Our current society model, also referred to as “the system”, consists of functional silos that interact on the basis of self interest and financial dependence, within a mindset of financial growth. Regional governance is based on facilitating this model while attending any negative consequences through policy making, regulations, taxes and bureaucracy. Issues are seen as a cost, covered by taxes and debt while our basic needs are treated as consumable and speculative commodities, not as shared responsibilities.

The increased needs for financial means has diverted from care and regenerative productivity into speculation around shortages, causing large areas of poverty, institutional financial tunnel visions and massive citizen dependence on financial means, deprived of ways to be self sustaining while resident in every growing cities. Also the environmental issues, where resources are extracted from (the extraction economy) in a seemly unlimited way, are reaching a point of no natural recovery.

It is hard to pinpoint a sole responsible for the existential values that are important for our integral long term sustainable existence as a species, let alone our wellness. These essential values all seem to be in severe jeopardy. The only way to address this is by taking our responsibility together, with all silos engaged. Interaction not based on their money dependence or hierarchical interests but by contributing to these shared essentials. But who is supposed to do the engagement work where equality is leading among all islands of engagement? If any of the silos does this, the engagement develops according the DNA of that silo, not the core essential human values.

That is where the STIR foundation moved in as a research foundation about human behavior around creating perspectives for its own sustainable existence. STIR started to invite the silos into coalitions that restore and sustain prioritized essential human values at regional scale. STIR researches the way the different old silos react to this invitation, seen from their old comfort zone, their self interests, their expertise and their possible presence in the center of the shared commitment. Below we see one of such prioritized platforms of engagement, called AiREAS. It is about restoring and protection our health and health environment together.

The picture above may lead to the confusion that AiREAS is receiving the responsibilities of the silos in a delegated way, as a separate institutions. This is definitely not the case. AiREAS is a partnership organization, with a purpose and meaning. Each partner is asked to carry their own responsibility and gather in AiREAS to connect with each other and strengthen each other’s commitment by developing programs together. STIR chairs the AiREAS interaction in a contextual way, safeguarding the contextual essence and commitment while doing the project management in the multidisciplinary environment. Redrawing the picture we arrive at this. The bubbles of each start overlapping when accepting the invitation.

There where all silos meet and overlap, the open space of co-creation and integration appears. It is developed under guidance of AiREAS and STIR in order to assure the framework in which the co-creation takes place. The further away one stands from the central overlap the more one does things oneself, or allows other traditional (self)interests to play a role in the commitment. It is up to the participants themselves to decide where to stand in the picture. Often it starts shyly self centered somewhere in the outer boundary, pinpointing responsibilities to others while protecting their self interests. But gradually one gets to taste the value of co-creation and regeneration, also for themselves. Then the move to the center and the joy of the meaningful positive “can do” energy in the community is a fact.

The rules in the converging center are different than in the outer perimeter of each silo itself. In the center the results count, not just the discussion or intention, including the impact driven contribution of each of the participants (members). The center is based on absolute equality, respect and trust among the participants, without hierarchical power positions, impositions or limitations. It is the commitment to achieve regenerative health and a healthy environment that counts and the concrete actions that are designed to get there in an integrated way. STIR pulls the zipper towards integration until integration becomes a valued position for refueling the short and long term successes of each of the participants. Meanwhile the region is and stays healthy and with an unpolluted environment.