Greetings from Sweden! Here, we have recently celebrated Midsummer, a festive occasion that marks the summer solstice. Midsummer signifies a time for reflection and embracing the vibrant energy of this season. At this high point of the year, we are thrilled to share what we have been up to, including the launch of our brand new website! Visit tracesdreams.com to explore our resources, stay updated with our latest podcasts and projects, and connect with our community.

At Traces&Dreams we seek to join the dots and make sense of our human experience in order to contribute to a sustainable and equitable world. We think that the stories we hear and tell influence our future, and that by creating narratives based on deeper issues and comprehensive thinking, we can build a better world. Our transdisciplinary approach breaks down academic silos and fosters meaningful change by connecting diverse perspectives. We emphasize the importance of dialogue, learning from one another, and foregrounding different types of knowledge to imagine inclusive futures. We aim to activate knowledge and amplify the whispers of a new story for innovation and transformation through storytelling, narrative shaping, and humanistic communications.

A key part of our vision is Future Narratives, a methodology which combines an understanding of narratives at personal, communal and societal levels with Futures Literacy, the capacity to analyse the frames we use to predict the future. Earlier this year, we held the final workshop of our first Future Narratives Erasmus+ project, bringing youth workers and young people from across Europe to Sollentuna, Sweden. There, young people were encouraged to think critically and reflect on their future goals, dreams and fears, and the paths they could take to reach the futures they desire. Discover some highlights from the week here. All those involved with the project credited its power in enabling young people to become authors of their own stories, and we are excited to plan the future of Future Narratives in the second half of 2023.

Our ongoing and upcoming projects are connected through a belief in the power of narrative to activate change. We work with researchers, innovators and organizations dedicated to social and cultural impact.  We provide theoretical and methodological support for educational organizations on Media and Information Literacy, using Theory of Knowledge to enhance high school students’ capacity to decode the media narratives that surround them. For youth organizations in island communities, we take an ecocritical approach to cultural heritage, promoting sustainability and intergenerational connection. New forms of classical music performance are championed through our work with MERITA, which connects the new generation of string quartets with sites of European cultural heritage. We are always eager to learn about new projects and initiatives working towards transformation and innovation – get in touch with us to share your dreams and consider how we might work together.

As part of our commitment to knowledge dissemination, we invite you to explore FutureFramed.TV, our transformative digital library for curious minds, holistic thinkers, and futures makers. It provides a range of video and audio content that sparks imagination and challenges conventional thinking. FutureFramed.TV also serves as our collective podcast, featuring discussions with researchers, innovators, and change-makers who transcend disciplinary boundaries. For example, in the link below listen to Argenitian author and sociologist Dr. Mariana Heredia in conversation with Dr. Alice Krozer as they question the concept of the 99% vs the 1%. What if this antagonism is not helpful in leading us to a more egalitarian and just society? Such insightful discussions deepen our understanding of present trends and help us collectively reimagine equal and sustainable futures.

We hope this newsletter inspires you to engage with the power of narratives and join us in shaping a better future, and as summer unfolds, extend our warmest greetings for a joy-filled season. May it be a time of relaxation, exploration, and renewed inspiration. Thank you for joining us on this exciting journey of exploring narratives, connecting knowledge, and driving change. Stay tuned for future editions as we work together for a wiser and more sustainable future.

Wishing you a delightful summer ahead!

Warm regards,
The Traces&Dreams Team