@article{Romero Keith_2022, title={The MAPA Social Innovation Lab: Working at the Intersection of Theory U and Freirean Pedagogy}, volume={2}, url={https://jabsc.org/index.php/jabsc/article/view/3379}, DOI={10.47061/jabsc.v2i1.3379}, abstractNote={<div> <div> <div>The purpose of this commentary is to invigorate the theoretical approach used by the MAPA Social Innovation Lab in its effort to elaborate a gender equality narrative for the 21st century.   To this end, I examined the intersection of Otto Scharmer’s Theory U with the main postulates of Paulo Freire’s critical pedagogical method, as reflected in the MAPA Social Innovation Lab process. The discussion passes through three axes: the construction of collective consciousness, the role of culture, and the theory-praxis dilemma for social transformation.  I make the case that Scharmer (Thoery U) and Freire agree that the search for authentic or generative consciousness is an indispensable step in the reshaping of society.  Freire offers a comprehensive methodology for the understanding of culture and social transformation which can been seen as complementary to Scharmer’s <em>co-sensing.</em> Taken together they address the issue of "historical viability". The aim of these reflections on the intersection of Theory U and Freire is that they will nurture MAPA´s—and other social innovation labs’—action research, political activism, and praxis towards a vigorous gender narrative for the 21st century. </div> </div> </div>}, number={1}, journal={Journal of Awareness-Based Systems Change}, author={Romero Keith, Jose}, year={2022}, month={May}, pages={119–125} }