the co.space
DESCRIPTION
Overview of the co.spaceTRANSCRIPT
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Purpose: 4 - 5
People: 6 - 7
Place: 8 - 9
Program: 10 - 11
Platforms: 12 - 13
Partner: 14 - 15
> INDEX <
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PASCAL THE CHAMELEON !
Pascal is a close friend and recently promoted mascot to New Leaf Initiative’s co.space project. Less than a year old, Pascal is a real Chameleon that lives and bring countless smiles to visitors in our HQ in State College, Pennsylvania.
SO WHY A CHAMELEON?
As you will read in the pages that follow, a chameleon quickly alters its appearance not only as a defensive mechanism, but to adapt to his/her surroundings. The co.space is designed to configure the program to fit in any surrounding, blending seemlessly within each new context.
Just take it from Pascal !
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At the co.space, our purpose is to grow and nurture future world-changers by creating living spaces for university students and experienced change-makers to do life together.
It’s simple, we find ways to do life better - together.
The program is run by New Leaf Initiative, a nonprofit organization that provides the first step for people to make radical change in the world. Our vision is to provide fertile ground where communities can work collaboratively, design creatively, and solve strategically for social change.
*experienced change-maker (n): an individual whose life purpose to make positive change in the world is applied through their current career choice
PURPOSE
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The co.space brings together two diverse groups of people: university students and experienced change-makers.
Together, they live in one house with one common goal: To go and change the world.
The students, referred to as fellows, are accepted into the program in their junior year and remain in the home for two years. Each class of fellows
brings together students across the full spectrum of disciplines offered through the host university (or collection of colleges in larger cities).
The experienced change-makers include sustainability consultants, social entrepreneurs, nonprofit and for-impact business leaders, and
pioneering innovators. These individuals serve as New Leaf Initiative mentors with whom we have worked with in the past and represent
a variety of partner companies and organizations.
PEOPLE
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PLACEEach co.space home is linked together with other homes around the world, with the goal to impact tens of thousands of people. To do this, the co.space partners with the higher education institution(s) in each town and connects with local organizations and companies to support the home and impact it has on the surrounding community.
The homes are then connected with the latest collaboration and communication technology, including live video feeds allowing the fellows and mentors in each home to innovate and brainstorm back and forth.
No two co.spaces will be identical, varying in size, structure, and composition. Each co.space will be designed to reflect and value the culture, community, and connections of the local area. In one city, the co.space may renovate an existing structure into a vibrant living community. In another, a network of adjacent
apartments may house the program.
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Throughout the two years, fellows immersively experience how to change the world, unlike any other program or class. The program follows four key stages:
PROGRAM
Training (Junior-Fall): We provide the latest tools and resources for leading change in the world through workshops, retreats, and webinars. We partner with both international social change organizations and local leadership training programs to create the curriculum for each home.
Projects (Junior-Spring): We give fellows the opportunity to lead semester-long projects which directly benefit their local community. During the fall semester, community members and students can submit ideas and in the spring, the fellows will develop the best of these projects.
Internships (Summer): We place fellows in internships with corporate partners to lead change from an organizational level. Once a week, the fellows meet online for a group discussion to share common hurdles they face and successful strategies being used across the companies.
Mentorship (Senior-Fall-Spring): We connect each fellow with a personal mentor to help refine their passions and ease the transition into the real world. Throughout their senior year, fellows develop a capstone project that matches the passions and skills they hope to use post-graduation.
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2 platforms support the fellows and community throughout the program:
co. spark :
The co.spark is an online platform that allows individuals to suggest project ideas which strengthen their community. Modeled off of Kickstarter, an international platform for crowd-source funding towards creative projects, the co.spark will serve as locally-based platform to gauge community interest and willingness to support the various initiatives suggested. Throughout the summer and fall, ideas on co.spark will collect financial backing and other pledges of support (time, connections, resources) from those in the community who want to see the idea implemented. Physical events will be held in conjunction with the online platform to be sure to engage the entire community.
PLATFORMS
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co. web :
With an ever-increasing network of mentors and allies joining New Leaf Initiative, this platform will serve as the central space for members to communicate, connect and collaborate together. Fellows will gain access to the platform as soon as they enter the program and it will serve as the virtual space for sharing resources and training material, collaborating on their community projects, communicating during their internships, and connecting with mentors around the world during their final year. After completing the program, this platform will help with the transition by posting job opportunities for the fellows.
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In order for the co.space model to spread and reach tens of thousands of people, we are looking for partners to work with in cities around the world. Each co.space requires the support from universities, local communities, surrounding businesses and organizations, and financial donors.
To bring the co.space to your town, contact
Spud Marshall at [email protected]
or visit us online at:
thecospace.com
PARTNER
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For more information about New Leaf Initiative, check us out online:
newleafinitiative.orgfacebook.com/newleafinitiativetwitter.com/newleafupdates
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