Communities are containers for possibility. At their best, they bring people together to move towards change. But building community isn't fast, not even in our speedy virtual world. As writer Stephen Covey said, "Change moves at the speed of trust."

Penny Schnarrs, our November event speaker, embodies moving at the speed of trust. She has spent her 20+ year career building meaningful connections to impact her community work positively. In her current role as Virtual Communities Manager at the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), she leverages remote-community tools to empower community builders to create more conversation, trust, and equity in seeking solutions to "wicked problems." 

Wicked problems are complex challenges that are subject to real-world constraints and require thoughtful solutions. They are the question points where change may not be easy but is most needed. They are impossible to solve alone. As Penny said, "If you really want to fix and solve a wicked problem, you have to have all of the people at the table."

In this 45 minute conversation, Penny discusses community-building as a tool for moving towards equity, a more complex (and true) view of meaningful engagement, the validity of "lurkers," and why slow is fast when it comes to community building.

Want to keep the conversation going? Join Penny and our growing community of Cultivators here.

Share your ideas. Solve problems. Make a difference.

We’re building a community where your voice is heard, solutions are shared, and changemakers around the world can mobilize for change. If you are passionate about change, culture, and innovation, this is the place for you.