Imagined Futures - Sowing the Seeds of Empathy: An Anchor for Change

The session introduced Imagined Futures as the co-hosts for the ChangeFest25 national gathering. Leigh Sinclair, Executive Director, shared reflections on the power of working across diverse stakeholders and contexts, highlighting how empathy acts as a bridge between difference. She offered an overview of Imagined Futures, describing the partnership’s resilience and adaptability through the lens of rhizome theory and the strength of weak ties; illustrating how deep listening and relational trust can spark innovation in unexpected places.

Leigh also acknowledged the ongoing challenge of securing sustainable funding, underscoring the need to invest in creating conditions where community-led change can flourish. At the heart of the presentation was a call to centre empathy in all aspects of community-led work; recognising it not just as a value, but as a practice that enables genuine connection across organisations, systems, and lived experiences. Together, we explored how understanding and connecting with others - especially those navigating different rules, constraints, and agendas - can lead to more inclusive, effective, and enduring outcomes. Empathy, in this context, becomes a quiet force for transformation.

The discussion highlighted a successful program for young people that Imagined Futures facilitated for over a decade, focusing on keeping kids engaged in school and making meaningful progress.

It was great to have Michael Piu with us for the session. Michael has been the Chair of Imagined Futures since its inception in 2013. He is also CEO of St Pats, the auspicing agency that hosts the partnership. Michael shared his experiences and highlighted the value of being brave, maintaining trust with partners, and using data to guide priorities.

We have provided the presentation, and here are links to the Where is the door? Youth Video which was shown in the presentation and a video on the Keeping Kids Engaged program that Leigh spoke about in the discussion session.

There were a few other resources mentioned through the presentation that you might find useful:

· Rhizome Theory: Can the rhizome teach us how to find a new social paradigm? - The Fulcrum

· The Strength of Weak Ties: Why our “weak-tie” connections are actually super-strong - Big Think

· Collective Story Harvesting and Listening arcs