IDEAS, NEWS AND RESOURCES
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May 2019
The Taos Institute's mission is to bring together scholars and practitioners concerned with the social processes essential for the construction of reason, knowledge, and human value, and their application in relational, collaborative and appreciative practices around the world.
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The Many Ways to Participate!
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Brief Encounter with The Taos Institute
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May 2019
We found that our most transformational work was not the result of what we did in the system, but who we were as we were doing it. We now see our primary purpose as relating to everyone from a stance of kindness and care
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System Transformation in Response to a City’s Homeless Emergency:
Who Are You?
By Gillian Haley and Ellen Raboin
The iBelong Project
began with the purpose of transforming what it means to be a good neighbor in the midst of Sonoma County’s homeless crisis and the nationwide loneliness epidemic. This is a short story of how our focus and inquiry changed as the systems transformed over the last year.
Our project began over a cup of coffee laying out the complex systems of stakeholders working to resolve the “problem” of homelessness. We saw businesses suffering, people feeling unsafe, police following orders to drive homeless people out of their camps, and advocates chanting “Where will they go?”. We saw the multiple voices and agendas as one of many dynamics creating an experience of being stuck. The priority quest was to help the various organizations collaborate to create alternatives to the destruction of communities formed by people who are living trapped outside.
Our question became, “How might we unstick the systems by increasing shared understanding between everyone affected by the homeless emergency?” We brought the stakeholders together to simulate the system dynamics and hear the multiple voices. At the gathering, people were able to see the positions and hear the voices of each other. During the simulation, multiple systems seemed to be acting in isolation; Local government and economic systems occupied the center with access to power and resources, while social systems made up of community stakeholders stood at the edges and felt unsafe stepping into the well-resourced centered systems. This led to a turning point as we asked, “How might the power and resources of the healthcare system anchor a distinct system of care in which the social system naturally finds a safe home?” We wanted everyone to be collaborators and pulled out all the plugs creating action based collaborative forums to help people bring their solutions and work together.
However, there was a turning point in the inquiry during our “playshop” at the Taos Institute’s Silver Jubilee in November 2018. It was winter. Winter is a brutal time to be trapped outside and there is a spike in avoidable deaths. During the “playshop”, the system simulation seemed to be frozen with horror and unable to respond to this reality. The images and feeling of frozen horror took months to unstick, but eventually the feeling revealed a connection to the heart of the matter.
Nationwide, and in the county, heart disease is the number one cause of death. The challenges of homelessness, isolation, and many other social ills harm our hearts. We pivoted and resolved to practice relating with acceptance and empathy. We moved our action framework to a supporting role. This shift sounds simple, yet it was and is very difficult. The siren’s song of providing answers is omnipresent.
The move to a relational approach has invited unexpected shifts in how the governing, economic and social systems interact. Collaborators softened the tone of interactions which elicited unexpected friendly response from other parts of the system. New patterns of interactions emerged as stakeholders became aware of what they were making together in every interaction.
As we thought about the stance of the iBelong Project, we realized that we too had shifted. During the
1st Annual Day of Belonging
we stood in solidarity with homeless people who were being evicted with nowhere to go. Now, almost a year later, during the
2nd Annual Day of Belonging
we stand joined in relationship with the multiple systems in celebration. In April 2019 a new governmental body of decision-makers funded two emergency villages where unhoused residents will have a safe place to go and begin rebuilding their lives with the support of community partners. We could not have expected this progress a year ago, and are humbled again by the power of relational work.
The iBelong Project found that our most transformational work was not the result of what we did in the system, but who we were as we were doing it. We now see our primary purpose as relating to everyone from a stance of kindness and care. We are all doing our best. We are caring neighbors.
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Professional Development Opportunities
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Upcoming Events
Exploring Relational Theory and Practice, with Ken and Mary Gergen.
Dates to be determined.
Let us know if you are interested in taking this online course. We will keep you informed as dates are determined.
Practical Tips for Academic Writing - Articles, dissertation, papers with Rich Furman
Dates to be determined.
Let us know if you are interested in this online course. We will keep you informed as we choose dates for this online workshop.
Friends of the Taos Institute Events
with Jackie Stavros and Cheri Torres.
