r. south
Perspectives Group to Offer IAP2 Certificate Course in Virginia
The Perspectives Group (www.theperspectivesgroup.com) has just announced they only have three remaining training dates for their IAP2 Certificate Program in Public Participation. Spaces in the five-day course are still available for all the training dates in Alexandria, VA on July 10 ? 14, September 18 ? 22, and December 4 ? 8. The full week of training is $1,475, or $295 per day. The Course is broken up into 3 sections: Planning for Effective Public Participation (two days), Effective Communication for Public Participation (one day), and Techniques for Public Participation (two days). Please note that the Planning course is a prerequisite to the Communications and Techniques courses. For additional information, go to www.theperspectivesgroup.com/resource/trainingpro.html to download the brochure. If you have any questions, contact Crystal Sarno or Kristie Bergeron-Hale at The Perspectives Group at 703-837-1197 or email .
Added by Amy Lang on June 22, 2006??-??Link to this entry
American Library Association Focusing on Civic Engagement
The American Library Association (ALA) has recently developed a focus on civic engagement. Invigorated by questions like "What has gone wrong with our democracy, and what should we do about it?" and "what is the public's role in democracy?" the ALA Fostering Civic Engagement Membership Initiative Group (MIG) will sponsor a Forum on Democracy's Challenge, Saturday, June 24, 2006, 1:30-3:30, at the upcoming ALA Annual Conference in New Orleans. This forum is particularly important because it is critical to the success of a democracy that citizens learn how to deal with complex issues in company with people of diverse opinions. Anyone attending the conference is welcome to the workskhop. For more information on the Civic Engagement Membership Initiative Group, contact the MIG Co-Conveners: Nancy Kranich, ; Taylor Willingham, or Mary Ghikas, .
Added by Amy Lang on May 14, 2006??-??Link to this entry
AACJP Conference On Restorative Justice Coming Up in Miami
The American Association of Community Justice Professionals (AACJP) will be holding a conference from June 10-14 in Miami Florida. The conference will be organized around three series of workshops. One set of workshops will focus on treatment and assessment strategies that can be used by professionals in human services, community corrections, juvenile justice or other settings when the desired result is changing behaviors or policies supportive of behavioral change. A second set of workshops will address best practices for victims of crime. These workshops will look at practices that range from understanding how to work with an individual victim to implementing systemic change in communities. A third set of workshops will help participants gain an understanding of the diversity of restorative justice practices and how these practices intertwine with treatment and services for victims of crime. The conference will also offer training sessions on various restorative justice topics. To see the conference brochure, visit www.meridian-corp.com/aacjp/brochure.php?button=vw. To register, go to www.meridian-corp.com/aacjp/[email protected]. The early bird registration deadline is May 15.
Added by Amy Lang on April 25, 2006??-??Link to this entry
National Charrette Institute Public Certification Trainings Coming Up in Alexandria, VA
Both the National Charrette Institute (NCI) Charrette Planner? and Public Meeting Facilitator? Certification trainings will be offered in Alexandria, VA in conjunction with Virginia Tech's Academy for the New Urbanism, this May 8-12 in Alexandria, VA. For more information about these certification trainings, visit NCI's programs page: www.charretteinstitute.org/programs.html. To register for the Alexandria trainings, please visit: www.conted.vt.edu/newurbanism/charrette. Got questions? E-mail:
Added by Amy Lang on April 16, 2006??-??Link to this entry
Strategic Conversation "Reimagining New Orleans" Coming Up in May
"Re-imagining New Orleans" after Hurricane Katrina is a four-day "council of elders" from May 25-28 at the Wildacres Retreat Center in western North Carolina that uses Appreciative Inquiry as an experiment in citizen democracy. Check out their news release
www.secondjourney.org/katrina/katrina_release.htm and the series of webpages, including a registration form at www.secondjourney.org/NewOrleans.htm.
