Transition US is working with Pachamama Alliance's 'The Awakening the Dreamer Initiative' with the purpose of bringing Transition groups an invaluable awareness building tool: the Awakening The Dreamer (ATD) symposium.  The ATD symposium and Transition US share an important mission:

To bring forth a an environmentally sustainable, spiritually fulfilling,
and socially just human presence on Planet Earth.

About the ATD Symposium (from the ATD website)

Through dynamic group interactions, leading edge information, and inspiring multimedia, participants of this half-day event are inspired to reconnect with their deep concern for our world, and are empowered to make a difference. 

Designed with the collaboration of some of the finest scientific, indigenous and activist minds in the world, the Symposium explores the current state of our planet from a new perspective, and connects participants with a powerful global movement to reclaim our future.

It is an exploration of four questions

• Where Are We? – an examination of the state of environmental, social and personal well-being
• How did We Get Here? – tracing the root causes that lead to our current imbalance
• What’s Possible for the Future? – discovering new ways of relating with each other, with the Earth and looking at the emerging Movement for change
• Where Do We Go from Here? – considering the stand we want to be in the world and our personal and collective impact

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It is during this last section, "Where Do We Go from Here" that the Transition movement serves as an appropriate model for people to take action within their own communities.  Both organizations foresee the ATD symposium as:

1. A "tool" for raising awareness, much as your group might use "movie nights' or 'Transition Talks'.  Bringing community members together and sharing this experience is a powerful way of relating and connecting.
    
2. A basis for the creation of your 'Heart & Soul' working groups, and
    
3. A wonderful way of engaging young community leaders via the Awakening The Dreamer Youth Initiative

There are over two thousand trained, volunteer ATD Symposium facilitators who would welcome the opportunity to bring this interactive experience to your communities.  Please feel free to contact us for more information or to be put in touch with a nearby ATD Symposium facilitator.  Alternately, let us know if you would like to host a combined 'Training For Transition/ATD Facilitator' training in your community.

Steve Chase, an ATD Facilitator and co-founder of the Keene Transition Initiatives has shared a paper titled "Taking The Initiative: Why Participants of the Awakening the Dreamer Symposium Should Consider Joining the The Transition Movement."  We hope you enjoy it and consider sharing it openly with folks in your community.