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The Steiner or anthroposophical movement is active worldwide in many fields. Our sister site rudolfsteiner.org is gathering together extensive information on the core ideas and organized initiatives that inspire and manifest this movement for human cultural and social renewal, along with groups carrying them.

In the USA the Council of Anthroposophic Organizations was created around twenty years ago. A committee of the Anthroposophical Society in America, the CAO brings together individuals with experience in management of initiatives and entrepreneurship. As such it brings complementary perspectives to those of the Society and the School for Spiritual Science. In recent years CAO members have represented on-the-ground activities such as

• Waldorf schools
• biodynamic agriculture
• Camphill communities
• publishing
• anthroposophic medicine
• social finance
• eurythmy and artistic speech
• the youth section
• work in biography and the social arts

and the Anthroposophical Society itself.

Anthroposophy is given practical expression through such organizations, institutions, and initiatives that work with anthroposophical ideas in the context of public life. The Council represents the union of these organizations for the purpose of colleagueship, communication, discussions of common interest and concern, projects of mutual interest, and active service to the anthroposophical movement. The scope of the CAO’s work includes:

• Developing cooperative and mutually supportive activities between the Anthroposophical Society with its School for Spiritual Science, and those organizations and initiatives which bring the practical application of anthroposophy into all spheres of life.
• Fostering collaborative endeavors between these various organizations and initiatives on a national and local level, as well as providing a common meeting space with other like-minded organizations.
• Supporting spiritual scientific research into practical questions and problems.
• Providing collegial support to participants in their own meditative work as they serve in anthroposophical endeavors.
• Reporting on and studying issues, topics, needs, and opportunities arising from our broad constituencies, in order to determine or recommend further possible actions to the appropriate organization(s) or as a collaborative project.
• Serving as a consultative body to member organizations.

The CAO is financed by membership contributions from the various member associations, and its actions are guided by what would serve to further anthroposophy, the work of the Society, and the inspiration of Rudolf Steiner.

In addition to regular meetings, the CAO has offered a few programs in service to all the organizations:

Finding Our Voice – workshops supporting people working in anthroposophical organizations in how to speak about their work to the public as well as answer questions about Rudolf Steiner and anthroposophy.

Justice, Equity, Inclusion, Diversity, and Race – The CAO has sponsored training with the Racial Equity Institute for up to five members from each organization, and has hosted an eight-session course: “Diversity and Race in Rudolf Steiner’s Spiritual Science” with Cory Eichman. This course was open to up to four members of each of the organizations, plus members of the World Social Initiative Forum.

Mapping Project – creating an interactive map of all anthroposophical organizations and initiatives in the US.