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IDEAS, NEWS AND RESOURCES | November 2018
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
November 2018
This month we welcome Sally St. George and Dan Wulff, Taos Institute Board members, as they share reflections on ways to "Do Taos"....
A Small Group of Thoughtful People
By Sally St. George and Dan Wulff
We arrived home from the warmth of the Taos 25th Anniversary and Conference in Cancun, Mexico to the chill of winter in Calgary, Canada. But the temperature difference has not cooled our excitement for some of the new things that were experienced and generated in Mexico. One of those experiences in particular has stimulated some ideas regarding future Taos gatherings. We had the pleasure of being invited to the home of Luis Castellanos and Becky Vela Nu
ñ
ez to converse with a group of Cancun practitioners who meet regularly to talk about their practices from a social constructionist perspective. The idea for this engaging and translated conversation originated as a way to honor the Mayan land upon which were holding our Taos Anniversary and Conference and to extend our appreciation to those who live and practice professionally in Cancun, but who could not attend the conference. We spent three hours talking about the hopes these practitioners, who come from different disciplines, hold for employing social constructionist principles and practices in transformations regarding the environment and violence in their home community.
The content of our conversation was generative and stimulating, but what we want to emphasize here in this
article is the way the atmosphere for our conversation was prepared. We think this has implications for ways to "Do Taos." We met in the warm and welcoming home of Becky and Luis. They arranged a circle of chairs and offered snacks and drinks. Everyone introduced themselves and what they hoped for from our conversation. Three hours seemed to go by in a heartbeat. Our conversation flowed in the context of everyday life, in a relaxed and personal environment, among friends, and with a spirit of learning and valuing. The trappings of professional discourses gave way to practical everyday language among a community of people who care about people. It was personal, affirming, grounded, and energized. They invited us to come back whenever we were in town.
The potential of this form of gathering has no bounds and it could be taken up anywhere by any group of people who wished to discuss constructionist ideas and practices for the local good. Local or regional meetings could occur whenever and however the persons in the area decided to organize themselves. Projects and social movements always included this form of meeting-local people meeting informally in people's homes over a meal to talk about issues of common concern or interest. While we love the big conferences and seeing everyone and picking up new ideas (just like the one that occurred in Cancun this past week), we could also "Do Taos" on a regular basis with our fellow locals by opening our homes and providing a bottle of wine and some snacks-a very inexpensive and friendly way to engage and expand our local networks. It would be a wonderful way to continue to develop ideas and practices that emerged in the larger gathering. We are reminded of Margaret Mead's words: "
A small group of thoughtful people could change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."
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Taos Institute Events and Gatherings
The Many Ways to Get Involved...So many exciting learning opportunities coming up...We hope you take a look here...
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The Taos Institute Silver Jubilee
Exploring 25 Years of Innovation in Social Construction around the World
A Conference and a Celebration!
November 8 - 10, 2018, Cancun, Mexico
Thank you to all the participants, presenters, facilitators, volunteers, partners and planners for bringing together a conference that was truly a celebration and an exploration of 25 years of social construction in practice.
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NEW
- An Inquiry into Relational Leading Practice,
an 5-week online course,
with Ginny Belden-Charles
- Social Construction: Premises and Promises - a 6-week online course, with Celiane Camargo-Borges
Friends of the Taos Institute Workshops and Events
- Crossing Borders - Linking Lives - 5th European+ Conference | Narrative Therapy and Community Work - NCD2 -
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6-week Online Course with
Ken and Mary Gergen
EXPLORING RELATIONAL THEORY AND PRACTICES
- MONDAYS, February 4 - March 11, 2019
(NEW DATES)
About the Course:
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Relational theory now provides cutting edge ideas relevant to practices across the professions. The major theoretical shift is from the traditional focus on individuals to the relational processes that are co-produced. This 6-week online course introduces common premises and orienting ideas central to relational theory. The course consists of six modules with online conference meetings, readings, videos and online dialogues.
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Weekly live calls, readings, videos, activities, learning partner conversations, online learning platform with weekly commenting.
