Name: Co-Creating a More Diverse, Equitable, and Inclusive World with Appreciative Inquiry
Start: 2022-05-10T09:00:00-07:00
End: 2022-05-31T11:00:00-07:00
Location: Virtual Event

This event has passed.

May 10, 2022 at 9:00 am to May 31, 2022 at 11:00 am PDT - Virtual Event

May 10, 2022 – 9:00am-11:00am Pacific/12:00-2:00 p.m. Eastern/ and 6:00-8:00 p.m. SAST
May 17, 2022 – 9:00am-11:00am Pacific/12:00-2:00 p.m. Eastern/ and 6:00-8:00 p.m. SAST
May 24, 2022 – 9:00am-11:00am Pacific/12:00-2:00 p.m. Eastern/ and 6:00-8:00 p.m. SAST
May 31, 2022 – 9:00am-11:00am Pacific/12:00-2:00 p.m. Eastern/ and 6:00-8:00 p.m. SAST

Virtual Series Overview

Learn how to apply Appreciative Inquiry (AI) to create the social change of our time. This moment is opportune for AI principles and tools to help focus our work on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) issues like #BlackLivesMatters, #MeToo and rise to the call to action. So, come prepared to collaboratively inquire into what’s working and what’s possible to create the change we want to see in our workplaces, communities and family systems.

This course is designed to support you in taking DEI actions with AI principles, process and tools. We invite you to come with a DEI project (big or small, personal or professional) that will ensure your learning through immediate application. We will help you identify the individual and collective strengths within your initiative, develop generative questions to engage in listening and storytelling for positive possibilities, and ensure you have an action plan to co-create a more diverse, equitable and inclusive destiny.

We will share our expertise working in the fields of DEI and OD, including our theory of change and model published in an Inclusive Leadership book (2020, Routledge*). However, this course will not be a diversity, equity and inclusion training, an unconscious bias assessment, nor an anti-racist webinar. We will provide links to those resources, some which will form part of the pre-work, as there are incredible colleagues who have devoted their life and work to building DEI knowledge and skill set deep dives (for longer than the duration of this course permits).

This course is designed for all Appreciative Inquiry skill levels, whether you are new to AI or you’re an AI expert and yearning to incorporate DEI into your living AI practice. As BIPOC women facilitators, AI has been central to our resilience in social change work and strengthened our call-in culture work in organizations.

Learning Outcomes

As a result of participating in this 4-webinar series you will be able to:

– Actively contribute to a more diverse, equitable and inclusive world.
– Deepen your Appreciative Inquiry practice and tools.
– Work on your own DEI project at work, home or in your community using AI principles and tools.
– Establish a learning and accountability process and community for your AI DEI work.
– Create an Action Plan for your DEI project’s destiny.

Target Audience

AI practitioners and AI students, consultants, coaches, collaborative group leaders, DEI practitioners interested in AI and anyone seeking to strengthen their Appreciative Inquiry practices and tools to increase their diversity, equity and inclusion work at work, home, or in their communities.

Virtual Webinar Series

WEBINAR #1: CREATING A SAFE CONTAINER AND BUILDING A COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE – RENEW
May 10, 2022 – 9:00am-11:00am Pacific/12:00-2:00 p.m. Eastern/ and 6:00-8:00 p.m. SAST

We will share a relational theory of change and appreciative leadership model applied to DEI. We will discuss and identify various diversity markers and explore the term intersectionality, coined by Kimberlé Crenshaw, with an additional AI lens, e.g. “how might the term serve as a meaningful metaphor for bringing out the best of women by exploring layers of strengths and wisdom developed by living with multiple forms of inequality and disadvantage” (Thriving Women, Thriving World. 2019, Taos*). We will build understanding and trust through paired work and group shared agreements. The discussions will be informed in part through DEI pre-readings and personal experiences of positive change.

WEBINAR #2: PROJECT-BASED WORK – RELATE
May 17, 2022 – 9:00am-11:00am Pacific/12:00-2:00 p.m. Eastern/ and 6:00-8:00 p.m. SAST

We will review and integrate AI principles, tools, and or process into each person’s identified personal or professional DEI project. Small groups will learn and practice a strengths-based peer mentoring and coaching “Spaciousness Thinking Partners” process to build, brainstorm and peer feedback on each project. The process involves amplifying and dreaming into what is possible.

