View Our 2014-15 Annual Report! (as a PDF)
Spreading the Jam (2014-15)
Bioneers, October 17-19, 2014, San Rafael, CA, USA – YES! moderated a panel on the intersection of Faith and Spirituality in the Environmental Movement for this 25th annual conference of leaders in organizations and movements for environmental renewal, social justice, indigenous sovereignty, and more.
Social Venture Network, October 23-26, Greenwich, CT, USA – YES! facilitated two sessions of the ‘Entrepreneur’s Playground’ and served as a one-on-one advisor and SVN Ambassador at the 27th Fall Conference of this vital network for social entrepreneurs. Many other Jam alumni also shared their work at SVN. It was a great fun!
Egypt Youth Leadership Jam, October 30 – November 3, 2014, Fayoum, Egypt – This first-ever Jam engaged 28 diverse change-makers, ages 20-45 from varying religious, ethnic, economic, geographic, national and professional backgrounds. It was organized and facilitated by a team of alumni of the Middle East Jam.
Middle East Youth Leadership Jam, November 7-14, 2014, Wadi Rum, Jordan – The 7th annual event gathered 25 diverse young leaders from 8 countries around the region, who are committed to hope, possibility, justice and peace for all peoples in the region. Core partner: Youth Spirit Center.
Facilitators and Organizers Retreat, November 26-30, 2014, Bangalore, India – After three India Youth Leadership Jams (2012, 2013, 2014), 24 alumni gathered to learn more about organizing and facilitating to co-create more Jams around India, in local languages, cities, regions, and on particular themes. This first-ever retreat gave alumni the experience of a deep dive into Jamming, with the hopes of launching 3-5 new local programs in India next year.
YES! Holiday Party – December 14, 2014, San Francisco, CA, USA – Our annual holiday party brought together our Bay Area community of supporters, Jam alumni, board members, staff and local partners, for an extended Jamily celebration. It was an opportunity for us to share what we have learned and experienced in the past year and to ring in the New Year in community.
Oakland Peace Center Peace Weekend – January 17-18, 2015, Oakland, CA, USA – YES! hosted a workshop and a World Café to collaborate with our local partners at the Oakland Peace Center, in order to support visions and practices of peace and justice for Oakland and beyond.
Changemaker Chai Morning, January 22, 2015, Berkeley, CA – With the Impact HUB Berkeley, from 10 am to 12 pm, we hosted an informal circle for change-makers to check-in, have a cup of chai, set intentions for the new year, and get support for where they are in their journey. Co-hosted by the Impact HUB – Berkeley.
2015 Jain Leadership Conference – January 23-25, 2015, Milpitas, CA, USA – YES! was delighted to partner with North America Jam alum, Parth Savla, and facilitate a short session with the local and national Jain community, as they explore how to ignite and expand leadership in these times.
New England Jam – February 25-March 1, 2015, Springfield, NH, USA – 25 intergenerational change-makers gathered from Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, and Connecticut to vision the region afresh, build community, create space for inner transformation, and heal across divides.
India Youth Leadership Jam, March 8-15, 2015, Udaipur, India – The 4th annual Jam united 30 social changemakers from around the subcontinent for self-awareness, community-building and systemic visioning. Core partners: Vartika Poddar, Roy Jacob, Sukhmani Kohli, Shruti Tharayil, Yash Maniar, Saud Hakim.
Morocco Jam, March 12-16, 2015, Tafoughalte, Oujda, Morocco – This first-ever Jam engaged 12 diverse change-makers, from varying religious, ethnic, economic, geographic, and professional backgrounds in Morocco. It was organized and facilitated by a team of six alumni of the Middle East Jam.
Pakistan Youth Leadership Jam – March 22-26, 2015, Karachi, Pakistan – 29 change-makers, from all parts of Pakistan and working in fields ranging from women’s empowerment to youth development to human rights and citizenship, came together to heal divisions, create support, and vision a positive future for their families and the land. This first-ever Jam was organized by a team of alumni from the Middle East Jam and World Jam.
Facilitators and Organizers Retreat, April 18-22, Bayramic, Turkey – Four Anatolia Youth Leadership Jams have taken place (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014), and 24 alumni eagerly gathered to learn more about organizing and facilitating to co-create more Jams around Turkey, in local cities, regions, and on particular themes. Look forward to seeing 2 or 3 new Jams in Turkey next year!
Law and Social Change Jam, April 29 – May 3, 2015, Green Gulch Farm Zen Center, San Francisco, California – This jam brought together 26 diverse lawyers and law practitioners, who are vital to bringing forth a better world, in environment, human rights, criminal justice, land rights, immigration, and more, and who want to heal and deepen their connections on personal, interpersonal and systemic levels.
