Internationally Known Futurist to Lead Practical Workshop in Planning for the Biggest—and Most Rapid—Change in History

    AUSTIN, TX, August 29, 2018 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Well-known futurist, John L. Petersen, from the Washington, DC area think tank, The Arlington Institute, will lead three days of intensive exploration in September of what appears to be on our horizon. During this workshop, we'll build the understanding and vision of what is likely to come as well as build strategies for managing the changes of the world to come as individuals, communities and organizations.

Starting with a lecture on Thursday night, September 27, Petersen will systematically unpack the large number of extraordinary driving forces and potential events that are headed this way – unlike anything previously seen in recorded history. Rapid climate change, artificial intelligence, cloning humans, the elimination of jobs by robots, significant life extension and many more disruptions will be woven into a tapestry of alternative futures—any one of which would fundamentally change life on this planet.

Answering the question: What do we do about it?, Petersen will lead a two-day, hands-on, intensive workshop starting on Friday, September 28. During this time, we'll build coherent pictures of potential futures, extract likely implications for living in those different worlds, and then craft a desired vision for a new world that can be the focus of ongoing efforts. On Saturday, September 29, participants will develop strategies for achieving the desired world—and protecting against undesired ones—and begin to flesh out a plan for the strategy.

This unique event is designed to provide participants with an unusually coherent understanding of what appears to be coming this way, coupled with practical skills and tools for organizing families and organizations for effectively capitalizing on the massive change to help design and contribute to an emergent new world. This will be an unusual, immersive, master-class opportunity to develop a personal understanding of how to understand and practically deal with the coming changes.

The lecture and workshop will be held at Unity Church of the Hills at 9905 Anderson Mill Road, Austin, TX 78750. Participants can learn more and register at UnityHills.org.

More about John L. Petersen
John Petersen is considered by many to be one of the most informed futurists in the world. He is best-known for writing and thinking about high impact surprises—wild cards—and the process of surprise anticipation and for having conceived of and developed the first national surprise anticipation system in the world for the government of Singapore.

In 1989, Petersen founded The Arlington Institute (TAI), a non-profit, future-oriented research institute where he now edits and publishes FUTUREdition, an internationally acclaimed newsletter that tracks early indicators of potentially significant futures.

Mr. Petersen's government and political experience include stints at the National War College, the Institute for National Security Studies, the Office of the Secretary of Defense, and the National Security Council staff at the White House. He is a decorated veteran of both the Vietnam and Persian Gulf wars. He has served in senior advisory, fundraising and policy positions for a number of presidential political campaigns and was an elected delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1984. He was twice the runner-up candidate to be Secretary of the Navy.

An award-winning writer, Petersen has written three books. He has also written many articles and papers on different aspects of the future including national security and the military, the future of energy and the future of the media. His current book, A Vision for 2012: Planning for Extraordinary Change, presents a systems approach for preparing for big change whether from the perspective of a government, organization, or individual.

Currently the chairman of the board of the Charles A. and Anne Morrow Lindbergh Foundation, he is a former network member of the Global Business Network, a fellow of the World Academy of Art and Science, and is a former member of the Global Agenda Council of the Geography of Innovation for the World Economic Forum.

Read Petersen's full bios here: http://www.johnlpetersen.com/

More on Unity Church of the Hills

Unity Church of the Hills emphasizes the practical, everyday application of spiritual principles to help individuals live a more peaceful, meaningful life. Located in Northwest Austin, UCOH offers three Sunday service experiences each week, along with a year-round slate of special events, classes, workshops and retreats for spiritually curious individuals and families looking for a positive path to spiritual living. It has been serving the spiritual needs of Central Texas since 1995 and is located at 9905 Anderson Mill Road, Austin, TX 78750. For more information, please visit http://unityhills.org.

To schedule interviews prior to the workshop, please email [email protected]

# # #