IDEAS, NEWS AND RESOURCES | March 2023 |
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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, and their application in relational, collaborative and appreciative practices around the world. |
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The Many Ways to Get Involved! |
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"Commons"
“The commons” is a term that refers to “a piece of open land for public use, especially in a village or town.” The commons serves as a meeting place for a variety of people from a community to come together to interact.
I am excited that conversations within The Taos Institute are beginning to use the word “commons” to describe how we do what we do. For me, the image or metaphor of sitting together under a tree to share ideas and visions captures the spirit of The Taos Institute. While we may not be literally sitting on the ground with one another, this atmosphere of connecting can be developed virtually in ways that bring people from far away places together in significant ways. Above all, we see ourselves as connecting and nurturing relationships, big and small, to address the values and concerns we have in living in our worlds.
Over the years we have embraced social constructionist ideas expressed and practiced by many persons and groups all over the globe. It seems as though there are no limitations to how social constructionist ideas could be taken-up and applied. In the early days of The Taos Institute, much of the conversation focused on applications to therapy and organizational development but now the reach is much more expansive—health care, education, governance to name a few.
The idea of “the commons” welcomes our attention to the widest range of people and endeavors. Come “sit on the grass” of the commons no matter what language you speak, what position in your society you hold, whatever your age, or whatever your background. The commons is for you, for us.
It is in this spirit that we invite you to join, if you haven't yet, the Taos Institute Online Community, soon to be known as "The Taos Institute Commons."
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There is still time to register! |
A 3-day online seminar facilitated by Taos Institute co-founders
In this online seminar (three hours each day), Harlene and Sheila introduce and discuss constructionist theory by engaging participants in meaningful conversations. Given the challenges we confront globally, discussions center specifically on the practical implications of social construction and how to create dialogues that give hope. There is ample space for everyone to share, interact, collaborate and support one another as we explore ways to bring these practices into participants’ own projects and personal or professional contexts.
Whether you are familiar with social construction and relational practice or new to these ideas, this intimate seminar is a transformational experience.
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Join with over 600 members in the Taos Institute Online Community (free) as we explore social constructionist, relational, and appreciative theory and practices. To make it even easier for you to connect with one-another, we invite you to attend one of the upcoming events in the community: Taos Conversations are informal, interactive, stimulating, free, and open to all. Sign in to the Taos Institute Online Community (it's quick and easy!) to learn more about these and many other ways to become part of our global family.
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February 21, 2023
Reflective Responsivity is a concept that investigates, with people, the spontaneous processes through which they respond to an interaction. This knowledge transforms through the construction of more useful responses to the person's relationships. Hosted (in English and Portuguese) by Bruno Lenzi and Evelize Costa, both collaborative dialogical therapists at the non profit organization ASSIMSC in Brazil.
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April 2, 2023
The line between “reality” and “fantasy” is fluid when we’re very young, when we are creating more new experiences, more imaginings, more experiences... As adults, “what’s real” comes to dominate our lives. Join East Side Institute Director Lois Holzman to share stories and create new experiences, some outside the box, and even, to imagine life without a box.
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Dialogue with the Authors |
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with Celiane Camargo-Borges & Sheila McNamee
April 14, 2023
11:00am - 12:00pm EST
The book introduces the Constructionist Research Design Process as a framework for research that is creative, transformative and innovative. It can be used by any professional and researcher who wants to develop creative inquiry and to promote social change. It integrates the theory of social construction with the tools of design thinking, challenging the concept of dualisms in research such as quantitative/qualitative and subjective/objective. The focus is on the complex relational achievement required to construct a worldview where different relational (research) processes construct different realities (knowledge). In this sense, all truths are contextual truths, co-created in a specific time and useful to a specific context.
Join us for a conversation with the authors. Register here.
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All past Dialogue with the Author recordings are available on our YouTube channel!
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This yearly program offers professionals interested in expanding their understanding of dialogue and of the generative perspective a series of new resources that will allow them to establish dialogic relationships, and to recognize and work on creative moments and generative processes. Geared to professionals working with people and groups in different fields, it has an international faculty. The program provides an exceptional space for dialogue, reflection, and learning together, as well as the opportunity to belong to a multidisciplinary network of professionals who work with innovations and creativity in various domains of practice and social contexts. |
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May 12, 2023, 10:00am-5:00pm EST
An online workshop with Amy Druker, MSW
This workshop is for people who are new(er) to narrative therapy and interested in learning (or learning more) about its collaborative, respectful and socially just ways of understanding people and problems. By refusing to locate problems inside of people, and by always seeing problems in the broader cultural context in which these problems were produced, narrative therapy stands against the individualizing and pathologizing of people’s suffering. The intention of this workshop is to offer participants a taste of the politics and ethics that guide narrative therapy practices, and to consider how and in what ways these values and ethics fit and/or don’t fit with their own values, ethics and preferred ways of being in this work. Click here for details.
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June 9-10, 2023
An online program with Suzanne Gazzolo, PhD, LCPC & Matt Mooney, LICSW
This skill-based, two-day training is for people wanting to learn how narrative therapy ideas are put into practice in therapeutic settings. In particular, we explore externalizing practices and skills in the context of deconstructing and re-authoring therapy conversations. Clinical examples and experiential exercises will help support participants’ learning. Participants can expect to learn how narrative practitioners work to help people separate their lives from problems and identify new steps they can take that fit with their hopes and values. After completing this course, you can further your skill development through NTI's Narrative Certificate Program, which begins each fall. Details available here.
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New WorldShare Book in Spanish
Thanks to the generosity and dedication of Taos Institute Board Member Monica Sesma and Taos Institute Associate Alma Vanessa Guzmán-Díaz, the contributions from the Taos Institute’s 25th Anniversary Conference are now available in Spanish. We invite you to enjoy the ongoing flourishing and abundance of practices described in the pages of this book, each in a unique style. The book can be downloaded for free. Also available in English and Portuguese.
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New Book
By Kenneth J. Gergen
This fully updated fourth edition of Gergen’s An Invitation to Social Construction introduces you to a key theoretical movement in contemporary social science through a wide range of multidisciplinary examples. The fourth edition includes: wider consideration of contemporary global challenges, increased coverage of media, digital culture, and relevant political issues, and
updated real-world examples of social constructionist theory in action, in research, education, therapy, organizations, and peace building.
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Now available in Spanish: |
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Issue 12 is Available
This free journal brings together members of a growing international community of practitioners, scholars, educators, researchers, and consultants interested in postmodern collaborative practices.
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FREE downloadable books in 12 different languages. Like all of the Taos Institute Publications, WorldShare Books represent significant contributions relevant to social constructionist theory and practice. With over 30 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.
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By focusing on the positive aspects of aging and the availability of resources, skills, and resiliencies, research brings useful insights into the realm of practice, 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. For 20 years, late Taos Institute co-founder Mary Gergen, Ph.D. has inspired and driven the publication of this free newsletter - also translated in 9 languages!
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Access hundreds of articles and papers on topics such as:
- Appreciative Inquiry
- Collaborative Practices
- Dialogic Practices
- Creativity and Change
- Narrative Practices
- Relational Research
- Relational Learning
- Qualitative Research
- and so much more!
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In the current global context, the work in which we engage is more important than ever. You can make a difference by supporting our mission to create a promising future through social construction. Read more
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In loving memory of Taos Institute co-founder and board member Mary Gergen, Ph.D.. Mary was an innovator in feminist theory, social constructionism, and qualitative methods. She was an inspiration and mentor to thousands of people around the world. She deeply cared about making the world a better place and her contributions will be felt for generations. Read more
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