A Wave of Hope: the Global Community Gathers to Reimagine and Build the Future

On Monday 13 October 2025, a powerful wave of hope, connection, and stubborn optimism swept across the globe as people gathered online for the international screening and forum of HOPE: The Series. The event, focused on Episode 2: "The Power of Two Words," featured a vibrant discussion with Javier Peña (founder of HOPE), Filipa Pimentel (member of TNi), and Rob Hopkins (co-founder of the Transition Movement, and featured on the episode), igniting a conversation about how to cultivate hope and drive tangible change in a world facing complex challenges.

The session was a digital campfire where a global community shared stories, fears, and their sources of resilience.

The fuel of hope: from local gardens to political fire

After watching the episode, the event kicked off with a simple but profound question: What gives you hope today?

The answers, flowing from both the panel and the lively Zoom chat, painted a mosaic of inspiration:

• Javier Peña, found hope in the "army of pioneers" demonstrating regenerative solutions and the latest science showing we can cool regions and fix the water cycle "not in decades, but in years."
• Filipa Pimentel pointed to the "resonant energy" of shared purpose and the power of stories that show "the future is already here, it is just not evenly distributed."
• Rob Hopkins highlighted the re-emergence of hope in politics, celebrating the new UK Green Party leader Zac Polanski for "talking about hope and reimagining things" which has "caught fire with people... especially young people."

The audience’s chat was a torrent of hope-filled testimony. Participants shared hope in "collaboration, community," "my teenage son's resilience," "the feeling of belonging to this movement," and the "huge inner shifts in humans." Mads, from Denmark, beautifully likened the gathering to a "fungi-network," with "ideas and hope flowing both ways."

This collective exercise set the tone for a deep dive into the mechanics of hope and action.

From what is to what if: the ingredients for change

The panel explored what makes transition initiatives and projects, in a broader sense, successful. Javier identified courage, stubborn optimism and persistence as the common thread among pioneers who move mountains. Rob expanded on this, distinguishing between passive hope and active hope, which he called "an axe you break down doors with in an emergency". He argued that fascism feeds on hopelessness, and the antidote is "telling compelling, thrilling, delicious stories about how the future could be", ones people can connect with.

When asked about Transition's unique role in the climate action landscape, Filipa emphasized its holistic, "mycelial" nature. "It is difficult to draw a membrane around the movement," she said, highlighting its power as a global lab of connected communities creating diverse, practical stories of change. She stressed the importance of active hope, empathy, and a crucial ingredient: If it's not fun, it's not transition.

Making the alternative irresistible

A central theme was how to make regenerative alternatives feel not just inspiring, but viable and necessary. The panel agreed on a multi-pronged approach:

1. Paint a compelling vision: Javier urged the need to "draw a clear vision of the future we can actually achieve," moving beyond abstract ideas to concrete, win-win solutions that dissolve polarization.
2. Connect the dots: Rob advocated for a holistic policy approach, where cycling infrastructure or local currencies are seen as part of a "citywide mental health strategy" instead of isolated actions. He championed the need to "help people fall in love with the future" and "cultivate longing," learning from and engaging with artists and poets.
3. Build a mycelial network: Filipa called for changing the perception of reality by telling interconnected stories at all levels. "We need to learn how to connect as mycelium... to support each other like that", making stories of hope feel "normal and possible."

Answering the call: the audience weighs in

The Q&A session revealed the pressing concerns and insights of the global community.

• On rebuilding imagination: When asked how to rebuild imaginative "muscles" in target-driven workplaces, Rob pointed to the work of Moral Imaginations and the UN Global Pulse, emphasizing that "imagination needs space." Filipa shared her success in embedding creative processes into organizations and schools, proving that imagination is "super productive".
• On beating the algorithms: Javier shared his secret to reaching over a billion views: use plain, non-divisive language, focus on tangible benefits, and showcase positive examples. This approach, he said, bypasses ideological barriers and generates widespread excitement.
• On local vs. political action: In a heartfelt exchange, participants wondered if local action was enough. Rob and Filipa powerfully argued for a "yes, and" approach. "We have to go where our energy feels drawn," said Rob, noting that a local project in Liège has now inspired six other cities. Changemakers are needed on all levels and spheres of action!

Filipa then brought the house down with a stunning story of applying Transition principles to EU lobbying. Years ago, she organized a two-day immersion for EU officials in local transition initiatives. The result? "the translators came to me to ask what happened here, because half of the members were crying". One conservative employer representative concluded "It is really small... but it might be the only thing that works". This human-centered "unlobbying" led to the Transition Network being invited back as trusted advisors, not just lobbyists.

A charge to carry forward

As the event closed, the feeling was not one of an ending, but a beginning. The chat filled with heartfelt thanks, with participant Leonie capturing the mood perfectly: "Hope battery recharged."

The event made it clear that the revolution of hope is not a single event but a continuous, connected effort. It’s fueled by the courage to ask "What if?", the persistence to start small, and the wisdom to connect like mycelium, weaving a global tapestry of regeneration that is already underway.

The conversation continues on the Transition Platform, we want to hear your voice! Join the Platform here

To watch the full HOPE Series visit hopelaserie.com

*We have used AI responsibly to craft this article.