Introducing Refract, the PRISM newsletter

9 May

Reflections on the art of social change

The first quarter of a new year, the time of fresh starts, is certainly that for us. Fresh newsletter, fresh website, fresh focus. While we’ve being working as PRISM for sometime, 2025 has been the beginning of the next chapter of growth and we can’t wait to share with you the new offerings and ways to work with us - one of which is this newsletter.

Each issue we will share a tidbit from our recent work, what we’ve been reflecting on, and what we see emerging in the praxis of social change making.

In this issue:

The Announcement - Jo’s podcast exploring the role of meaningful philanthropy through Patagonia’s announcement that the Earth would be their only shareholder.
Questions that work - May’s framework for exploring challenges with open and curious questions
Two new action learning sets are now open, applications
A collection of tools and reflections for navigating uncertain times, personally and professionally

We hope this will be a useful, affirming and thought-provoking read. We welcome any reflections on it.

May and Jo

What we’ve been working on

The Announcement

Two years ago, PRISM Co-Founder, Jo Taylor, walked the coast of Gozo island, and with her brother and together conceived an idea for a podcast, that would explore the nuances of capitalism and philanthropy, and their role in solving the polycrises - through the lens of Patagonia's announcement that the Earth would be their only shareholder.

The Announcement is available for listening here.

Bringing to bear her 20+ years experience in the philanthropic world, Jo (and her guests’) wisdom shines as they explore the good, bad and challenging about what ‘the announcement’ really means and whether it heralds meaningful change.

The questions that work

What happens when you put curiosity before answers? This is question at the heart of an ‘action learning’ practise. PRISM Co-Founder May shares her experience facilitating Action Learning Sets around the globe, to help leaders build this skill, which feels uncomfortable at first but consistently yields powerful insights.

In this blog, May also shares her framework of five question types you can use to explore any challenge with open and curious questions. Whether you're leading a team, navigating complex systems, or simply seeking deeper insights in your work, this piece offers both inspiration and practical tools for harnessing the power of thoughtful questioning

We are currently taking applications to join our two new Action Learning Sets, find out more and apply for:

What’s emerging

Tools to navigate uncertainty

Each month we share some of the most interesting and thought-provoking reading we’ve done in recent weeks.

As we steer into the most turbulent economic and geopolitical tides in recent history, this month’s reads have focused on techniques for navigating uncertainity, both personally and in our work spaces. We’ve loved:

Alicia McKay’s ‘starter pack’ to clarify your strategy (clear intention and committed execution) in the face of overwhelm. We particularly like the bonus technique!

Creating the Future’s powerful approach to managing uncertainity personally, by engaging your ‘future self’

Enablers for Change’s guidance on using a cynefin framework to solve problems. Cynefin helps you diagnose your issue as clear, complicated, complex, chaotic or confusion, then provides an approach to address each different type of problem.

Lisa Denney’s Silver Linings Playbook for the aid sector in 2025, published in Devpolicy Blog, which has inspired us to think about how, while the dismantling of institutions and funding for important work across multiple sectors is frightening, it also makes space for remaking and reimagining and building a better path forward.

Jessica Desmond

Introducing Refract, the PRISM newsletter

The Announcement

The questions that work

Tools to navigate uncertainty

From Competition to Collaboration: A New Mindset for Philanthropy

Finding outcomes, understanding progress