- Week 1 - Module 1: Relational Theory: Why Now?
- Week 2 - Module 2: The Mind as Relationship
- Week 3 - Module 3: Multi-being: Ourselves with Others
- Week 4 - Module 4: Dialogue: In Theory and Practice
- Week 5 - Module 5: Putting Relational Theory to Work
- Week 6 - Module 6: Relational Ethics in Action
About the Presenters:
- Kenneth J. Gergen, Research Professor in Psychology, Swarthmore College; President of the Taos Institute; Internationally known author, noted for his work on social constructionist and relational theory.
- Mary Gergen, Professor Emerita, Psychology & Women's Studies; Penn State University, Brandywine; Author and editor of works in social construction, feminist theory, and arts-based inquiry.
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The 4th International Congress on
Collaborative-Dialogic Practice
June 27-29, 2019
CALL FOR PROPOSALS
Submit your Proposal Now!
Historic Brno, Czech Republic
Please join colleagues from around the world interested in Collaborative-Dialogic and related Practices at the 4th International Congress in historic Brno, Czech Republic, June 26-29. We will focus on the exploration and practice of Collaborative-Dialogic Practice across contexts, cultures, and disciplines. We invite you to submit a proposal addressing our theme: inviting connection, conversation, creativity.
Theme: Inviting connection, conversation, creativity in education, psychotherapy, research and organizations and other topics of interest.
Save the Date and plan to join with hundreds of practitioners, academics and students in Brno, Czech Republic!
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The Taos Institute's International
Diploma in Social Construction and Professional Practice
Information Meeting
December 6, 2018 at 1:00 PM US Eastern time
You are invited to join an
information call to learn about the Taos Institute's
International Diploma in Social Construction and Professional Practice
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Come with your questions and curiosity -
This program is for you if:
- You are not looking for a university degree, but rather an opportunity to explore an area of interest, and complete an engaging project.
- You want to engage with others from around the world, in a virtual learning environment.
- You are looking for a community that shares your views, ideas, and values around collaboration, appreciation and relational capacity.
- You work well with self-motivation, and self-driven learning objectives.
- You want to increase your skills, challenge yourself, and learn something new.
Register in advance for this meeting. Click here.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
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World Appreciative Inquiry Conference
Nice, France, March 19 - 22, 2019
Generating Constructive Conversations for the Common Good
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Join with many practitioners and scholars from various dialogic practices who are coming together to share, learn, and laugh together.
Who's coming? People like you who care about how to make our everyday lives even better than yesterday. People who are in the space of social construction, collaborative dialogue, narrative practice, brief coaching and counselling, and many more. Parents, teachers, leaders, consultants, and facilitators. You got it, anyone can come and everyone will experience something meaningful and transformative in sharing stories, views, and our journeys together.
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WorldShare Books includes publications in English, Spanish, Italian, German, Chinese, Arabic, and even Farci.
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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relationships and conversations that make a difference
ISSUE 8 Now Available!
Open access online journal
Articles in both English and Spanish
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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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First Appreciative Inquiry Book for Kids - STAN AND THE FOUR FANTASTIC POWERS
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by Shira Levy, Marge Schiller, Sarah Schiller, Max Schiller, with illustrations by Stefanie Rudolph
Stan and The Four Fantastic Powers presents readers with a new way of looking at their world and the possibility of becoming change agents. Appreciative Inquiry encourages the use of positive questioning, collaboration, curiosity, and creativity, using the AI 4-D cycle represented through Stan's Four Fantastic Powers:
* ME Power: discovering strengths
* SEE Power: dreaming future possibilities
* WE Power: working as a team to develop goals and a plan
* DO Power: delivering the plan
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
Issue 8- Available Now in English and Spanish -
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You can help to make a difference...
In a world needing more opportunities for collaborative, appreciative and dialogic practices, 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 and Diploma Opportunities for Practitioners
- Offering Cutting Edge Publications in Multiple Languages: Free or at Low Cost
- Generating Resources for Positive Aging
- Creating Global Forums and Conferences for Constructing New Futures
- Creating scholarship programs for students in need
Given the current 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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