Burlington, Vermont
May 29-30, 2019
Toronto, Canada
June 26-27, 2019
February 24-May 21, 2019
July 3-6, 2019
Antwerp, Belgium
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in historic Brno, Czech Republic
The focus of this conference is on the exploration and practice of Collaborative-Dialogic Practice across contexts, cultures, and disciplines.
Inviting connection, conversation, creativity in education, psychotherapy, research and organizations
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Hogeschool de Kempel, Helmond, The Netherlands, is happy to host the conference
The Future is Now!
in partnership with The Taos Institute (USA) and UngInvest AIB (Norway).
This conference is an International Learning Festival. Sharing, exploring and creating new ideas and practices, and dedicated to the welfare of our youth in our educational systems.
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This year we further expand our focus from last year’s topic: practices of leadership. We are examining how leadership builds and develops organizational capacity and relational welfare practices.
The event will be held June 26-28 2019 in Aarhus, Denmark
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New Book
Thriving Women, Thriving World:
An Invitation to Dialogue, Healing and Inspired Actions
This book is a celebration of women. It is an invitation to journey from #MeToo to thriving women via Appreciative Inquiry, dialogue, and story telling. It addresses topics, through an appreciative lens, that may be difficult to talk about, yet must be talked about to heal social wounds and create conditions for women to thrive worldwide. If you are wondering what to do in response to the global cry of #MeToo, this book is for you.
Authors: Diana Whitney, Caroline Adams Miller, Tanya Cruz Teller, Marlene Ogawa, Jessica Cocciolone, Haesun Moon, Kathryn Britton, Angela Koh & Alejandra Leon de la Barra
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Exploring the Wide Ranging World of Relational Practices
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Social Constructionist's Perspective on Appreciative Leading on the
Positivity Strategist Podcast
Robyn Stratton-Berkessel
has a podcast series called Positivity Strategist. Her current series is on Appreciative Leading and recently her guest was Sheila McNamee, Taos co-founder and vice-president.
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More Ways to Get Involved
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Join in with the Relational Research Network's new project:
The RRN Support Learning Community
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The Relational Research Network is hosting conversations with researchers to create an opportunity to join with other researchers to critically think about how inquiry and research processes connect and inspire us. The questions we will explore:
- How can your research project have a relational focus or become a relational practice?
- How would you like to do relational research and have meaningful conversations about your work?
- Sharing your work with others in the learning community, engaging through questions, challenges, or issues related to your research project.
- Having the opportunity to be in conversation with other researchers to network, co-learn and create opportunities for collaboration.
See the full schedule for these conversations - The RRN Support Learning Community - by visiting our website. You will need to register in order to participate or "sit in" and listen to these learning conversations.
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International Journal of Collaborative-Dialogic Practices
This free journal brings together members of a growing international community of practitioners, scholars, educators, researchers, and consultants interested in postmodern collaborative practices. Issue 8 is now available.
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WorldShare Books
FREE downloadable books in 12 different languages.
With over 28 books in English and many more from around the world, you will enjoy reading about education, spirituality, organizational life, community building, group dynamics, leadership and more.
Order your free book today!
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Positive Aging Newsletter
FREE
newsletter in 9 languages sent right to your email.
By focusing on the positive aspects of aging, and the availability of resources, skills, and resiliencies, research not only brings useful insights into the realm of practice but creates hope and empowers action among older people. By moving beyond practices of repair and prevention, to emphasize growth-enhancing activities, practitioners also contribute more effectively to the societal reconstruction of aging.
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Manuscripts for Downloading
Access hundreds of articles and papers on topics such as:
- Appreciative Inquiry
- Collaborative Practices
- Dialogue
- Appreciative Cultures
- Creativity and Improve
- Narrative Practices
- Relational Learning
- Relational Research
- Qualitative Research
- and so much more!
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Donate to the Taos Institute
Given the current global context into which we are moving, the work in which we are engaged is more important than ever. We invite you support the work of institute.
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John Shotter Memorial Fund
John Shotter's death on December 8, 2016, was a profound loss for the scholarly world, for the Taos Institute, and for many of us personally.
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Jane Magruder Watkins Scholarship Fund
Support students who apply for a need-based scholarship to support their participation in Taos programs.
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Peggy Penn WorldShare Fund
Supports the publication of new WorldShare Books on topics related to the work and interests of Peggy Penn, Ph.D.
Read more
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