Added by Amy Lang on April 05, 2006??-??Link to this entry
Perspectives Group Announces IAP2 Certificate Training Dates for 2006
The Perspectives Group (www.theperspectivesgroup.com) will be offering four more opportunities to take the IAP2 5-day Public Participation Certificate training this year. This training is designed for professionals working in the fields of community development, nonprofit and government public services, and public understanding and outreach. It is also designed for industry communications and public affairs or public relations, advocacy and lobbying organizations, private and government groups, and any individual/organization required to deal with the public about complex or potentially contentious issues. Upon completion of the full week of training, participants will receive a certificate from IAP2. Upcoming dates and locations are: Alexandria, VA on April 3 ? 7; July 10 ? 14; September 18 ? 22 and December 4 ? 8. The full week of training is $1,475, or $295 per day. The Course is broken up into 3 sections: Planning for Effective Public Participation (two days), Effective Communication for Public Participation (one day), and Techniques for Public Participation (two days). Please note that the Planning course is a prerequisite to the Communications and Techniques courses. For additional information go to www.theperspectivesgroup.com/resource/trainingpro.html to download the brochure, or contact Crystal Sarno or Kristie Bergeron-Hale at The Perspectives Group at 703-837-1197 or email .
Added by Amy Lang on March 27, 2006??-??Link to this entry
Victim-Offender Mediation Conference Coming Up in Florida
VOMA (Victim-Offender Mediation Association) is co-sponsoring a national conference this year with the American Association of Community Justice Professionals (AACJP). The conference will be held in Miami, Florida in mid-June. Pre-conference training sessions will be held on June 10 and 11 and the full conference will be held from Monday through Wednesday June 12-14, 2006. You can access the full conference program on the VOMA Web site at http://voma.org/docs/AAJCP2006.pdf.
Added by Amy Lang on March 08, 2006??-??Link to this entry
Perspectives Group to Offer IAP2 Certified Training
The Perspectives Group will offer a five-day IAP2 Certificate Program in Public Participation six times in 2006. This training is designed for professionals working in the fields of community development, nonprofit and government public services, and public understanding and outreach. It is also designed for industry communications and public affairs or public relations, advocacy and lobbying organizations, private and government groups, and any individual/organization required to deal with the public about complex or potentially contentious issues. Upon completion of the full week of training, participants will receive a certificate from IAP2, the world?s leading association for public participation. Dates and locations are: Alexandria, VA April 3 ? 7; July 10 ? 14; September 18 ? 22; December 4 ? 8 and East Lansing, MI March 20-21 (Planning only). The full week of training is $1,475, or $295 per day. The Course is broken up into 3 sections: Planning for Effective Public Participation (two days), Effective Communication for Public Participation (one day), and Techniques for Public Participation (two days). Please note that the Planning course is a prerequisite to the Communications and Techniques courses. For additional information go to www.theperspectivesgroup.com/resource/trainingpro.html or feel free to contact Crystal Sarno or Kristie Bergeron-Hale at The Perspectives Group 703-837-1197 or .
Added by Amy Lang on February 25, 2006??-??Link to this entry
Perspectives Group Announces 2006 IAP2 Certificate Training Schedule
The Perspectives Group has just announced its International Association for Public Participation Certificate training in 2006. This course provides beginner through advanced practitioners with a broad-based learning experience covering all of the foundations of public participation. The Perspectives Group is one of the nation?s foremost experts in public participation and works throughout the world to establish and run advisory boards, communicate risk and technical information, develop cooperative decision-making programs, and enhance organizational effectiveness through team-building, visioning, and effective communications. Douglas Sarno, an IAP2 Master Trainer, was part of the team of developers that designed the IAP2 Certificate Training Program. He has over 20 years of experience in planning and implementing public participation programs and has written and spoken widely on public participation issues. Doug has delivered the IAP2 training dozens of times, to over 1,000 students worldwide. The courses will be held on the following dates: Alexandria, Virginia - Douglas J. Sarno, trainer: January 30 - February 3; April 3 - 7; July 10 - 14; September 18 - 22; December 4 - 8. In East Lansing, Michigan - David Bidwell, trainer: February 23 ? 24 (Planning) & March 20-22 (Communications & Techniques). For additional information, or to register for the training, please visit www.theperspectivesgroup.com/resource/trainingpro.html
Added by Amy Lang on December 02, 2005??-??Link to this entry
Corporation for Positive Change Announces 2006 Training Schedule
The Corporation for Positive Change (www.positivechange.org) is a premier consulting firm using Appreciative Inquiry for transformation and innovation in business, government, and nonprofit organizations around the world, with proven results in change management, leadership development, team building and culture transformation For detailed brochures on each workshop, please e-mail , or phone 505.751.1232 (x2). To see a list of the upcoming workshop dates and locations, click on the link below.
