Human to Human

www.berkana.org — Co-founded in the early 1990s by Utah resident Margaret Wheatley, the Berkana Institute works in partnership with a rich diversity of people around the world who strengthen their communities by working with the wisdom and wealth already present in their people, traditions and environment. Berkana and our partners share the clarity that whatever the problem, community is the answer. We prepare for an unknown future by creating strong and sustainable relationships, by wisely stewarding the earth’s resources, and by building resilient communities and teams. We rely on the belief that human beings are caring, generous, and want to be together. Each of our initiatives is based on a coherent, in-depth theory of how life organizes in cooperative, generous, and interdependent systems — work we’ve developed with hundreds of colleagues over many years of dialogue, think tanks and practical applications in all kinds of settings.

 

www.artofhosting.org — The Art of Hosting and Convening Meaningful Conversations is a training and practice retreat for all who aspire to lead by engaging with interactive ways of working with groups and teams. It is for leaders—those who want to help—community builders, teachers, social workers, youth workers, trainers, social innovators, administrators, community leaders, consultants, entrepreneurs, politicians. The Art of Hosting and Convening Meaningful Conversations is offered in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and North and South America. We are a growing community of practitioners,supporting each other to further our ability to facilitate co-creative learning and problem-solving.

The Art of Hosting practice has been used to support numerous profit and non-profit organizations in large scale change including:

• Community Health Reform in Ohio
• Faith Community Democracy Planning in Indiana
• Navajo Health Services Innovation New Mexico
• Social Innovation Labs in the UK
• Strengthening Families Initiatives in Illinois
• Aboriginal Youth Initiatives in British Columbia 
• Labor Union planning in Ontario

3. Art of Hosting and Harvesting Conversations that Matter Training (3.5 Days): September 2010 TBA

• Deep dive intensive and experiential training.

4. Ongoing Community of Practice: October 2010 – 2011

• Monthly circles, quarterly learning days, annual multi-day learning and application forums

Summary of Need and Purpose

• Many people are living in times of high-level uncertainty.
• People are hungry for more meaningful work and community.
• People want to contribute to their local community.
• Train together in the next level of skills / tools that can be applied to existing and new participant projects. 
• Foster processes for accessing collective wisdom that moves to collaborative action.
• Create next levels of leadership consciousness, wellness, resilience, wholeness.

Some Limiting Beliefs

– Fear and weightiness is the only way through if we are serious about change.