When people work together from a shared point of understanding, we can change our communities — both local and global — for the better. At The Ubuntu Center, we are working to help people understand people. We are building a learning ecosystem bringing together a research and design lab, an interactive museum, and an institute for global leaders.

The Ubuntu Center

dedicated to the
public understanding of humanity.

Our mission is to help people understand people through exploration, inspiration and learning.

Our vision is of a world ready to tackle global problems, create cross-cultural opportunities, and enjoy the diversity of humanity.

We hope you will join us in building the Ubuntu Center.

If you agree that greater cultural awareness and understanding is critical for our future, join us. We have set our initial online fundraising goal at $50,000 which will allow us to kick-off our research and continue the hard work of establishing The Ubuntu Center. Your contribution, of any amount, will not only help our team get started, but will also help us demonstrate that there is a strong community interest for new ways to help people understand people.

Do you remember a moment in your life when you realized that there was a world of people out there that had different ways of thinking, interacting and living? Have you ever wondered what sparked that realization for others? Many have already shared their answers, so click here to explore, enjoy, and share your Global Moment.

The Ubuntu Center will create and lead a new field of education centers dedicated to fostering an authentic exploration of the human experience. Our work will be accomplished by three unique arms: an R&D Lab, a Museum and a Institute.
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A Research & Design Lab
The organization's R&D Lab will be charged with creating cutting edge products and experiences that engage learners in exploring cultural and social topics. The R&D lab is built around a cycle of continuous innovation and design thinking to produce learner focussed, adaptable products and services that are are as engaging as they are effective.

An Inquiry Driven Museum
The organization's flagship museum of contemporary human experience will feature interactive exhibits designed to spark discussions and questions. It will tackle current social and cultural topics while cultivating foundational understanding and developing skills for navigating our shared cultural environment. We hope that you will leave asking yourself: who am I? and who am I in relationship to you?

An Institute for Leaders
Our Institute will bring together big thinkers to solve big problems informed by big data from citizens around the world. You can think of the Institute as a co-workspace and mini-city-state for global leaders. The Institute will provide a space for global summits on large scale social and political problems. Its position within our learning ecosystem will bring leaders a direct line to the people whose lives are affected by the decisions they are discussing.

The world is becoming increasingly interconnected and interdependent, driving the need for understanding each other. Existing as a socially and culturally conversant world citizen is no longer a luxury for a few, it is an imperative for all. We need a place that provides tools & training for educators, scaffolded experiences for learners, and a connection to leaders.
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Globalization is Here to Stay
Over the last 40 years globalization has exploded. According to the Swiss KOF index of globalization information flows have grown by 93% since 1990 alone. Yet despite that, interpersonal contact has grown only an anemic 10%. Clearly there is a need to inspire exchange and understanding.

We aren't Teaching the Basics
In the past hundred years, authentic understanding between people has led to some of the greatest, diplomacy, innovation, and collaboration in human history.

And yet: teachers don’t have the time or tools to work on socio-cultural understanding; parents are expected to pick up the slack, but are on their own for content and technique; there is no way for companies to foster cultural and social competency in their workforce; and leaders are disconnected from the context of the world they impact.

Hope for us All.
In a globalized world, experience is the ultimate currency. Using what we learn through experience with others we can be better neighbors, more innovative workers, and more compassionate leaders. When we better understand each other we unlock the richness of the human experience, we get a sense of the possible, and realize the hope for a better global society.

A toolkit...in an engaging, contemporary package. While others have often taken a top down approach, we build from the ground up. We start with something fundamental, yet interesting. You wouldn’t try to teach mathematics starting with calculus, and you wouldn’t try to get someone to read by handing them a chemistry text. The Ubuntu Center’s approach is to begin with the fundamentals of cultural competency and social literacy, and wraps them in an engaging package. We call this a Toolkit of Understanding, and it is comprised of knowledge, skills and interests.

Click on the icons to the left to learn more.

Knowledge
The Ubuntu Center will help learners to understand the current and historical context of cultures and societies.

Skills
The Ubuntu Center will help learners acquire skills like cross-cultural communication and collaboration, inspiring people to put these skills into action in their communities and around the world.

Interests
The Ubuntu Center’s products and services will spark a life-long interest in exploring humanity.

Team

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Advisors