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Added by Amy Lang on December 02, 2005??-??Link to this entry
Southern Growth Policies Board Seeks Help Exploring Issue of Innovation
Each year, Southern Growth Policies Board (www.southern.org) starts a conversation in the South on a particular issue related to economic development. They do this by holding community forums or moderated discussions, in communities large and small across the region. This year, Southern Growth is seeking public help in exploring the issue of innovation. All participating communities' input will be used in presentations at the Southern Innovation Summit on June 4-6, 2006 in New Orleans and in developing Southern Growth's 2006 Report on the Future of the South. These forums can also be used as a tool to galvanize action in your own community. Southern Growth provides all groups with all the materials for a two-hour discussion. Civic clubs, workforce boards, and leadership classes can provide the audience, or create your own. A typical forum audience is between 10 to 30 citizens. Once you have sent the invitations, just let Southern know the date and location and they will send you supplies and instructions ? or you can simply download and copy the materials yourself at www.southern.org/forums.shtml. Materials include a Moderator's Guide and a Discussion Guide as well as Pre-Forum and Post-Forum Questionnaires. Forums must be held by March 2006 in order to include your community?s perspective in the 2006 Report on the Future of the South. Forum hosts who complete and return the moderator?s report and questionnaires by March 10, 2006 are eligible for a reduced conference registration rate to the Southern Innovation Summit. For more information on how to plan or moderate a community forum, contact Linda Hoke at (919) 941-5145 or . To view materials ? and findings ? from past forums and reports, visit Southern Growth?s Web site above.
Added by Amy Lang on December 01, 2005??-??Link to this entry
Discounts Still Available for CPC Appreciative Inquiry Courses
The Corporation for Positive Change has just sent out a reminder that discounts still apply for their remaining 2005 Appreciative Inquiry (AI) workshops. The Corporation for Positive Change (CPC) also provides substantial discounts to students and non-profit organizations. Upcoming courses include Appreciative Inquiry in Action - October 12-14 in Boulder CO; Appreciative Inquiry Summit - November 7-10 in Chicago IL; and an Appreciative Leadership Development Program - December 5-8 in Clearwater, FL. For full information on each course, phone 505.751.1232 (x2), visit www.positivechange.org or email .
Added by Amy Lang on September 27, 2005??-??Link to this entry
Corner Talk to Host Discussion on Hurricane Katrina
A new University of Georgia student organization called Corner Talk will host a public forum to discuss the effectiveness of Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. Corner Talk was organized by Melvin Hines Jr., a senior economics and political science major, and Vineet Reddy, a senior Spanish and pre-med major, to create dialogue between the university community and the Athens community on important national and local issues. The meeting will be held on September 20, 2005 at 7:30 p.m. at Hot Corner Coffee, at the corner of Hull and Washington Streets, Athens, Georgia. For more information contact Melvin Hines, Jr., at 706-357-1103, or email
Added by Amy Lang on September 18, 2005??-??Link to this entry
Annual Meeting of Southeast Facilitators Coming Up September 15-16
The annual meeting of the Southeast Association of Facilitators is coming up Sept 15-16 in Atlanta, GA at the Courtyard Atlanta Cumberland Center. The conference will focus on a number of themes, including facilitating virtual teams and warming up with icebreakers, sessions on certification, problem solving with K-T, mind-mapping and flip chart techniques. All are welcome. For more information, visit the SEAF website: www.seaf.org.
Added by Amy Lang on September 13, 2005??-??Link to this entry
Public Participation Training Opportunities Coming Up in Alexandria, VA
The Perspectives Group has just announced that it will offer the IAP2 Certificate Program in Public Participation two more times in Alexandria, VA in 2005. The week consists of three courses covering planning, communications, and techniques. The courses can be taken all together or at separate times. The course is recommended for any organization that interacts with the public in making decisions or developing programs. Dates are September 19-23, 2005 in Alexandria, VA and December 5-9, 2005 in Alexandria, VA. Upon completion, participants will receive a certificate from IAP2, the world?s leading association for public participation. For additional information and registration forms go to www.theperspectivesgroup.com/PG/training.html. Got any questions? Please contact Crystal Sarno or Kristie Bergeron-Hale at The Perspectives Group via telephone: 703-837-1197 or email: .
