpret the future of Dreamfish This project was led by Linda Crafts, Don Bushnell,  Laura Burgdorf, Pien van den Herick, Rita Venturini, Eugene Kim. Learn about Appreciative Inquiry project 2007

Dreamfish Studio

Dreamfish members with research interests in cognition, knowledge theory, and social justice, have used arts-based research processes to explore issues around collaboration for sustainable work. This ensemble team have met weekly as co-researchers in a dance studio, and have facilitated day-long open labs for Dreamfish service team members. These artist-researchers include Dietmar Brinkmann, Ava Square-Levias, Paul Loper, Denzil Meyers, Rita Venturini, and Tiffany von Emmel.

Value Projects

In these projects, we develop understanding and processes for individuals to increase awareness of what they value as a way to increase the social, environmental, and economic value created during work. The first project team was led by Peter Kaminski and Paul Loper. The outcomes of this project include a video series of conversations and interviews, value themes, and a recommended set of value categories.  We are early into our next phase, building software and facilitation technology to scale this method. Learn about Value Reflection Project 2009       

Leadership for Sustainability Lab

Held in 2007, the Lab was an innovative collaboration between Edie Seashore and Michael Broom, organization development pioneers and Kathia and Alexander Laszlo, emerging leaders in sustainable business education, facilitated a learning experience for a group of practitioners across inndustries. The Leadership for Sustainability Lab was sponsored by Saybrook Institute.

Media Production Projects

How To Guides

Developing How-To’s and templates that help members to be effective and efficient, build self-efficacy, self-esteem and capacity to learn. Many practices are founded on feminist relational theory of human development. The series, How to tell your story was developed by Johannes Klose, Maureen O'Malley, and Paul Loper. Learn about How-To Guides.

Work Stories

Teaching stories to share knowledge in communities of practice Agents of Change series – Social Entrepreneurs tell how they create impact – Jean-Paul Sampatu Rwanda Children Project; Bill McKibben, Founder, 350.org; Mike Lin, Energy for All; Rachel Payne, Google.org Director, Barcamp Africa. Learn about Work Stories

Dreamfish is co-owned and built by Dreamfish members. Powered by Elgg | Mailman | Vanilla Forums | Etherpad