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IDEAS, NEWS AND RESOURCES | July 2017
We hope you enjoy receiving our newsletter which includes constructionist ideas and practices as well as news and resources from the Taos Institute.
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Brief Encounters with The Taos Institute
July 2017
This month we welcome Robyn Stratton-Berkessel, a Taos Associate, as she reflects on ...
Experiencing Human Flourishing at the Fourth Global Forum
by Robyn Stratton-Berkessel
When we strengthen our relationships across the planet through conversation, we deepen our connections and find points of shared desire, and that's what sparks innovations.
Six weeks after participating in the 2.5 days
Fourth Global Summit,
Discovering Flourishing Enterprise, I am still savoring a host of positive emotions and thoughts throughout my entire being. The experience will remain one of my high point moments - a story that I will tell over and over again in the future about experiencing human flourishing.
Before getting into some explanation of the Fourth Global Forum, I reflect on what was happening in the relational space that enabled this to be a high point experience:
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The environment, people, sound, images and objects- those things we could physically experience that delighted and touched us in different ways, triggering a range of associations, emotions, dialogue and imaginings.
2)
A design that created a container to enable us to experience an abundance of energy that quickly filled us up with amazement, anticipation, joy, hope and possibility.
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Conversations that were intimate, deep, expansive, delightful, and sacred.
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Stories from business leaders, from academics, from students and workers validating that our work is making a positive difference in the world, while encouraging us and provoking us to do even more and even better.
Summing up the above contributing factors to what made this a high point story, the overarching factor is diversity. It was the diversity of the entire system that expanded this relational space for learning, growth, dreaming and human connection beyond the physical space. The depth of human connection was nurtured this space. We reported out frequently we felt safe and nourished. It gave witness to our oneness and the love we share for human kind and the commitment we share to co-create a peaceful, just and equitable co-existence for all sentient beings on our beautiful planet, Earth.
The Fourth Global Forum was held at Case Western Reserve University, in the modern Tinkham Veale Center University Center, diagonally opposite the traditional architecture of Cleveland Museum of Art. I offer that detail, as location played a role in contributing to a beautiful unfolding set of experiences. The staging of the forum in the university building offered a changing kaleidoscope of audio visual sensations as the Forum agenda flowed over 2.5 days. A gentle stroll across to the Museum offered a different location to mingle around artful presentations of food, engaging in various conversations that enriched our understandings and celebrated our human connection in that spacious atrium full of a summer's late evening light. Adding to the visual delight of the space, every nation's flag greeted us in an arch formation. Each of us took responsibility for a flag or two to hold it up and bless it with the chant of the Peace Ceremony, "May Peace Prevail on Earth."
The Appreciative Inquiry design, an inquiry into "Discovering Flourishing Enterprise" flowed seamlessly throughout, punctuated by short presentations that were acutely on topic and in tone with our inquiry. We laughed, we cried, we expressed awe and surprise at many of the stories from the stage, as well as our own stories in our small working groups. Again,it was diversity that kept us awake, curious, delighted and aware of the glorious richness of our myriad experiences and what else is possible.
Woven into the design was not only the brief presentations on stage, but also an award ceremony honoring winners of the
AIM2Flourish
global challenge to find businesses who are achieving one or more of the U.N.'s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). AIM2Flourish was born out of a working group at the Third Global Forum, forming alliances across the globe with universities to build Business as an Agent of World Benefit into their business management curriculum. The diversity of these stories filled the space for deepening connection, conversation and commitment. These awards and hearing the voices of the business leaders today who are positively impacting the world, and the students who will be the leaders of tomorrow filled us with great relief and confidence. When we strengthen our relationships across the planet through conversation, we deepen our connections and find points of shared desire, and that's what sparks innovations.
To find out more about AIM2Flourish and hear some of the voices in the room and what the experience meant for others, please take a
listen to this podcast.
"Flourishing enterprise is about people being inspired every day and bringing their whole selves to work; it's about innovation arising from everywhere; and it's about realizing remarkable relationship value with stakeholders - customers, employees, communities, and the biosphere - to create unprecedented, enduring business advantage."
- David Cooperrider, PhD
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Taos Institute Events and Gatherings
The Many Ways to Get Involved.....
