Every year we strive to create a welcoming climate of relational engagement at our meetings, emphasizing the dignifying benefits of conversation and collaboration. This year we exceeded all of our expectations! 

Relational bridge-building is at the  core of our efforts. Ardian Adzanela, who has been with us since our 2010 conference in Istanbul, recently shared this inspirational image. It symbolizes how our community walks the talk of dignity by building robust relational bridges, not only at our workshops and conferences, but also in the world.

We celebrate our community's commitment to organizing our events around  shared responsibility, working together to create an enriching atmosphere of collaboration. This workshop would not be possible without the loving support of all who offered their valuable relational and leadership skills. We especially thank this year's wonderful moderators, careholders, dignigardeners, videographers, photographers, and our team of music and movement leaders. See our friends below!

We know that monological approaches to building knowledge are often useful (e.g., lectures, presentations, and debate), yet this workshop gave us the opportunity to explore conversational ways of developing ideas through thought-provoking dialogue and active collaboration. Our pre-planned and co-created Dignilogue Groups allowed us to bring tough and crucial topics to the table in a new way. They strengthen our capacity to hold a connected perspective as we discuss some of the most urgent concerns of our time. Thanks to all of you for contributing to our excellent collection of videotaped "messages to the world" documenting the creative work of these groups. All of these are available on our  workshop webpage.

Ingenuity, resilience, and dedication define the lives of our special contributors at this year's workshop. In particular, we honored  Philip Brown with the  2016 Human Dignity and Humiliation Studies Lifetime Achievement Award, celebrating his years as a brilliant facilitator in our HumanDHS community and as a lifelong leader in the field of social-emotional education around the world. His efforts are a model of the globalization of dignity! 

We are extremely grateful to  Michael Britton, our  Don Klein Memorial Lecturer, who offered us a powerful and moving message to replenish our hearts during these troubling times. Please join us also in applauding  Edna Adan,  Michael Perlin, and our musicians for making our Public Event so educational and inspirational. Plus, Renée Monrose invited us to her  Face-to-Face  art exhibit at the  Union Theological Seminary. Please see the videos of our special contributors posted on our  workshop webpage.

 

Finally, thanks to David Yamada for leading us in a closing song that aptly envisions the globalization of dignity, namely, Louis Armstrong's  "What a Wonderful World." May this song continue to resonate in our hearts throughout the year.

Most of all, a world of thanks to YOU for being with us on this lifelong journey to bring dignity into the lives of all people -- which we need if we are to save our planet!