The Polyopportunity: Intertwined Paths Toward a Beautiful Future

Intertwined Paths Toward a Beautiful Future

Does the polycrisis mean irrevocable social and ecological collapse? Or is there a way to reframe the compounding problems of our era—climate chaos, geopolitical conflict, social division, loneliness—as an opportunity for unprecedented cooperation and change?

Join the Acosta Institute and the House of Beautiful Business in New York City during UN Week to write a powerful counter-narrative to the polycrisis: The Polyopportunity.

With a select group of leaders, experts, creatives, and changemakers, we’ll explore how to amplify positive trends across disciplines and communities, how to nurture and develop the links between these trends, and how to build the foundation for a future that we want.

The gathering will feature dynamic panel discussions, artistic performances, playful collaboration, and communal brainstorming sessions. You will leave inspired, connected, and ready to reframe your understanding of the current moment.

The Polyopportunity Dinner

Thursday, September 19, 2024 7 p.m. - 10 p.m

Venue: TBA

Enjoy a relaxing dinner where we'll get acquainted and pique each othre's curiosity throught special activities.

The Polyopportunity Gathering

Friday, September 20, New York City, 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Venue: Smith Learning Theater Teacher’s College, Columbia University

9:00 Welcome by the hosts

Dr. Angel Acosta (Acosta Institute) and Tim Leberecht (House of Beautiful Business)

10:00 Becoming Cultural Doulas: Nurturing a New Epoch

How can we expand our ways of thinking and being to embrace the polyopportunity in front of us? What role can we play as midwives to this new cultural paradigm?

In this collaborative exercise, we explore the concept of becoming cultural doulas—guides who help societies reframe our approach to the challenges of our times.

12:00 Lunch

13:00 Breakouts

Led by an expert guest speaker, each group (20 max) devotes themselves to exploring a unique “opportunity”

• Finding Beauty in and Through AI (Tech)
• Regenerative Business and Slow Work (Economy)
• Feminism and Intersectionality (Social)
• New Consciousness (Spiritual)
• Love, Friendship, and Belonging (Personal)

An artist is assigned to each group and creates an artifact (short film, poem, painting, illustration, sound recording, etc.) based on the group’s exploration.

The groups meet intermittently for rapid-fire plenary discussions to share what they’re working on and identify early links.

15:30 Coffee break and live music

16:00 Plenary session

Each group presents their work to fellow attendees. A giant polyopportunity map is mounted on the wall.

18:00 Closing panel

An interactive closing session to summarize our work, reflect on our progress, and discuss next steps for supporting the community and planning new projects.

19:00 Social mixer with live music

20:00 END

Speakers will be announced soon!

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Smith Learning Theater, 525 West 120th Street, New York, United States