Thailand Convening

INTRODUCTION

From 4-7 July 2022, the Atlantic Institute hosted the Global Atlantic Fellows Annual convening in Phuket, Thailand, attended by 259 Fellows and 54 staff across the seven Atlantic programs.

A focus group of Atlantic Fellows and program staff worked with the Atlantic Institute team to co-design a program for the convening. It was the first time that new or recently graduated Fellows had been able to gather in person since the first annual convening at Rhodes House, Oxford, in 2019. The focus group also came up with an inspiring hashtag #ThePowerofOuR. The R underscored the aims of the convening: To Reconnect, Rekindle and Reimagine.

THE ANNUAL CONVENING 2022

THE PROGRAM

DAY 1: CONNECTION

Welcome

Local Program Connection

Who Are We? Program Presentations

DAY 2: COURAGEOUS CONVERSATION

Exploring #ThePowerofOuR

Keynote Panel: Thailand Beyond Tourism

Home Groups Meetings

DAY 3: COMMUNITY

What is the Global Atlantic Community?

Meet the Global Atlantic Senior Fellows Advisory Forum

Home Groups and Self-Directed Conversations

DAY 4: VISION

Keynote: Rejuvenating World Futures

Home Groups Meetings

Official Close and the Tree of Hope

CONNECTION

The Angsana Laguna resort on the beautiful island of Phuket, Thailand, was the space to connect, reflect and be together in person.

The program for the convening included elements that honored the country and this region of the world. The convening gave opportunities for Fellows from all the Atlantic programs to make connections across geographies, disciplines and cultures. Due to COVID-19, many Fellows from the same programs had not even met in person before.

Fellows have agreed to share the following feedback from the survey:

It was nourishment for the soul! I oftentimes sat there in awe that I was in the same fellowship as my co-Fellows who were all so amazing and came from such different lived experiences. In what other fellowship would we have commonalities between people from rural Botswana, Nepal, Maori, etc? It was so amazing to connect with everyone.

Global Atlantic Fellow for Equity in Brain Health, Elizabeth Dzeng

There was a space to rejuvenate, to start conversations, not knowing where they will lead, and find some beautiful depth and meaning in them. I am enormously grateful for the chance to be there.

Global Atlantic Fellow for Equity in Brain Health, Ieva Petkute

Traditional Thai dancers were part of the Ritual of Welcome.

The Atlantic Institute Executive Director, Evie O'Brien, welcomed recently graduated Fellows and program staff.

In the Who are we? presentations, each of the programs introduced themselves to the global community through words, dance and music.

COURAGEOUS CONVERSATION & CONNECTION

Fellows explored the meaning behind #ThePowerofOuR. In large-group and small-group discussions, they forged deeper, more open relationships.

A panel discussion, Thailand beyond tourism: Painting a human rights and social justice picture across Southeast Asia, explored the economy, politics and social justice issues. The speakers were Global Atlantic Fellows for Health Equity in Southeast Asia, Ratawit Ouaprachanon and Gideon Alfred Cauton; Global Atlantic Fellow for Health Equity US + Global, Ginger Ramirez; and Global Atlantic Fellow for Social and Economic Equity, Christopher Choong Weng Wai; with moderator Tanya Charles, Atlantic Institute Program and Impact Lead.

In smaller, more intimate spaces known as the Home Groups, Fellows were able to build stronger relationships for learning and connections during the convening and beyond it.

Fellows have agreed to share the following feedback from the survey:

You don't feel afraid to be you. Because of the spaces we're working in, we have to work within a certain protocol that people are expecting of you. But here, you can just throw questions and you're not afraid. They're courageous conversations.

Global Atlantic Fellow for Health Equity in Southeast Asia, Alfredo Coro II

It surpassed all my expectations. From the organization of it all to the content and the emotional and intellectual impact the activities had on me.

Global Atlantic Fellow for Equity in Brain Health, Stefania Ilinca

The panel discussion involved (L-R) Moderator Tanya Charles with Atlantic Fellows Ratawit Ouaprachanon, Gideon Alfred Cauton, Ginger Ramirez and Christopher Choong Weng Wai.

COMMUNITY

The strength of the Atlantic community and its ability to act collectively for greater impact for equity depends on how well the Fellows are supported.

