The Oasis
The Oasis is an online space and organizing infrastructure for those who want to take action in alignment with the Second Renaissance. Like an island of water and growth in a desert landscape, The Oasis is a gathering point, a growing settlement, and a staging ground for pilgrims and caravans from all across the land.
The Oasis launched April 2025 and meets every Tuesday for 90 minutes starting at 9am Pacific, Noon Eastern, 6pm Central Europe time, as listed on the events calendar. Oasis calls combine being (interpersonal connection and relational practices) with building (lightweight organizing workspaces for projects), convening with dispersing, the cathedral with the bazaar.
Tents at The Oasis
An Oasis Tent is where community meets project for catalyzing energy. Tents are self-organized and autonomously run by their leaders, and set a cadence between weekly and monthly for how often they are "open" in the space.
As of launch, five tents already exist (see below) and more are welcome, in this commons lightly curated for alignment with Second Renaissance principles.
A News Tent – Seeds of a Second Renaissance, where ideas and news are shared.
A Field Building Tent – connecting this work to wider networks, initiatives, and communities.
A Research & Sensemaking Tent – for those mapping the terrain, inquiring into deeper patterns and developing a knowledge commons.
An Art Tent – for those creating art to explore and share the vision of a Second Renaissance.
A GiveWiser Tent – supporting wise giving aligned with the Second Renaissance spirit.
More details (schedules, links, etc) will emerge soon. (What follows is placeholder text - trust the vibes but not the details)
🔬 1. Research & Sensemaking Tent
Purpose: Explore ideas, conduct inquiry, and make sense of the evolving cultural landscape.
Regular Activity: Weekly research calls on Friday at 5pm European
Short presentation or talk by a participant
Group discussion or, occasionally, open-format inquiry
Ways to Participate:
Join calls to listen and discuss
Offer to give a talk
Contribute to topic curation or write-ups
Commitment: Medium. Weekly presence encouraged; deeper involvement for presenters or coordinators.
🌍 2. Field Building Tent
Purpose: Build the wider field, cultivating connections with aligned communities, institutions, and networks.
Regular Activity: Bi-monthly field-building meeting and ad hoc working sessions and meetings
Ways to Participate:
Help identify relevant communities or initiatives
Represent the Oasis in external calls or events
Join networking efforts
Commitment: Flexible. Project-based or relational depending on interest.
📰 3. News Tent – “Seeds of a Second Renaissance”
Purpose: Gather and share updates, ideas, and stories from the ecosystem.
Regular Activity:
Monthly newsletter publication
Ongoing collection of content and updates
Ways to Participate:
Join the WhatsApp group for newsletter contributions
Act as a “mini-journalist” and share updates
Help with editing, layout, or dissemination
Commitment: Light. Contribute content or help occasionally as needed.
💎 4. Give Wiser Tent
Purpose: Explore and experiment with wise giving aligned to Second Renaissance values.
Regular Activity:
Monthly calls (in development) to share learnings and recommendations
Ongoing micro-experiments and pledges
Ways to Participate:
Take the GiveWiser pledge
Make or suggest a giving recommendation
Join monthly learning calls (when open)
Commitment: Light to medium. Some current experiments are closed; others open to contributors.
🎨 5. Art Tent
Purpose: Explore and showcase artistic projects that embody or resonate with the Second Renaissance spirit.
Regular Activity: Monthly art call
Presentations of artistic work, either original or discovered
Emphasis on alignment with the Art of the Second Renaissance Manifesto
Ways to Participate:
Attend calls and engage in discussion
After attending once or twice, propose to present your own or others’ work
Help curate or co-host future sessions
Commitment: Light. Open to all; deeper engagement possible through presentation or hosting.