Welcome
Turning Forward Together
is a grass roots approach to diversity, care, innovation and leadership - with people, communities and organisations
My name is Julia Wolfson. I work with people, leaders and teams who want to pursue their purpose through bringing together self-awareness and professional development with energising ways of collaborating and building community, in tune with the spirit of the times.
Nowadays, in organisational transformation, personal and professional development are inseparable -
Max Schupbach, Quantum leadership
I am founder and principal of Turning Forward and associates. We assist individuals and groups to discover their inherent solutions for improving conditions with and for people in diverse, often marginalised situations, and building mutually supportive relationships and social arrangements. The Transform and Empower Program offers an interdisciplinary learning path towards self actualisation and community building among people of diverse abilities, life situations and ways of communicating.
I have been active in the field of social care, inclusion and disability for 30 years in diverse situations: in Australia, Israel, New Zealand, Botswana, South Africa, Norway, UK , Canada and USA. My involvement in educational institutes and in self-powered, self healing communities that include people in marginalised situations, has led to the Transform and Empower approach.
Many leaders and practitioners are working hard to implement inspiring ideals, plans and dreams, and at the same time often feel drained and confused by complex tensions, needs, fears, drives, and interests within themselves, with colleagues, in the work environment and in the sway of social, political and global realities.
Individual awareness and individuation cannot be separated from community awareness and the solution to social issues. Consciousness means being aware of the various parts of yourself as an interacting part of a larger community -
Arnold Mindell
These experiences seem to be consistently present for people in places of seeming peace and plenty as well as those living with poverty, civil and global conflict, and epidemics. The Transform and Empower way to self-leadership, collaboration and community development offers an awareness approach and practical methods for this contemporary challenge.
History is the story of the struggle between difference and sameness, diversity and oneness - Arnold Mindell
I am a qualified social ecologist and use a Worldwork approach to development, community building and problem solving. The way forward in any situation can become clearer when those involved and affected focus on what is most important to them. Signposts emerge and become visible: inner signposts, group signals as well as signs of the times. This can awaken discovery of inherent solutions: new directions, priorities, opportunities and partnerships, with greater ease and energy for the journey. It is like moving with the help of the wind behind you to get where you want to go.
Phenomenology brings to light what is there but at first may be hidden -
Henri Bortoft
These days we are inundated with news of many problems that face us as nations, people, communities and globally. And yet paradoxically I meet people everywhere who are thriving in their situation - however challenging - gaining energy and direction from a sense of being with the right people, in the right spot and at the right time.
I am inspired and encouraged by people in many parts of the world who care for each other, for their surroundings and seem to release a zest for life, problem solving, connectedness, generosity and effectiveness. Turning Forward joins this groundswell of civil society.
The world is here to help us become our entire selves, and we are here to help the world become whole -
Arnold Mindell, on Deep Democracy
I am thankful to many people whose influence is present in Turning Forward...
- Individuals with complex needs who have helped me learn, to love and to stay close to values that are important to me
- Friends and companions for the journey
- Teachers both ancient and contemporary who are active at frontiers of social science, process science and spiritual science. These remarkable world citizens share a love of people, the earth and the universe. Each in a unique way inspires and supports my learning, my practice and my ability to dream.
Turning Foward colleagues are keen learners, fully engaged in our professional fields and organisations. We collaborate internationally in diverse projects. We also design and deliver accredited programs tailored to practitioners, leaders and organisations in diverse cultural settings.
My home and international springboard is in Canberra, Australia. The purpose of this website is to keep in touch with colleagues, clients, teachers and friends around the world and to make it easy for you to access our calendar, information, articles and resources related to the work of Turning Forward and our networks. Welcome, and thank you for visiting. We would love to hear your ideas for this site too. Click here to comment or make a request
Turning Myself Forward
About this book
This book examines current challenges and opportunities that many groups and organisations are working with, using the backdrop of 21st century themes: power and freedom, individuation and collectivity, personal and global awareness, social justice and spiritual consciousness. I have drawn on experiences from my childhood and in Camphill communities, and illuminated them with contributions from contemporary thinkers who have helped me weave threads of my story within a larger worldview and purpose.