Open invitation to help build food prototypes!

Join us at Open Project Nights and a Potluck Supper, and be part of the change that's afoot in how we grow, make, distribute and eat food in Lambeth. It's been a whirlwind 6 weeks since we launched the U.Lab programme. The 25 participants came together every Wednesday to map out the local food system,...

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Keeping up with U.Lab - some really useful source materials

All done. What a ride. Well done everyone. We can't wait to see what happens with the prototypes. If you want to keep up with U.Lab and work some of the tools into how you do things, here are some useful resources. Daily principles (PDF) and a nice accompanying video The early chapters of the U.Lab book - the meat of the course. Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Finally - how do you deal...

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Iterate, iterate, iterate

Phew. Six weeks have flown by. Down the U. Up the U. And now at prototype stage, looking forward to the hub's new Open Nights events where we can take these great ideas onto the next stage. What is prototyping? A messy process in which the key is to keep iterating. Get something working quickly....

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The food we've been eating on the course - a chat with Gabby Delellis of Homegrown

A big theme among the participants on our course is that we need to make more conscious choices about the food we eat. So on that note, we thought it would be a good idea to talk to Gabby Delellis, who runs Homegrown in POP Brixton and provides the delicious food we've been eating every Wednesday evening. Q....

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Session 4 (Crystallizing), Wednesday 6th April 2016

Link to today's presentation HERE What today’s session is about Crystallizing the vision for what amazing things could happen Using 4D mapping to get a sense of that An introduction to prototyping Hitting the upward curve of the U What we will have done by the end of the session Experience...

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About Lambeth Food Partnership, our Partner

Founded in 2012, Lambeth Food Partnership (LFP) is a groundbreaking, innovative scheme that operates in Lambeth. It is a local organization that aims to galvanise organisations and individuals to cultivate a healthier and more sustainable food culture. LFP is a membership organisation open to...

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Coaching Circle, Saturday 2nd April 2016

Come along to the hub at 10.30am on Saturday for a coaching circle practice. We got a taster of what coaching circles and case clinics were the week before last. This Saturday we'll have more time to really explore their full potential and get a chance to put deep listening skills into practice. Useful resources: You can get detailed instructions on how to run a case clinic here. Some videos...

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Videos - Presencing, Absencing, the U Curve and Transformation

Yesterday the big themes were the the U Curve and Presencing, and, after three weeks, perhaps a better sense of where this U.Lab process is leading and what it's all about. We've got some video links for you: Introduction to Presencing (5m36s): Presencing requires us to let go of the old and open ourselves completely to something that we can sense but that we cannot fully know before we see...

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Session 3 (Presencing), Wednesday 30th March 2016

Link to today's presentation HERE What today’s session is about Group mindfulness The U curve Absencing and presencing  Generate ideas for food system prototypes  Group journaling What we will have done by the end of the session Practice group mindfulness Explore and describe...

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Videos - Co-sensing, listening and case clinics

Today you learnt about the a range of co-sensing concepts and tools (empathy walk, reflective journaling, levels of conversation and case clinics). We've got some video links for you: Co-sensing (6m40) - learning to deep listen to other people, without projecting your own ideas and preconception onto what they are saying Summary of Theory U (9m12) Guided journaling (9m33) - make sure...

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Session 2 (Co-sensing), Wednesday 23rd March 2016

Link to today's presentation HERE What today’s session is about Empathy - learning to deep listen to other people Reflection - allows participants to reflect more deeply and identify concrete intuitive insights  Levels of conversation - how listening can be different things Coaching...

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Visit, Saturday 19th March 2016

This is an optional day. You will be able to practice a U.Lab tool called a 'Learning Journey'. We'll meet at Impact Hub Brixton this Saturday at 10.30am. Andry will spend 20 minutes talking through the tool and sharing handouts. From there, you will have the choice between 2 visits: 1. Crystal...

