Futures in Draft has been created by Storythings in collaboration with the Joseph Rowntree Foundation to support increased visibility and exploration of alternative futures work.
It is a platform for stories that inspire people and movements to imagine and build futures that transform our reality. We hope these stories will encourage you to be curious, take action, and find pathways into the ongoing work that is already changing our world.
Futures in Draft is intended to be dynamic as it evolves alongside a growing ecosystem. Our hope is that Futures in Draft can serve as a place for groups to come together and inspire people to collaborate, strengthen their efforts, and ensure that their movements are sustained over time.
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To find out more about our process and how we got here, you can also read this article by Anjali Ramachandran.
Mission
We are in times of transition where new opportunities and challenges are emerging all around us. As we face complex global crises — such as technological change, climate crises, ongoing genocides, the rise of far-right ideologies and increasing polarisation— the cracks are showing the ways in which our systems are failing us and are no longer fit for purpose.
Our current systems are extracting from many to benefit the few, disproportionately impacting people of colour and economically disadvantaged communities. This moment asks us to reimagine, rebuild and repurpose our systems in support of collective liberation.
The path forward is already being paved by the cultural, community, and movement leaders who have long been doing this work. These leaders, often from the communities most affected, are the true experts in building a better world.
Learning from successful movements in the past, we know that this work requires more visibility, collaboration, and long-term support and investment to scale and thrive. Groups and practitioners in this space are calling for increased connections and stronger network spaces in an increasingly siloed ecosystem. The creation of Futures in Draft was inspired by this.
Futures in Draft will be rooted in anti-racism, intersectionality, anti-imperialism and decolonisation. Every step of the process, from design to publication, will be shaped by the perspectives and experiences of a diverse advisory council and focus group, ensuring that the project remains grounded in the needs and aspirations of those who are most affected by these systemic shifts.
We’re here to support work that’s already happening, amplify the voices that need to be heard, and showcase the strategies, voices and visions that are building a more just and equitable future.
Team
From Storythings: Anjali Ramachandran, Emily Bromfield, Chris Mitchell, Darren Garrett, Maya M, Anubhuti Kumar, Isabella Pearce
From the Joseph Rowntree Foundation: Sophia Parker, Tash Johnson, Frank Soodeen, Daniel Wigglesworth, Martyn Hall, Helen Adams
Design: Tom Kentell and Naomi Gennery