Learn Practical Tools to Create Shared Breakthrough Conversations: 

·       Move from individual, polarized stances to one that incorporates many peoples’ concerns

·       Unlock the high functioning capacity of groups by empathetically listening to all perspectives    

·       Weave together resilient collaboration in a way that energizes people, and fosters commitment

·       Practice applying this approach to uncover new insights into issues that you are passionate about

 

Who Should Take this Seminar:

·       Anyone wanting to better address challenging, persistent problems in our communities and organizations. The breakthrough approaches taught at this seminar are used by:

o   Business leaders, community leaders, organizers, elected officials, facilitators, counselors, therapists, and trainers. 

Dynamic Facilitation (DF): An approach designed by Jim Rough to uncover group wisdom by processes that result in deep, meaningful, and uncontentious conversations. The process builds consensus on difficult topics that have previously divided groups. (For more info: https://www.wisedemocracy.org/). The experiential format offers opportunities for significant personal growth and group growth as well.  

What People are saying about Dynamic Facilitation:

“… Dynamic Facilitation Seminar teaches the most fluid, powerful form of consensus process I know, which also happens to be key to the Wisdom Council, the most powerful democratic innovation I know.” Tom Atlee, author of The Tao of Democracy and Empowering Public Wisdom.

“Any organization with big impossible problems – these are the best topics for Dynamic Facilitation.” Alex Nairn, former British Government Employee, Department of Education (See YouTube for more details:)  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iy9c64UB2xM

 

Citizen Wisdom Councils:

A practical application of Dynamic Facilitation (DF) with a proven track record in addressing challenging community level problems. 

Ordinary citizens, chosen at random, use DF to address a particular community issue for local government councils to consider and implement. They then present their ideas to the community through community wide listening sessions. In two Austrian states, Saltzburg and Vorarlberg, these councils were so successful at addressing challenging issues that Citizen Wisdom Councils are written into their state constitutions. 

 

Workshop leader:

Corrina McFarlane serves on the board of The Center for Wise Democracy. She champions the Dynamic Facilitation model in a variety of settings including industry, schools, and training seminars, a role which extends to senior associate at London-based Change That Matters. She works closely with Europeans who have used the model extensively.

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Certified in Conflict Resolution, she has served in her community on the Santa Cruz Probation Department's Restorative Justice board for first time offenders (a nationally acclaimed initiative).Program Coordinator, Wise Democracy Santa Cruz County, CA.

 

 

Where DF has been taught:

All over the world, including London, Frankfurt, Moscow, Vienna, Bangkok, Washington D.C., and other U.S cities, Zurich, Singapore, and Australia. 

 

Free Events Open to the Public

Free Public Talk on Citizen Wisdom Councils, led by DF trainers, Thursday evening October 30th from 7:30 – 9 PM at Haw Creek East Asheville Library, 3 Avon Rd, Asheville                                                                                     

 

Text Ruth Backstrom at (919) 282-2323 with questions about scholarships and lodging options.      

 

Sponsors: The workshop is sponsored by The Center for Wise Democracy in collaboration with Highland Lake Cove Retreat Center and a team of facilitators and activists interested in catalyzing community change hubs. Ruth Backstrom, author of Igniting a Bold New Democracy, is a member of that team.