Added by Amy Lang on August 25, 2005??-??Link to this entry
Memphis 21st Century Town Meeting Will Address Youth Obesity
Memphis will be the site of the nation?s first interactive town meeting to gather grassroots community input on how to address improving the nutrition and physical activity of the nation?s children. The Shaping America?s Youth (SAY) 21st Century Town Meeting? will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 17 at FedEx Forum in downtown Memphis, Tennessee. SAY is an initiative of the new national health organization, Shaping America?s Health: Association for Weight Management and Obesity Prevention. They will be using the very successful 21st Century Town Meeting format developed by AmericaSpeaks. For more information, visit SAY online at www.shapingamericasyouth.com.
Added by Amy Lang on August 05, 2005??-??Link to this entry
Compassionate Listening Project Organizing Two Upcoming Events
The Compassionate Listening Project (www.compassionatelistening.org) has recently announced two major projects scheduled for this summer and fall. First, CLP hosts its 2nd Annual Summer Gathering at Camp Brotherhood, just north of Seattle, July 29th ? 31st. They will offer a 2-hour experiential in Compassionate Listening on Saturday morning and there will also be time for advanced practice. For more information, go to www.compassionatelistening.org/summergathering. Second, CLP will be leading a Compassionate Listening delegation to Israel-Palestine from November 7-20. They invite anyone to join them in this important service project. For more details visit www.compassionatelistening.org/trips. CLP is also currently participating in the 11th International Conference of the Institute of Noetic Sciences, which starts today in Arlington, VA and runs until July 11. If you're interested in attending the conference, go to www.compassionatelistening.org/conference.
Added by Amy Lang on July 06, 2005??-??Link to this entry
Dynamic Facilitation Workshop to be Held In Richmond, VA
We just heard from DeAnna Martin about a new opportunity to learn Dynamic Facilitation (www.tobe.net) in Richmond, VA this September 20-22, 2005. This workshop welcomes seasoned facilitators and those who would like to learn more about Dynamic Facilitation, and is offered in partnership with the Richmond Friends meeting. For more information or to register, contact DeAnna at (206) 459-8429 or .
Added by Amy Lang on June 09, 2005??-??Link to this entry
Update from the OrangeBand Initiative
NCDD recently learned about the James Madison University-based OrangeBand Initiative, and we're really excited to spread the word about this brilliantly simple idea. Kai Degner started the OrangeBand Initiative with a group of friends at JMU in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Their goal was simple: getting people talking about issues they care about. They began handing out orange strips of fabric that could be decorated to represent an issue important to whoever decides to wear one. The bands can be put on a bag or somewhere else and, when someone asks "What's your OrangeBand?", a conversation can ensue about that issue and others.
In two years, over 6,000 people have voluntarily decided to take a band and the Initiative has coordinated over 50 nonpartisan, discussion-based forums. According to director Kai Degner, "We have learned we are tapping into something much bigger than anything we could have created ourselves: a broad desire for a space for open, civil discourse about meaningful contemporary issues." Click below for the OrangeBand Initiative's latest
update (which happily includes an announcement about www.thataway.org!).
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Added by Sandy on April 05, 2005??-??Link to this entry
Upcoming IAP2 Certificate Trainings Offered by the Perspectives Group
The Perspectives Group is offering the International Association for Public Participation Certificate training in Alexandria, Virginia on June 27-July 1, and on September 19-23. The course provides beginner through advanced practitioners with a broad-based learning experience covering all of the foundations of public participation. The Perspectives Group is one of the nation?s foremost experts in public participation and Douglas Sarno, an IAP2 Master Trainer, was part of the team of developers that designed the IAP2 Certificate Training Program. Sarno has over 20 years of experience in planning and implementing public participation programs and has written and spoken widely on public participation issues. Doug has delivered the IAP2 training dozens of times, to over 1,000 students worldwide. For additional info or to register for the training, visit www.theperspectivesgroup.com/resource/trainingpro.html
Added by Sandy on March 21, 2005??-??Link to this entry
National League of Cities' Democratic Governance Training Coming Up
The National League of Cities is holding a Leadership Training Seminar next month called "The Power of Democratic Governance: Engaging Citizens as Partners." The seminar, which will bring together local elected officials from cities and towns across country, will take place in New Orleans, Louisiana April 21 through 23, 2005. The seminar aims to strengthen the efforts of advocating and educating on the use of democratic principles in everyday local governance. For practitioners and researchers, teh seminar will provide the opportunity to get an up-close look at teh role of local government in citizen engagement processes and efforts. Click here for more details on this exciting training.
