IDEAS, NEWS AND RESOURCES
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April 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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What is Happening? And How to Get Involved!
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Brief Encounter with The Taos Institute
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April 2019
Reflecting on the Appreciative Inquiry Global Conference
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An Awesome Time at the 2019 World Appreciative Inquiry Conference
By Dawn Dole and Diana Whitney
The Taos Institute was well represented among the 400+ people from 30 countries who gathered for the World Appreciative Inquiry Conference recently held in Nice, France, March 19 – 22, 2019. The Taos magic began when over 30 Taos Associates, friends and family gathered for an opening reception. It was a grand reunion and a reminder of the tremendous coherence among the AI and Taos communities. Hugs and laughter filled the room as we reconnected with seldom seen friends and colleagues from around the world.
The conference program was packed full from 8 am to 8 pm with inspiring and exciting keynote sessions and workshops organized around three key themes: AI for organization change, AI for personal development and AI for social change. We came away from the conference with an immense sense of the power of Appreciative Inquiry which is happening all around the globe in thousands of locations creating positive change and a world where all voices matter, where change is a collaborative process and strengths lead the way.
Taos founders and associates presented pre-conference and keynote sessions on
Business as an Agent of World Benefit
, The New Positive Change Equation,
Conversations Worth Having
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Building Resilience with AI
, AI and Gender Equality, and AI in Communities. There were a number of notable firsts offered by Taos associates during their keynote sessions. Miriam Subirana and colleagues Roberto Aristegui, Circe Peralta Huerta, Lorena Merino Naranjo, and Felix Viloria presented the first bilingual plenary at an AI conference, filled with heartfelt stories of how Appreciative Inquiry is being applied to rebuild a community after an earthquake, transcend violence, sustain and preserve peace and reconstruct women communities.
David Cooperrider and Lindsey Godwin drew from the field of positive psychology as well as AI as they presented their new model of P.O.S.I.T.I.V.E change.
Cheri Torres, Jackie Stavros, Jeanie Cockel, Joan McArthur-Blair, collaborated in presenting a plenary session on Resilient Conversations. Jackie Kelm and Tony Silbert collaborated on a plenary session on Appreciative Living and using AI in everyday life. Gervase Bushe talked about Dialogic OD and Suzanne Quinney presented with two colleagues on Finding Everyday Excellence.
In Diana Whitney’s plenary, she and colleagues from South Africa invited the entire group into a conversation about how AI can be used for social change, especially focused on gender inclusion and equality. Many of these keynote sessions focused upon books that are available now or soon to be published.
The workshop we facilitated on Appreciative Inquiry in families is among our conference highlights. Close to fifty people joined us to explore family issues from an AI perspective. Topics they brought to the discussion included: troublesome teens, aging parents and a spouse who wouldn’t load the dishwasher! We became a rich learning community as we talked about and crafted simple “AI questions to enhance daily family dialogues.” Dawn Dole, Lindsey Godwin and Matt Moehle presented a workshop on Appreciative Inquiry in Education, attended by about 45 people.
Other workshops that stood out for us were: Appreciative Inquiry in rural communities in Nova Scotia, Canada, working with women who have experienced trauma through abuse, violence, and substance abuse. The work is transforming the women and their communities. We also participated in AI in philanthropy, Appreciative Voice, AI in the Media, After the AI Summit – Designing change to last, and so many more. And of course, the AI Practitioner was there sharing the many stories that have been published over the past.
Finally, we must acknowledge the fantastic job of the conference hosting/organizing team in France – Jean-Christophe Barralis, Christine Cayer, Kti Dossot, Eir Mellet, and Jean Pages. They had everything ready for a warm, welcoming, enlivening event. The food and pastries were fantastic, and the beauty of Nice, France was all around us. We are already looking forward to the next World Appreciative Inquiry Conference and invite you to join us at that time. Location to be determined.
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Professional Development Opportunities
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Upcoming Events
April 29-June 3, 2019 -
REGISTER NOW! Course begins soon.
Friends of the Taos Institute Events
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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New WorldShare Book -
Free Download
Originally published in 1984 - Now available online in PDF format.
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in historic Brno, Czech Republic
We will focus 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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Giving life to education. Learning together, living together.
Welcome to the third International Learning Festival.
Location: Holmen Fjordhotell, Nesbru in Asker, Norway
You are invited to share, to learn, and to create in a conference devoted to envisioning and inspiring the future education of youth.
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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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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 this week her guest was Sheila McNamee, Taos co-founder and vice-president.
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An online course with Celiane Camargo-Borges, PhD
April 29-June 3, 2019
This 6-week online course introduces common premises and orienting ideas central to dialogues on social construction. The ways in which constructionist ideas differ from traditional, realist understandings of the world are explored. The course will consist of six modules with readings, videos and online dialogues via text chat groups and live group calls each week. It will
feature videos and writings of Ken Gergen, Mary Gergen, Sheila McNamee, Harlene Anderson, Barnett Pearce, John Shotter, Saliha Bava along with guest appearances each week.
Learn more.
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Join in with the Relational Research Network
on a new Project:
The RRN Support Learning Community
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The Relational Research Network is creating a new space and opportunity to join with other researchers to critically think about how inquiry and research processes connect and inspire us. The questions we will explore:
- Have you ever wondered how your research project can have a relational focus or be a relational practice?
- Are you doing or would like to do relational research and have meaningful conversations about your work?
- Would you appreciate sharing your work with others in the learning community, engaging through questions, challenges, or issues related to your research project?
- Would you like the opportunity to be in conversation with other researchers to network, co-learn and create opportunities for collaboration?
We invite you to join the Relational Research Network's new project: The RRN Support Learning Community. We are organizing the schedule for these learning opportunities and will host these conversations between July and November. Be looking for the schedule and topics - all are welcome.
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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.
Read more
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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.
Read more
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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.
Read more
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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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