WEBINAR #3: EMBODIED LEARNING – CO-CREATE
May 24, 2022 – 9:00am-11:00am Pacific/12:00-2:00 p.m. Eastern/ and 6:00-8:00 p.m. SAST

We will review and explore how the projects, following asynchronous project building, can go further with deeper reflection and breakthroughs on limiting beliefs. We will craft and use generative questions to center living AI and DEI ethos and values in your professional and personal processes. What is emerging that informs your DEI future? How can this be practically applied? Where do you need further support? How can you share, learn and grow as an AI DEI community? What are the generative questions we need to consistently and persistently be asking to grow our DEI strengths-based practice?

WEBINAR #4: AI TOOLKIT AND THE RELATIONAL POWER OF DEI ACTION PLANS – RESOLVE
May 31, 2022 – 9:00am-11:00am Pacific/12:00-2:00 p.m. Eastern/ and 6:00-8:00 p.m. SAST

We will conclude harvesting the projects review and exploration. We will reflect on and converge all our key insights and emerging wisdom in order to solidify a vast toolbox for practical application post course. Our DEI resolve and resilience is explored by delving into the inner condition and external relationships (with both allies and antagonists) needed for successful action.

To strengthen our community of practice, supportive materials, resources and recommended readings will be made available, as well as between-session sharing of practices, questions, and reflections (e.g. new ways of thinking).

Method of Delivery

This course will be presented using Zoom over scheduled 4 weeks with a two-hour webinar per week. Prior to this event, the facilitators will email you everything you need to participate in this course, including: the Zoom meeting login information and a link to a collaboration space on Google.

Please note: these virtual webinar sessions will not by recorded for asynchronous viewing due to the experiential nature of the session and the extensive time working and learning in small groups. Asynchronous learning will focus on increasing confidence, courage and clarity through application of our unique processes. DEI resources and Appreciative Inquiry resources from the AI commons are highlighted. Additionally, the course is designed as project-based learning, so plan on your expertise and project thriving with three hours of asynchronous group work between classes. This group work is required course work.

Additionally, the course is designed as project-based learning, so plan on blocking out 6 hours of asynchronous group work outside of the 4 webinars. Total time on the course to meet the intended outcomes: 14 hours.

Registration Includes

Registration in this virtual series includes:

Four scheduled 2-hour live webinars, plus applied learning and practice each week.

This course will be presented using Zoom over 4 scheduled weeks with a two-hour webinar per week. Prior to this event, the facilitators will email you everything you need to participate in this course, including: the Zoom meeting login information and a link to a collaboration space on Google.

AI Practitioners

Marlene Ogawa (she/her) specializes in designing and facilitating strategic innovative interventions internationally. Marlene has worked with business, NGO and government youth development practitioners in entrepreneurship, mentorship, education policy & design, information technology for development and volunteer initiatives. Over the years Marlene has supported cross and multi-sectoral collaborations, engaging and facilitating gatherings with diverse groups within government, business, civil society and communities. She is committed to and passionate about supporting global community initiatives that inform policy. She uses Appreciative Inquiry (AI) towards activating and building agency of groups, envisioning and actively changing their systems. Her work in building relational connectedness and collaborative leadership informs the approaches she uses to take participants from individual to collective systems work. She believes that enhancing peoples’ capacity leads to successful program delivery and sustainable change to positively impact systems and society. Marlene has a Bachelor in Education Honors Degree, and her formal technology schooling is the foundation to a passion for online learning and engagements that amplify collaboration. Marlene and Tanya have co-authored a book entitled: Thriving Women, Thriving World: An Invitation to Dialogue, Healing and Inspired Actions; and will soon have her work published in the book Inclusive Leadership: Transforming Diverse Lives, Organizations, and Societies.

