Jonelle Simunich is the co-founder of [y]our 2040, a member-based organization bringing together people who are passionate about and committed to making the world a better place - one step at a time. [y]our 2040 works to accelerate the transition to a regenerative future.
When did you realize you wanted to be a social entrepreneur? How did you define your purpose?
My purpose is to support progress, innovation, and life in and around cities, to evolve a better understanding of the future, and transition towards socially and environmentally positive outcomes for people, places, and the planet. My personal journey has led me from designing spaces for people (architecture) to places for communities (urban planning), to futures with collaboration (foresight), and now to influencing systems change and action towards a vision I believe is possible, a world where all living beings thrive. It became clear to me that I needed to become an entrepreneur when I realized that corporations and governments could not enact the type of change I wanted to see and be a part of.
What was your first project? What were your lessons learned?
[y]our goal is to engage global communities around positive futures and change. We began by hosting a gathering of 100 people. The plan was to start with one and grow semi-organically, to host a minimum of one each year until 2040. We delivered an impactful - and for me, life-changing - gathering of diverse ideas, unique perspectives, and broad personalities to set the standard for what we would build. The key for me has been to enjoy the journey. Sometimes change comes fast, and sometimes it comes slow. Having a plan and a co-founder makes the journey more enjoyable.
Describe your journey? Smooth sailing or a roller coaster ride?
I’ve had quite a full life so far, lived in three countries, had four careers (and counting), and met amazing people along the way. Looking back there is a clear narrative of how I got here, and yet, the journey itself was not always smooth. Starting [y]our 2040 has been my biggest challenge yet. I quit my stable job, to move to a country where I did not speak the language and knew one person (my co-founder). I fully believe in our mission to support the transformation of communities through collective ideation, collaborative action, and instilling a belief in the possible.
What are you building right now? What is your ambition?
[y]our ambitions are big. We will engage 25 million people in 25+ countries by 2040 to collectively imagine, engage, and collaborate around positive futures. The goal is to create, guide, and scale [y]our movement to include as many diverse populations as possible; to expand as the network of networks, and ultimately to inspire and influence change at a global scale. We will do this by continuing and strengthening the presence of our annual gathering, expanding into other regions, and broadening our scope to shape content, knowledge, and ideas that can relate to everyone.
How can everyone support you?
We would love your support to help us thrive. As we know a movement, an idea, or an action is only as good as the people and passion behind it.
1) Join our community +/or a gathering
2) Connect with us and connect us to others (we are still fundraising too)
3) Spread ideas for a positive future The future is ours. It is mine, and it is yours. We create it together, every day by every action we take, through every interaction we have, with each discussion and point of sharing with others.
Do please share your ideas for you never know who might be listening.
If you would like to learn more about [y]our 2040, please visit the website or social media.