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at University College Zaeland, Roskilde, Denmark
Nov. 16-17, 2017
Sharing, exploring and creating new ideas and practices... Call for Proposals being accepted now!
For more information visit:
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Workshops and Courses
Taos Institute Workshops
- Social Construction, Relational Theory and Transformative Practices | October 5-7, 2017, with Harlene Anderson and Sheila McNamee, in Durham, NH
Taos Online Courses
- An Introduction to Social Construction: Premises and Promises, September 11 - October 23, with Celiane Camargo Borges.
- Relational Research: Practices of Inquiry - a new online course being offered this coming soon. More details and dates available soon.
Friends of the Taos Institute Workshops and Events
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An AI Celebration - Appreciative Voices For Our Times: A Gathering for the AI Community - AI is Made for These Challenging Times,
August 11-13, 2017, Burlington, VT
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Coaching, Change Management (Supervision), Counselling, Consulting, Organizational Development (in german: Beratungswissenschaften) and Future Forming Research, (bilingual), August 24-25, 2017, with Celiane Camargo Borges and Astrid Frischknecht, Zurich, Switzerland
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Other Learning Opportunities
We are very happy with the positive responses for our Lowlands Gathering event planned on:
- Friday, September 15. 2017. Start: 13.30hr-18.00hr.
- Location: Hoge School De Kempel Helmond
- Deurneseweg 11, Helmond, NL
We are very excited about this first gathering. We see this as a kick-off event for getting to know each other better, making spaces for exchange of knowledge and experiences within all kinds of working fields. We are looking forward to co-create, share ideas and to make this first event successful.
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Looking for intellectual excitement
...a way to do some serious reflection on your practice
...a period to prepare for possible PhD study
...support in doing research of your choice
...all with the guidance of a highly trained scholar
then consider...
The Taos Institute Diploma
in the Study of Professional Practice
A two-year program designed to allow seasoned professionals to work independently on a project related to their personal interests.
Advised by a Taos Faculty member, participants create
a project and a program that fulfill their specific interests and needs.
Final projects, designed from a social constructionist perspective, can be a text, video, website, research report, or other creative form. Participants work independently, but are encouraged to connect with other members of the Taos community. Each semester they may attend a Taos Institute workshop or other offering free of registration fees.
After receiving the diploma, participants are invited to become Taos Institute associates, with all the opportunities that are available to them.
Application are accepted on a rolling basis.
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International Relational Research Network Meeting and Global Dialogue
Announcing a Summer Article Reading
and
Discussion Series
Several times a month (July, August) we will be offering an opportunity, for anyone interested, to read a scholarly article or chapter on research, and then join in a conversation about that article. This summer reading series is open to everyone. No need to pre-register. Free and open to the public.
Details: For all the information including host, article, date and time of the conversation and link to join the conversation please visit the Taos Institute website at:
- July 24 and 27 - Fundamental Assumptions in Narrative Analysis: Mapping the Field
- August 4 and 25 - Dialogic Action Research: The phenomenon of transformative democratic agency of the ability to respond
- August 11 and 18 - The Rhizome and Gift Exchange: Reflections on our practices on health and human services
- September 1 - The Digital Wayfarer - Evocative Ethnography as Performance
- September 6 - Writing as Relationship
How to join in the summer article series conversations:
- Download the articles at www.taosinstitute.net/relational-research-network
- Read the article
- Come prepared with questions, examples, comments
- Mark your calendar and arrive on time for the conversation
- No need to pre-register for these
- Use the link provided on that web page to join the call
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New Book!
We are thrilled to bring you our newest publication:
Communicating Possibilities: A Brief Introduction to the Coordinated Management of Meaning (CMM)
by Ilene Wasserman and Beth Fisher-Yoshido
Communicating Possibilities is an introduction to the Coordinated Management of Meaning (CMM), a practical theory which at its roots, is an approach to looking at our social interactions. In the process of stepping back to look at our interactions and how we construct our social worlds, we open possibilities of alternative paths and outcomes. CMM offers tools and frameworks to use so when we pause and notice what we are making together and how, we open up spaces to make better choices with more desirable relationships each turn of the way. This book offers ways we can better notice how we shape our lives through the stories we create in our ongoing conversations, and, hopefully strengthen the quality of our communities at all levels. Order the book today at:
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AI Celebration for Anyone Interested in Appreciative Inquiry - All are welcome!
