The Practice

STL SANDBOX MONTHLY OFFERING

STL Sandbox is a practice.

It is based on an approach that can be used by any person, in any place, for any challenge, experience of stuck-ness, or opportunity you can imagine. It offers a posture and set of skills necessary for moving forward and through this moment to the next.

When presented with a problem or opportunity people often start with a place they want to go, an action they want to take, or an outcome they want to see happen. While the itch for action is understandable, it can also cause us to skip over important grounding and framing techniques that are critical for illuminating the *most sustainable and collective* path forward. The more we practice this practice, the more practiced we become - and the more consistently and reliably we can call on these skills as we meet the moment.

Each month of practice includes:

One - 3-hour virtual interactive workshop, anchored in a particular rotating lens*.

Two - 1-hour group grapple sessions**

In this initial workshop session you will learn the three steps of the STL Sandbox approach and have the opportunity to practice some of the key elements.

*Monthly lenses

We find that both problems and solutions tend to show up in predictable and patterned areas, each of which offers additional unique opportunities for reflection, clarity, and skill building. Each month we select a different one of these topics to leverage as a lens for analysis and engagement:

1. Information and Data;

2. Narratives and Storytelling;

3. People, Process, and Power

4. Visioning and Imagination

In these workshops we dive deep into that month’s domain, giving you opportunities to be reflective about your relationship with it and get creative about its transformational potential. You will leave inspired and equipped to examine the domains in the contexts and communities of your own life. Each time you encounter these lens you are offered the opportunity to go deeper in your analysis and strengthen your skill.

**GROUP grapple sessions

This is your opportunity to practice together, workshop some of your own challenges, and grapple about what’s hard and what’s necessary. You will experience both community and consultation. Sometimes you will bring your own grapple fodder; other times you will work your muscles on someone else’s challenge and leave with a more rooted appreciation for complexity and a more expansive perspective on what’s possible. It is in these sessions that you’ll also have the opportunity to get to know other participants more deeply.