What is the Atlantic Institute? was the question unpacked by the Atlantic Institute Associate Executive Director (Community and Programming), Khalil Goga. He explained the Institute's mission to support Global Atlantic Fellows so they can connect, learn and act together.

Members of the Global Atlantic Senior Fellows Advisory Forum, a group that provides advice to the Institute on how to support the Fellows, introduced themselves to the global community. Later, Fellows interrogated and discussed topics in self-directed conversations.

Fellows have agreed to share the following feedback from the survey:

This experience, what it has taught me has been about the power of being present. Being present, being able to see other people, being able to connect with them, being able to listen to them and being able to share, become part of their journey. The diversity, the cultural connection through music, dance, the spoken word; and all of the energy and the beauty and the power that people bring together across the program is heaven on Earth.

Global Atlantic Fellow for Equity in Brain Health, Kunle Adewale

There are so many similarities and connections between all women, children, and communities in different parts of the world, and we struggle against the same barriers in different ways. But having a whole, hopefully, 3,000 Fellows thinking the same way to make change in different parts of the world, in generations to come there will be change.

Global Atlantic Fellow for Social and Economic Equity, Foluke Adetola Ojelabi

The Atlantic Institute Associate Executive Director (Community Engagement and Programming), Khalil Goga, talked about the Institute's role in supporting Fellows.

VISION

Atlantic Fellows are collaborative thinkers and doers with a deep resolve for a fairer world. But how do we as a community define the future and plan goals along the way?

In Rejuvenating World Futures, Professor Sohail Inayatullah from metafuture.org gave an interactive keynote address, posing the question: What is impossible today but if possible changes everything?

Professor Inayatullah explained three core futures methods for Futures Thinking: emerging issues analysis, causal layered analysis and scenarios.

Fellows have agreed to share the following feedback from the survey:

I loved the presentation on futurism. That was so helpful to me.

Global Atlantic Fellow for Racial Equity, Betsy Hodges

Atlantic Institute Governing Board Chair and The Atlantic Philanthropies President and CEO, Chris Oechsli.

Professor Sohail Inayatullah used Futures Thinking methods to challenge Fellows into changing the present.

The Fellows' artistic interludes, the energizers woven into the program, are testament to the creative talent in the Atlantic community.

Fellows have agreed to share the following feedback from the survey:

The different artistic interludes throughout the day, seeing people as advocates, but also amazing singers and dancers or spoken word artists, allows us to see the full person.

Global Atlantic Fellow for Health Equity US + Global, Eliza Squibb.

Global Atlantic Fellow for Health Equity in Southeast Asia, Sonny Chatwiriyachai, with a warm-up act for the community.

Global Atlantic Fellow for Racial Equity, Bongiwe Lusizi, a Xhosa Opera singer-songwriter from South Africa, gave a mesmerizing performance.

Atlantic Fellow for Social Equity, Ella Havelka, a dancer and Wiradjuri woman, expressed her Indigenous culture with no words needed.

The Atlantic Institute will communicate fuller survey feedback very soon on what you said you enjoyed and where you would like to see improvements.

Fellows have agreed to share the following feedback from the survey:

The level of connection with other Fellows exceeded my expectations. The conversations I had were genuinely meaningful and oftentimes challenging (in the best way), and I am so grateful for that experience.

Global Atlantic Fellow for Equity in Brain Health, Francesca Farina

The new inputs, the challenging perspectives, the incredible amount of talent and engagement, the humbling performances, the uncomfortable conversations, the new friendships, the laughter during sharing meals. I am overwhelmed and grateful beyond words to belong to such a community.

Global Atlantic Fellow for Equity in Brain Health, Susanne Rohr

Thank you for your generosity, energy and passion, and for all the ways in which you contributed to this convening.

We hope that together this community can make great things happen in the months and years to come! Let's use The Power of OuR to advance fairer, healthier, more inclusive societies.

Please continue connecting with the Atlantic Institute and other Atlantic Fellows by going to the Atlantic Hub.

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THE TREE OF HOPE

The Atlantic community is striving for a better world. Hope is powerful and can inspire us to dream and succeed. At the convening, many of you wrote messages to hang on the Tree of Hope. We hope that by sharing some of those messages, you may dare to Reimagine and Realize a (K)new World.

GALLERY

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