Acts of Beauty & Defiance
A 8-Week Group Coaching Journey in Grounded Imagination for Systems Change.
Transform Systems Through Beauty & Defiance
We’re often conditioned to think of changemaking in terms of scale - critical mass, expanding our impact, revolution.
But much of where change starts and ferments is in the small. It’s in well-placed intentions that ripple.
John Paul Lederach refers to a version of this as critical yeast, adrienne maree brown speaks of critical depth or critical connections, or Donella Meadows speaks about leverage points - places where a small shift in one thing can produce big changes in everything.
To find these small places where we can make big change however, two skills help immensely:
1. Systems thinking. To see the invisible water we’re swimming in, to make sense of patterns and trends, to question the purpose or ‘why’ underneath them, and then to identify leverage points - soft spots - where we can make a difference; and
2. Radical Imagination. To break free of the limitation of ‘this is just the way it is’, or even our expected responses (‘it always goes like this’), and instead - with a beginners mind - to play and prototype. To create new ideas, actions and interventions for change.
Alone, these skills are useful - both will deepen impact.
Together, however, they’re transformative, expanding and multiplying our impact.
This is what we're exploring in Acts of Beauty & Defiance - an 8 week group coaching program supporting changemakers to connect with their imagination and prototype an idea for community or systems change.
By the end of our 8 weeks together, you'll walk away with:
A tangible prototype: a real, live act of beauty and/or defiance that targets leverage points in systems you care about
A deeper understanding of how systems operate, leverage points for change, and how imagination can become a tool for deeper change and regeneration.
A renewed sense of where your voice and vision hold power, even in complex or constrained environments.
A community of fellow changemakers offering reflection, insight and cross-pollination.
Who Is This For?
This is a space for changemakers, creatives, educators, organisers, healers, and all those who believe in a more just & regenerative world, who:
Want to do something different in this time, and bring forth an act of beauty or change
Wish to better understand and influence the systems shaping their lives, work, and communities
Feel ready to explore creative action
Long to engage with change in a way that is relational, beautiful, and experimental
Are ready to remake the world, and seed actions of beauty in their life and world.
Whether you have an idea in mind - or are starting from a blank page - this space is for you.
What we’ll cover together:
Each week offers curated readings, experiential exercises, guided coaching, and group exploration. You’ll be invited to apply what you’re learning to your own context and system.
Week 1: Seeing the Water
Understand the systems you’re living and working inside of, including capitalism, patriarchy and the myriad forms of supremacy culture. What are their stories? What or how do they punish or reward? How does their mindset show up in your workplace, community, movement - or even yourself?
Week 2: Leverage Points for Change
We’ll unpack accessible models of systems change (including the work of Donella Meadows) to help you identify soft spots - places where even a small act might cause a ripple. You’ll begin sensing where beauty and defiance might become a system-interrupting force.
Week 3: Imagining Otherwise
You’ll be guided through imagination exercises to uncover what wants to emerge. You’ll envision acts of beauty or defiance that help remake the world, and how they relate to systems change. There’s no pressure to “solve” or “fix” - this week is about rooting into vision, not perfection.
Week 4: Reseach
Before we prototype, we pause to listen more deeply. This week we engage research & inquiry as a way to refine and root our ideas.
We’ll explore ways of researching together, unpack what questions you’re holding, and start to piece together what you need to know for the prototype.
Week 5: Break & Research
A week to research, gather feedback, and brainstorm your first prototype.
Space to integrate and reflect. You’ll have access to virtual support over this week.
Week 6: Prototyping Acts of Beauty & Defiance
You’ll take your imagined act and shape it into something real. It could be a conversation, a public event or art project, a community or workplace initiative, or even a literal seed planting. It might even be something co-created with your fellow participants! You’ll receive feedback and design support to refine it.
Week 7: Break & Practice
A week to test your prototype, gather feedback, feel what worked and what resisted.
Space to integrate and reflect. You’ll have access to virtual support over this week.
Week 8: Make it Contagious
We’ll explore what your prototype taught you - and how it might continue. You’ll create a mycelial map to imagine the ripple effects. We’ll close with commitment-making, celebration, and shared insight.
Facilitator: Laura Hartley
Hey, I’m Laura, the founder of the Scintilla Centre.
I started working with changemakers through my own experience as a climate and environmental activist. I understand the challenges that change-work can bring, and the skills required for our work to be impactful: relationship building, creativity, conflict reconciliation, storytelling.
My intention - as a coach and as the founder of Scintilla Centre - is to support changemakers in developing the skills, wisdom and community needed to remake the world.
How It Works:
Sessions are 90 minutes over 8 weeks. They are both live & recorded. You’ll also receive a workbook with reflection prompts & tools you can return to.
Week 1: Tuesday, May 27 2025 at 9:30am Pacific | 12:30pm Eastern | 5:30pm BST | 6:30pm CET
Week 2: Tuesday, June 3 2025 at 9:30am Pacific | 12:30pm Eastern | 5:30pm BST | 6:30pm CET
Week 3: Tuesday, June 10 2025 at 9:30am Pacific | 12:30pm Eastern | 5:30pm BST | 6:30pm CET
Week 4: Tuesday, June 17 2025 at 9:30am Pacific | 12:30pm Eastern | 5:30pm BST | 6:30pm CET
Week 5: No session - virtual check in on research!
Week 6: Tuesday, July 1 2025 at 9:30am Pacific | 12:30pm Eastern | 5:30pm BST | 6:30pm CET
Week 7: No session - virtual check in on prototype!
Week 8: Tuesday, July 15 2025 at 9:30am Pacific | 12:30pm Eastern | 5:30pm BST | 6:30pm CET
What’s Included:
6 x 90-minute live coaching sessions via Zoom
A downloadable workbook with tools, exercises, and journaling prompts
Readings to deepen reflection and inspire ideas
Support to develop and prototype your own act of beauty or defiance
Real-world examples to anchor learning in experience
Optional small group pods for peer support.
Investment:
Acts of Beauty and Defiance costs £345 (approx. $450 USD).
Joining you’ll receive access to the live calls and recordings, as well as the workbook and tools.
✺ Frequently asked questions ✺
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No! You can come with a completely open mind and open heart, and be part of co-creating an act of beauty or defiance.
Whether you’re crystal clear, and looking for support, a little fuzzy with an idea but no detail, or you have a completely blank page - if you want more beauty or defiance in this world, come join. -
Yes, each week will be recorded so if you miss a week, no problem. However, this is an experiential program so we would not recommend signing up without being able to join the majority of sessions.
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If you’re in an unsuitable timezone for this cohort but would like to join, email info@scintillacentre.com and we’ll let you know if there’s any coming up more suitable!
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Live sessions are 90 minutes per week, with no calls in weeks 5 or 7. Allow another 30 minutes per week for reading, prompts and ideation - plus extra time to research and test your idea!
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If you’d like to join up and pay over 2 months, please email info@scintillacentre.com for details.
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If your circumstances change or the program isn’t for you please email us to discuss.