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The U.Lab Sourcebook

The U.Lab Sourcebook is 12 pages long and has a mix of schematics, explanation and exercises for Week 1 (Co-Initiating). It contains some of the key diagnostic ideas - the Iceberg Model, Theory U, Levels of Listening, Guided Journaling. It aims to help you find a new way of thinking about the problems you (and the food system) face, rather than leaping straight into trying to fix them. You don't...

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What happened at Session 1 (Co-initiating)

Last night (Wednesday 16th) was the first of the six Wednesday evening learning and practice sessions for U.Lab Food at the Impact Hub in Brixton. A really big welcome to Aiste, Alexandro, Ann, Charlotte, Clara, Claude, Crispin, Duncan, Eva, Flora, Jane, Kat, Kellie, Kemi, Kuli, Laetitia, Laura,...

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Videos - The Iceberg Model

Today you learnt about the Iceberg Model, one of the core concepts in the U Lab process. We've got some video links for you: Symptoms (6m30) - the underlying structures, paradigms of thought, and sources Structural disconnects (3m15) - what is happening below the water line? Practical implications (3m29) - to change the world, we need to go on a journey collectively that connects us...

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Session 1 (Co-initiating), Wednesday 16th March 2016

Link to today's presentation HERE What today’s session was about Attend - listen to that which life calls you to do Connect - listen to and dialogue with the interesting players in the field Co-initiate a diverse group that inspires a common intention What we will have done by the end of the...

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8 innovations that could update our economic system (and how we consume)

The following is an excerpt from an article Otto Scharmer, the brains behind U.Lab, wrote in 2014 about the power to change systems with innovation: There are eight institutional innovations that, as a set, could update the economic system to operate more intelligently across silos and boundaries by...

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About Incredible Edible Lambeth, our Partner

What is Incredible Edible Lambeth? Incredible Edible Lambeth is a collection of people and organisations who work together to make sure that healthy, sustainable, locally produced food is available to everyone living in Lambeth, regardless of income, both now and in the future. Where did it all start? It...

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Six Weeks to Change the World: The U.Lab: Grow Your Own Leaders syllabus

Week 0: Intro night Connect with others working in the food system. Vision what you want from the Lambeth food system by 2035, hear an overview of the U.Lab course with Q&A. Expect high energy and enthusiastic people – and of course food. Week 1: Mapping the food system Develop a shared understanding...

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U.Lab: Grow Your Own Leaders - Are you up for the challenge?

Impact Hub Brixton and Incredible Edible Lambeth would like to invite you to take part in a leadership development programme aimed at food leaders like you. We all want to put people at the heart of the food we create. What if here in Lambeth we produced, distributed and ate food in a way that supported...

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U.Lab: My experience

Wayne Trevor – Lambeth resident, lead of community projects West Norwood Bzz Garage and Open Orchard, Hub member, TfL employee and U.Lab participant – reflects on what U.Lab: Future of Lambeth meant to him. “I’ve been hearing lots about U.Lab – what exactly is it?” This was the response I heard...

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Key Dates

Week 0: Wednesday 9th March (Launch) This is our launch day, when we welcome anyone interested in joining the programme to join us at the Impact Hub in Pop Brixton from 6pm. Week 1: Wednesday 16th March This is our first day of the course and is for invitees only (people who have a confirmed place on the course and who have paid the course fees). We'll be meeting one another, giving an introduction...

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Andry Anastasiou

What's your story? I'm a member of the Impact Hub and a previous participant on the U.Lab course. I've been involved in collaborative communities in Lambeth for several years and work as a professional leadership coach. What is your connection to the Food System? I'm a food lover and an amateur...

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Sue Sheehan

What's your story? I participated in the last U.Lab course, with two hats on - as a participant and with my professional interest as someone who works for Lambeth Council to promote community action and participation. What is your connection to the Food System? I'm lucky enough to have made my...

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Wayne Trevor

What's your story? I'm a member of the Impact Hub and a previous participant on the U.Lab course who wanted to carry on with what we started to help bring about real change in the food system in Lambeth and beyond. What is your connection to the Food System? I'm passionate about local growing...

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