Nova Scotia Gaels Jam, May 8-13, 2015, Nova Scotia, Canada – This 3rd annual Jam brought together 20 intergenerational Gaelic language and culture creatives from around Cape Breton and Nova Scotia to create a welcoming, supportive and INSPIRING community. Participants built bridges across divides and evoked a dynamic vision for the present and future of Gaelic language and culture. Core partners: Amber Buchanan, Shay MacMullin and Tad Hargrave.
Queer/LGBTQ* Jam, May 26-31, 2015, Vajrapani Institute, Santa Cruz Mountains, California – Our first-ever jam brought together 14 change-makers from around and across the LGBTQ* spectrum for collective visioning, interpersonal healing and understanding, and self-transformation.
The Good 100, May 29-31, 2015, Edmonton, Canada – Long-time YES! Jamily, Tad Hargrave, organized this fourth annual event to bring together 100 changemakers from around the Edmonton area for a weekend of connecting, visioning and growing together.
Seizing An Alternative: Towards an Ecological Civilization, June 4-7, 2015, Pomona College, California, USA – YES! wa delighted to be participating in and presenting at this first-ever conference of activists, visionaries, artists, philosophers, and more, to reconnect, heal and renew possibilities for a balanced and thriving world.
New Resource Bank, Lunch ‘n Learn, June 23, 2015, San Francisco, CA, USA – YES! shared a taste of a Jam with a group of associates at San Francisco’s premier social enterprise bank.
US Social Forum, June 24-28, 2015, San Jose, California, USA – YES! joined with change-makers from around the US for the 3rd US Social Forum: Another World Is Possible, Another System Is Necessary. We offered a workshop — a little taste of a Jam — and connected with old and new friends and collaborators.
Evolutionary Leaders Network Annual Retreat, June 29 to July 2, 2015, Mayacamas Ranch, California, USA – YES! was delighted to be participating and facilitating at the annual retreat of the Evolutionary Leaders Network, a community of people working towards conscious evolution at all levels. We also co-hosted an evening learning exchange between ELN members and many Bay Area Jammers on July 2, 2015, in Oakland.
Arts for Social Change / ARTivist Jam, July 7-12, 2015, Santa Cruz, California, USA – 28 musicians, visual artists, dramatists, dancers, graphic recorders, spoken word poets, and more, joined together in cross-pollinating and linking up the vital ARTivist movement! This Jam focused on mutual support, interconnection, collaboration, visioning, and lifting up the essential contributions of artists in social transformation.
BK Foundation Leadership Exchange, July 18, 2015, Oakland, California, USA — YES! was delighted to support the BK Foundation, a fledgling organization committed to intergenerational leadership learning among thriving changemakers. The Leadership Exchange happens in Oakland biannually, and is supported with BK Foundation Board service year-round by Executive Director, Shilpa Jain.
Education Jam, August 3-8, 2015, Knoll Farm, Waitsfield, Vermont, USA – 18 intergenerational and dynamic change-makers in the field of education came together to (re)weave an oft-divided education transformation fabric. Land-based learning, healing from education pains, and co-creating a robust support system were highlights of the Jam. Co-organizing partners: The Field Academy and Schools without Borders.
Southern Jam, August 11-16, 2015, Fairhope, Alabama, USA – 18 diverse changemakers from the US South gathered for this 3rd annual Jam to co-create a safe space for truth telling, healing, compassion, and understanding. They envisioned the New Normal and how to get there from the current context of erosion of voter rights, discrimination, and unjust policies facing the US South today. Core partners: Jessica Norwood, Emerging ChangeMakers Network; Malika Sanders-Fortier, Grassroots Democracy; Ashley Cooper, Mycelium; Jayanni Webster; and Mattice Haynes, The Art of Community.
North America Leadership Jam 2015, September 6-13, 2015, Quaker Center, Ben Lomond, CA – This is YES!’s longest-running program, which has helped to birth so many Jams around the country and has been happening for the last 12 years. 25 diverse leaders from around North America gathered to co-create a shared vision, heal around historic divides, and to deeply explore the self and community.
Anatolia Youth Leadership Jam, September 11-18, 2015, Turkey – This 5th annual Jam united 29 social change-makers from around Turkey to focus on self-awareness and healing, ecological renewal, community connection, social entrepreneurship, health and well-being, community media and building a transformative vision and future for Turkey. Core partner: Aysegul Guzel/Zumbara, Hanzade Germiyanoglu, Esra Drbeli, Asil Dugan.