Come to Burlington, VT and the David L. Cooperrider Center for Appreciative Inquiry for...
A CELEBRATION OF APPRECIATIVE VOICES FOR OUR TIMES!
AI was made for these challenging times. This year our theme is one that can't be ignored: voicing the appreciative -- in conversation, in media, in public forums, in organizational life, in community shaping. How do we create space and opportunity for conversations across divides, across borders, across values and visions that can help create a world we want to live in? How do we contribute?
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Check out our Newest Books:
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Paths to Positive Aging: Dog Days with a Bone and Other Essays
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by Mary and Ken Gergen
Mary and Ken Gergen are devoted to the cause of reinventing aging. To focus on the gains of aging is to realize that the later years are among the richest and most rewarding of one's life. In their dedication to this reconstruction, the Gergens publish the Positive Aging Newsletter, an electronic newsletter, available in seven languages (
www.positiveaging.net).
In this book, the Gergens share ideas and experiences designed to inspire others as they age.
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Communicating Possibilities:
A Brief Introduction to the Coordinated Management of Meaning (CMM)
by Ilene Wasserman and Beth Fisher-Yoshida
Communicating Possibilities is an introduction to the Coordinated Management of Meaning (CMM), a practical theory which at its roots, is an approach to looking at our social interactions. In the process of stepping back to look at our interactions and how we construct our social worlds, we open possibilities of alternative paths and outcomes. CMM offers tools and frameworks to use so when we pause and notice what we are making together and how, we open up spaces to make better choices with more desirable relationships each turn of the way.
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The Magic of Organizational Life
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by Mette Vinther Larsen
The Magic of Organisational Life
is a story that invites you to look at your everyday work life through new eyes. It allows you to reflect upon well-known organisational, strategic and managerial challenges from a magical perspective. This perspective emphasizes what our imagination can do, if only we set it free. The Magic of Organisational Life
gently reminds us of our capacity to create flourishing ways of being at work.
For more information
→
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Sign up for this free newsletter in the following languages:
- English
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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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Join the Taos Institute NING Online Community website
Participate in online conversations, share resources, ask questions, connect with others doing similar work. Also, we feature special events on this community website.
Join in many different forums, groups and conversations:
1. Taos Institute Europe
2. Collaborative Governance
3. Relational Learning
4. Relational Research
5. Taos Latin America
6. Intergenerativity and Innovation
and many more at:
http://taoslearning.ning.com/
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Welcome (Bienvenidos) to the International Journal of Collaborative Practices. The Journal brings together members of a growing international community of practitioners, scholars, educators, researchers, and consultants interested in postmodern collaborative practices.
Sponsored by Taos Institute and Houston Galveston Institute
I
ssue 7- Available Now in English and Spanish -
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We are thrilled to bring you all the WorldShare Books and we hope you will take a few minutes to download your free copies today.
Donate to the Peggy Penn WorldShare Books Fund
This fund helps to cover the expenses of offering these online books free of charge to anyone in the world.
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You can help to make a difference...
These are challenging times, and you can make a difference by supporting the Taos Institute's efforts to bring about more promising futures.
Help us to continue our work in:
- Creating and Expanding Collaborative Practices Globally
- Promoting Dialogic Means for Reducing Conflict
- Providing Degree Opportunities for Practitioners
- Offering Cutting Edge Publications in Multiple Languages: Free or at Low Cost
- Generating Resources for Positive Aging
- Creating Global Forms and Conferences for Constructing New Futures
Given the perilous global context into which we are moving, we feel the work in which we are engaged is more important than ever. We hope you can join with us as we continue to develop resources to aid the global community in co-creating more viable futures.
The Taos Institute is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and all donations are tax deductible in the US.
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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.
We are committed to exploring, developing and disseminating ideas and practices that promote creative, appreciative and collaborative processes in families, communities and organizations around the world through a social constructionist lens.
We look forward to your participation in the dialogue.
Keep up with our updates!
Dawn Dole, Executive Director
The Taos Institute
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