Added by Sandy on March 19, 2005??-??Link to this entry
Florida's "Sunshine Week" Highlights the Importance of Open Government
Nancy Kranich, past President of the American Library Association, sent an interesting message to the NCDD Discussion list today about "Sunshine Week," a March 13-19, 2005 event that generates editorials, op-eds, editorial cartoons and news stories about the importance of open government. Begun in Florida in 2002, Sunshine Sunday and Sunshine Week spawned similar initiatives in several other states. Click below for the full announcement.
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Added by Sandy on March 03, 2005??-??Link to this entry
The Compassionate Listening Project Announces Upcoming Events & Workshops
I just received the Compassionate Listening Project's 2005 calendar in my inbox. Of particular interest are the Compassionate Listening Intensives, "Healing Our World from the Inside Out" (March 4-6 in Mt. Vernon, Washington; April 8-10 in South Bend, Indiana; April 16-17 in Lawrence, Kansas; May 6-8 in Everett, Washington; May 13-15 in Eugene, Oregon; June 3-5 in Denver, Colorado; and June 13-17 in Brattleboro, Vermont). To learn more about these trainings or to register, go to www.compassionatelistening.org/workshops.html. Click below for the full listing of the Compassionate Listening Project's upcoming events and trainings.
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Added by Sandy on February 28, 2005??-??Link to this entry
National Sustained Dialogue Campus Network Conference Coming Up in April
The 2005 National Sustained Dialogue Campus Network Conference will take place at the University of Virginia (in Charlottesville) April 9 and 10. Hundreds of motivated students, administrators and faculty members have been invited from dozens of schools across the U.S. because of their eagerness to learn more about initiating and improving Sustained Dialogue on their campuses.
Sustained Dialogue is a 5-stage model developed by Dr. Harold Saunders, former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State. It improves and transforms relationships strained by
racial, ethnic, religious, cultural and other differences. Come study with the creator of Sustained Dialogue, Dr. Hal Saunders, and Campus Coordinator, Priya Parker, along with hundreds of students and administrators coast to coast who implement SD on diverse university and high school campuses. Conference details are posted at www.sustaineddialogue.org/sdcn/SD%20News/sdnews.htm, but you can click below for some more details as well.
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Added by Sandy on February 27, 2005??-??Link to this entry
Appalshop Invites You to Attend Two Arts-Based Civic Dialogue Events in Kentucky
Appalshop is holding two exciting events in Kentucky this fall. First, The Robert F. Kennedy Performance Project, which will take place Sept 8-11, explores the effects of the ?war on poverty? in one of the country?s most distinctive yet marginalized regions. Second, an Art & Democracy National Gathering of artists and activists will take place September 11 and 12....
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Added by Sandy on August 22, 2004??-??Link to this entry
Hope in the Cities' First Fellowship Program a Success
I received an email today from Rob Corcoran, National Director of Hope in the Cities, announcing HITC's new Connecting Communities Fellowship Program, which graduated its first class this year. This five-part residential program grew out of HITC's experience with racial reconciliation in Richmond and in their consultations with communities throughout the U.S. over the past ten years. The next class in Richmond begins in January 2005, and the application deadline is October 1. Click below to read the full announcement.
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Added by Sandy on August 11, 2004??-??Link to this entry
First National Harwood Public Leadership School Set for September
The Harwood Institute for Public Innovation just announced that they will run their first "National Harwood Public Leadership School" this September. The school will take place at the (gorgeous) Airlie Conference Center in Warrenton, Virginia, September 26-29, 2004, and it will help the Harwood Institute to fulfill its mission to encourage public leaders to pursue an alternate path in public life - one of possibility and hope....
