Victor Udoewa

A lot of communities understand the why of positive social change, but they do not feel as comfortable with the how. These communities may sometimes hire professional futurists and social impact designers who use methods that don’t work for local communities, don’t embody local visions of the future, and simply manage the problems, leaving the system intact. Using Black Liberation theology to critique futures design and social impact design methods, I share a futures practice rooted in the worlds of people who view their desired futures as impossible and of people who have no hope. Students will walk away with a better framework for thinking about the future, present, and past, than the traditional Eurocentric Futures Cone. Participants will also walk away with a better approach for the sustainability of social justice work, avoiding burnout and disillusionment, even in the midst of helplessness.