Briefing No. 33 - The Christmas Edition
What we’re reading
On the Greenwood Place bedside table
"Despite how debased or corrupt we are told humanity is, and how degraded the world has become" says Nick Cave "it just keeps on being beautiful. It can't help it."
Faith, Hope and Carnage draws together several long conversations between Nick Cave and Sean O'Hagan. As a regular reader of Cave's Red Hand Files, Rebecca had been looking forward to this new book and it has not disappointed.
OpenAI
We've been playing (slightly obsessively) in the OpenAI Playground this month. Founded philanthropically, OpenAI's mission is to ensure that artificial general intelligence benefits all of humanity. Imagine if the best AI models were open and free. What would you do with them?
The Earthshot Prize
The Earthshot Prize was designed to find and grow solutions that will repair and regenerate our planet in this decade. We are thrilled to announce that for the second year running, a Greenwood Place partner has won! Huge congratulations to Kheyti, creators of affordable, modular greenhouse kits that help smallholder farmers increase yield and predictability of produce.
Standing At The Edge
Joan Halifax draws on a lifetime of experience in Standing At The Edge. In her wise and generous writing, Halifax explores the gift and the peril of empathy - how to encounter suffering with compassion while staying clear about the distinction between the self and other.
Eight Medical Breakthroughs
The Royal Society of Medicine's animation chronicles some of the remarkable innovations and breakthroughs in medicine that happened during the reign of HM Queen Elizabeth II.
The Dignity Report
The enterprise of development, and work on social problems more generally, has too often failed to fully appreciate, and fully uphold, the dignity of each and every person. We found ourselves nodding a great deal as we read through the Dignity Report's findings and recommendations.
The Little Prince
"What makes the desert beautiful,' said the little prince, 'is that somewhere it hides a well..." - Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince. We're planning to settle down for some wonder and joy this month with the animated film version of Saint-Exupéry's classic story.
AND FINALLY…
We enjoyed the Five Minute Guide to Typography shared with us by our friends at Mighty Ally.
CAN WE HELP YOU?
Greenwood Place provides philanthropy support, advice and execution for a small group of strategic philanthropists. We take an entrepreneurial approach to tackling tough social and environmental problems. We work closely with our clients to find the places where they can make most difference, we support their learning and we partner with them to achieve real, lasting change.
The Greenwood is the place in Shakespeare's plays where characters go to grow, change and learn.