Inaugural Collapse-Aware Meetup
Future ➜ The ways of living we might create together - by choice or by necessity.
Fracture ➜ The ecological, economic, and social crises already unfolding, and the deeper ruptures that may yet emerge.
Philadelphia ➜ The place we call home
To be collapse aware is to live with the sense that something about the way we live is coming to an end. And then to ask the next obvious question head on: If the incrementalist approach of our existing political and economic structures is not up to the task of improving things — climate, society, inequality, injustice — what comes next?
- Rojo Spinks, How I became 'collapse aware'
Event Description:
Future, Fracture, Philadelphia is a local meetup for Philadelphians who are - or are becoming - collapse-aware, from elders concerned about the trajectory of the world to young adults figuring out how to navigate this troubling paradigm. It's a space to connect, speak candidly, and reflect on the polycrisis - ecological breakdown, energy scarcity, rising geopolitical instability, increasing economic inequality, and other interconnected pressures - while exploring how we might respond to the increasingly tenuous reality unfolding here at home.
This is not a prepper meetup or a techno-utopian think tank. The vibe we're aiming for is one of post-doom and deep adaptation: grounded, reflective, compassionate, and focused on what we can do, however small, in response to failing political, ecological, and other related systems. We'll gather to help each other make sense of collapse dynamics, provide mutual support, and explore how our city and communities might adapt, resist harm, and implement resilient, alternative systems in the face of systemic breakdown.
Come connect with others who feel the fractures and want to explore practical ways to respond to our global predicament and do what we can to meet the challenges facing - and soon to face - our world.
Parents/caregivers and their children are welcome to attend.
Location & Amenities:
This meetup will take place at Gather Food Hall, located directly across from 30th Street Station at the corner of 30th & Market Street. It is accessible via all forms of public transit. Gather offers six local food vendors and a full bar, serving a variety of global flavors in a lively, contemporary setting.
Getting There:
How to travel to 30th Street Station via public transit. From the station, walk 1-2 blocks East along Market St. The venue is located on the left side of the building with a large "SCHULYKILL YARDS" sign on top.
Accessibility:
The venue for this meetup is fully wheelchair accessible, bathrooms included. To get to the entrance of the venue, there is a slight ramp from the sidewalk. No steps are required. There are no steps once inside the venue. For any questions, accommodations, or tailored assistance, please call the venue at +1 267-222-4330 or email at [email protected].
Resources for Mental Well-Being:
Struggling with collapse-awareness? You're not alone. These resources may help. Choose 1 to engage with for a week. You can always come back to this list:
- Good Grief Network
- Deep Adaptation Guidance | Navigate collapse, with help
- Surviving the Future
- The Work That Reconnects Network
- ActiveHope.Training
- Dark Optimism - Purpose in times of collapse
- Climate Cafes | Climate Psychology Alliance of North America
- Climate Psychologists
- COVID-Conscious Therapist Directory
- Death Cafe Philadelphia and Greater Philadelphia
About Future, Fracture, Philadelphia:
Future, Fracture, Philadelphia (FFP) is an experimental, volunteer-stewarded initiative created by Quinn McHugh, a resident of West Philly. After becoming collapse-aware in 2025, Quinn spent several difficult months grappling with the collective grief that followed. This meetup is an experiment aiming to create the local gathering Quinn wished he had - one grounded in candid, compassionate conversation about the realities of collapse and how we might grapple with and respond to them as individuals, as a community, and as a city.
If you're interested in helping Quinn host this meetup or host a related activity or event of your own, please reach out: [email protected]