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Added by Sandy on August 05, 2004??-??Link to this entry
First U.S. Truth & Reconciliation Commission Launched in Greensboro, NC
John Stephens, of the Public Dispute Resolution Program at the University of North Carolina, posted a message on our Thataway Forum this weekend about the Greensboro Truth & Community Reconciliation Commission. Since we haven't yet seeded and launched the Forum, I thought I'd share his message via the blog so more people see it.
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Added by Sandy on June 28, 2004??-??Link to this entry
AmericaSpeaks Returns to Charlotte, NC
From AmericaSpeaks 4/29/04 enewsletter for their facilitators: In September 2004, AmericaSpeaks will return to Charlotte, NC to again partner with the Lee Institute in the development of a 21st Century Town Meeting for Mecklenberg County. The ?United Agenda for Children" will bring together somewhere between 1500 and 2000 residents to discuss child and family services, and education. This 21st Century Town Meeting? is part of a comprehensive 3-year effort to implement a shared action plan ensuring all children in Mecklenburg County are healthy, safe, and well educated. Congratulations to Anne Udall and Cyndee Patterson for their great work with the volunteer Steering Committee over the last several months. And kudos to Tracy Russ for bringing a team from Charlotte to "Behind the Scenes" at Listening to the City in July, 2002. The team that came to New York went back to Charlotte and got commitment to run the Feb. 2003 "The Region Speaks," a smaller meeting to expose more community leaders to what is possible in the world of citizen engagement. Out of that spark, with a lot of significant work in the community, this initiative for the well-being of children has evolved.
Added by Sandy on May 01, 2004??-??Link to this entry
Second Int'l Conference on Appreciative Inquiry
The Second International Conference on Appreciative Inquiry: Creating Extraordinary Organizations for Business and Society is scheduled to take place September 19?22, 2004, at the Doral Golf Resort and Spa in Miami, Florida. Appreciative Inquiry (AI) is a process that focuses on leveraging an organization's core strengths rather than seeking to overcome or minimize its weaknesses. As AI becomes a regular way of working, individuals at all levels and all functions identify best practices that the organization can build on in order to respond to new challenges. Go to www.aiconsulting.org/conference2004/index.htm for more details. Early registration rate ($1395) ends June 1.
Added by Sandy on April 06, 2004??-??Link to this entry
Int'l Conference on Community Health Set for Early October
Community-Campus Partnerships for Health (CCPH) and The Network: Toward Unity for Health are co-sponsoring an international Conference in Atlanta, Georgia USA that will replace our individual conferences for that year. The conference will be held October 6-10, 2004. CCPH is a US-based organization that promotes health through partnerships between communities and higher educational institutions. The Network is an international organization of community-oriented health professional schools, many from developing countries. By collaborating in these and other ways, we hope to strengthen the many wonderful partnerships already underway around the world, as well as to engage new individuals and organizations in this important work. More details and the "call for proposals" will be posted on our website at www.ccph.info.
Added by Sandy on March 22, 2004??-??Link to this entry
Community/Health Partnerships Conference Seeks Abstracts
The Call for Abstracts and Registration Brochure is now available for the international conference "Overcoming Health Disparities: Global Experiences from Partnerships Between Communities, Health Services and Health Professional Schools," October 6 - 10, 2004 - Atlanta, Georgia. The conference is cosponsored by Community-Campus Partnerships for Health and The Network: Towards Unity for Health. The Call for Abstracts and Registration Brochure is available at www.futurehealth.ucsf.edu/ccph/nationalconference.html.
Added by Sandy on February 01, 2004??-??Link to this entry
Service-Learning Gathering Engages Participants in Learning Circles
The Educators for Community Engagement?s 2004 National Gathering will be held at Berea College in Berea, Kentucky from June 17-20, 2004. This 10th anniversary gathering will center around serious discussions between people who are truly dedicated to the concept of service-learning. National Gatherings differ from the usual academic conference in that you will join in a learning circle of your choice and remain there for the duration of the gathering - usually two days. During this time you will not only engage in amazingly in-depth discussions of extremely varied topics, but you will come to know others in your circle in a way not possible at an ordinary conference. In fact, you will develop some of the most meaningful and useful personal contacts imaginable. These people will continue to provide guidance, advice, and support (as will you yourself) throughout the year until the next gathering. www.e4ce.org