“Every daring attempt to make a great change in existing conditions, every lofty vision of new possibilities, has been labeled Utopian.” – Emma Goldman

grassroots futurism

What

Modeled after an Enlightenment salon, Future Café events invite us to collectively imagine radical possibilities and long-term futures. Future Cafés are an opportunity to dream with strangers and brainstorm with friends. Preferably with cake. What might happen if we engage in world-building instead of doomscrolling?

How

Each meeting has a general topic to shape discussion (The future of “X”). Nothing is off-limits. There are only three principles: no bosses, no pessimism, and no presentism. The challenge is to think 100+ years into the future. Cafés can be monthly or one-time pop-ups. And can happen anywhere: on campus, a brick-and-mortar café, a workplace, or virtual platform.

Why

Being asked to think beyond our own lifetimes has surpisingly positive effects: we become more optimistic, more inventive, and more caring. It is also empowering. Utopian thinking has gotten an unfair rap. Our philosophy is that utopia is not a perfect place or a project directed from above. Rather, utopia is a grassroots practice. By this definition, it cannot fail. But it can be neglected. Participants say that the Future Café has inspired their careers, created community, and shifted their mindset.