Dear Reader,


My dad passed away this spring. I found comfort being in nature, seeing how each new leaf has its short time in the sun, but the symphony of life around us goes on, changed in some small way.


My dad taught me to question deeply and make things spontaneously (more here). When I see those practices in my daughters and in this work, I feel part of that cycle.


As I share new events, resources, and stories this season, I'm highlighting how one person’s contribution leads to another. So please reach out with your stories and ideas!


To human-centered cycles (and springing into summer!),

Ela Ben-Ur, Founder of innovatorscompass.org



Join A New Event

SXSW EDU ’23 was a hit! Thanks to Kim Zajac for letting me pull her in, and in turn getting me to (finally!) head to ISTE in Philadelphia next week for the sessions below. Reach out if you’re there!

June 26-27, Philadlephia, PA

Explore Events!
Try A New Resource

Kim also connected us to the LinkedUp podcast, where you can watch or listen to Kim, Manuel, and me recap our SXSW EDU 2023 session!

Danielle Lake inspired me to make bold new graphics for boards her Design Forge attendees posted reflACTIONS on after each session—taking Kara Harringtons's icons to a new scale!


They're under "Signs & Slides" on the website!

Those new graphics livened up the new Compass template for Google Forms, inspired when the great folks at Unstuck Minds reached out to co-design an interactive keynote.

More Resources!

Enjoy a New Story

Kim Zajac is a speech and language pathologist. She's helped create Compass tools like these postcards to help students of all ages build their empathy for characters in books, for each other, and for themselves. At SXSW EDU she shared how one of her students worked through panic in a new social situation: she took a time-out in her car, spotted her Compass sticker there, and walked herself through it.


Kim is an organizer of the MassCUE conference, and invited me and...

...Manjula Karamcheti, my earlier SXSW edu copresenter, who shared how she'd used the Compass as a guidance counselor coaching students and families; a committee chair and community leader; and as a teacher educator enabling graduate students to design and reflect on their teaching.

Most recently, Manjula launched a Designing for Equity, Justice and Innovation in Education program with her wonderful colleagues at the University of Kansas, using Innovators' Compass as a central tool for participants to explore their practices...and, again, themselves.


Manjula gave a workshop recently and found Jamie Saponaro, who just recorded the LinkedUp podcast with Kim and me, was in her audience! I love unexpected Compass connections!

YOUR stories move this work forward—please share them by email or tweet!

And yes, I still have UNSTICKers!
Check out this 2-minute intro video (or a picture book/video for kids):
innovatorscompass.org
Please reach out!
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