March 2026

Through this network of trained futurists, we hope to make strategic foresight

part of the DNA of Northeast Wisconsin, driving our preferred

futures rather than simply reacting to what happens.

Thank you, Green Bay!

Many of our Envision Greater Green Bay Foresight Workshop graduates attended World Future's Day 2026 at the Oneida Hotel and Casino on Friday, February 27. Garry Golden, our Foresight Workshop facilitator, was presenter for the morning. Garry provided two presentations on the basics of strategic foresight analysis and AI in the vital work of futuring. The slide deck for his presentations can be found on the Envision Greater Green Bay homepage. Garry then facilitated a process of discussion and creative design with the trend cards that were developed by the five Signals Teams of Envision Greater Green Bay. 

Leah Sciabarrasi, the Associate Dean of the School of Business for Excelsior University in Buffalo, New York, attended World Future's Day 2026 and wrote about her experience of the weekend here in our fine community. It was great to have an "outside perspective" of the Greater Green Bay Area, one that Envision Greater Green Bay is hoping to guide into the future as a community of choice. 

Thank you, Green Bay!

By Leah Sciabarrasi



At a time of year when most northeasterners are booking flights to Florida, I decided to fly straight into the heart of winter - Green Bay, Wisconsin. I was fortunate enough to meet you all at World Futures Day, hosted by Envision Greater Green Bay. What awaited me was anything but a cold welcome. The magnificent few days I spent in your great city were rewarding, fulfilling, and validating of my own ideas.

Last year, I rekindled a longtime interest: tracking signals - the early indicators that hint at where the world is heading and how those shifts might shape the places we call home. My daily personal practice evolved into concentrating my scanning on the signals most likely to shape my hometown: Buffalo, NY. I recognized that my city could benefit from a dedicated foresight initiative, which I see as a real gap in our community.

As I began researching existing initiatives and interviewing people in the futures community, one individual, futurist Jonathan Brill, led me to Envision Greater Green Bay. EGGB is a model that felt remarkably close to what I had been dreaming of for Buffalo. I reached out immediately. What followed was a rich, hour-long conversation with Tony and Randy. continue reading here

World Futures Day 2026 Trend Cards

For the conclusion of World Future's Day 2026, Garry Golden facilitated an interactive table process involving both discussion and a creation design process. The subject of the discussions and process were the 15 trend cards that have been developed over this past year by our five Signals Teams: Livable Neighborhoods, Upward Mobility, Health and Wellness, Leading Edge Economy, and Arts, Culture and Entertainment--five of the dimensions that make up a community of choice.

Table discussions ensued about the trends found on the various cards. Then, participants were instructed to create an image that reflected the information on the trend card. Garry Golden then sent a few of these images through a Chat GPT process in order to have AI design creative images from the sketches that were created. Here is just one example of the work that was completed. All images from this process will be posted on the Envision Greater Green Bay website in the upcoming weeks. Stay tuned!

A New Dawn for the Foresight Network

This month Envision Greater Green Bay moves boldly into the future with our Foresight Network of workshop graduates by providing an online community opportunity. The Foresight Network is being initiated with a pilot group of 24 people, all Foresight Workshop graduates. Kelly Nutty, a Foresight Workshop graduate and former Development Director at Foundations Health and Wholeness, now living in Raleigh, North Carolina, is the facilitator of the Foresight Network. This pilot offering of the Foresight Network online community will begin on March 16 and conclude on June 1. Then, taking what we learn from the pilot, all Foresight Network members (that's you!) will have the opportunity to engage in the connections offered by the network in the fall. 

Todd Nilson, Community and Digital Workplace Strategist for Clocktower Advisors and currently residing in Two Rivers, Wisconsin, is serving as the consultant on the Foresight Network online community process for Envision Greater Green Bay. He recently reflected upon the importance of engaging in online community relationships. 



Why Your Organization Needs More than a Network -

And What to do About It

by Todd Nilson, Clocktower Advisors

There's a question I get asked more and more often by organizational leaders, association executives, and regional development professionals: "We have a newsletter. We have a LinkedIn page. We host events. Isn't that enough?"

I understand why they ask. Those things look like community. But here's what I've learned from years of helping organizations build digital spaces that actually work: a network and a community are two very different things — and confusing them may be the most costly mistake a mission-driven organization can make right now.

Why Online Community Relevance Matters Now More Than Ever continue reading here

For World Futures Day 2026, the five Envision Greater Green Bay Signals Teams created 15 trend cards that were used in a table discussion and design process to conclude the day. Here is one sample from the Leading Edge Economy Signals Team for you to consider. 

PUSH Factors: What related signals of change, data points, social behaviors, policies, technologies or anecdotes reinforce the assumptions of this trend? How could these factors make this signal grow faster or affect more people?

PULL Factors: What related signals of change, countertrends, data or anecdotes challenge assumptions from this trend? How might we be overestimating its impact?

• Join a Signals Team.

• Follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn



• Yes, you are welcome to Donate to Envision.