Tanya Cruz Teller (she/ella) is passionate about systems change and applies her 20+ years of experience in international, organizational, and community development to bring to life her principles of personal transformation, collaborative partnerships, and strengths-based solutions. She champions assets-based design in strategic planning, leadership development, & stakeholder engagement. Tanya’s career in the international OD and DEI arena includes her role as an expert panelist of the Global Diversity & Inclusion Benchmarks.Tanya enjoys engaging large AI and DEI audiences: in 2019 she co-keynoted at the World Appreciative Inquiry Conference in France on the theme of Thriving Women, Thriving World with Diana Whitney and Marlene Ogawa and presented at the Forum on Workplace Inclusion in the USA. Tanya was the MC and co-designer of the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Futures Project conference in Princeton and the 2017 International OD Association opening plenary interactive visioning session in Cape Town. With the current Covid19 pandemic, Tanya has harnessed her many years of combining participatory convening, coaching and culture work with technology to engage and build inclusive processes for organizations and stakeholders online. Moving in-person conferences, workshops and programs to virtual platforms has proven her tech innovation skills timely. Tanya has a Master of Intercultural & International Management and a Bachelor of Arts: Psychology & Sociology.

Dr. Nicole Bossard’s vision of a perfect world includes thriving communities overflowing with bodacious people and dynamic businesses, educational institutions, and community organizations actively working together to turn great challenges into great opportunities! Equipped with a PhD in Leadership and Change and infectious enthusiasm, Dr. Bossard leverages the power of purpose and positivity to initiate, plan, and sustain system change initiatives with organizations and communities across the United States.

She creates engaging and safe learning environments where the lived experiences and voices of diverse stakeholders are deeply valued and woven throughout the change process. Making it possible for groups to collectively identify what they really want more of, uncover innate strengths and relational drivers of success across differences, and co-create innovative solutions that matter. Her clients report renewed passion for their work, greater trust amongst diverse staff, stakeholders, and partners, strengthened resourcefulness and resilience, and improved clarity and shared accountability across . As the world continues to explore issues of race/racism, equity, and inclusion, Dr. Bossard has found Appreciative Inquiry to be one of the best strategic tools communities have to build and sustain positive agendas for change in which we all thrive

Stephen Read has spent 30 years creating solutions in various environments from startup businesses to consulting to NPOs. He has been active in many industries including media, tech, retail, logistics, hospitality and education working in world class urban areas through to informal settlements.

Stephen works in Africa and has been involved in projects in 8 countries to date. Stephen features as a panel judge and mentor on Africa’s Young Entrepreneurs, the largest African entrepreneur reality show, now in its 6th season, which is broadcast and syndicated across Africa through 6 different TV stations.

He has also worked as a facilitator with other organisations such as the South African Diversity Supplier Council, Technoserve, the Ondo State Government, Nigeria and Liberty Group to train and mentor entrepreneurs and small business owners at various stages of their development. Furthermore, he designs and implements entrepreneur development programs for government, NGOs and companies looking to expand the capacity and ability of small and micro businesses.

Stephen is also the South Africa Ambassador to the World Union of Small and Medium Enterprises and has served in roles as the Director: Strategic Alliances at the International Coach Federation (ICF), South Africa Chapter, Founding Director of Redeeming Hope for the Disabled (a NPO working to up-skill disabled immigrants in South Africa), Mentor for Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), a panel advisor for the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA) Enterprise Development Program as well as the South African National Director of The ManKind Project International (MKP) and the South African representative on the international MKP Council. Stephen has completed diversity and inclusivity training through MKP in 2011 and again in 2021. He is currently completing his Certificate in Inclusive Leadership: The power of workplace diversity, through the University of Colorado System.

Event Cost

The cost to participate in this webinar series is:

$595.00 USD per person.

Partial Scholarships may be Available:
To apply, please complete this brief application form to let the facilitators know what inspires you to take this course and how this scholarship would enable you to join. Scholarship applications for the October course will close April 20, 2022. Scholarships will be awarded within 48 hours of approval.

Organizer

: Kathy Becker
Email:: Kathy@CenterforAppreciativeInquiry.net

Venue

Virtual Event

Co-Creating a More Diverse, Equitable, and Inclusive World with Appreciative Inquiry