Theme and Agenda
2010 Conference for Global Transformation
A New World, A New Reality
Global transformation calls for new worlds and new realities. Many people have compelling visions for what life in a transformed world would be like. Whether in the area of education, government, business, environment, communities, or relationships, people talk about how life could be in a world transformed. But most of us fail to notice that to enjoy the fruits of global transformation, we must let go of current “realities.’
Inside new realities, things that historically have never moved can move. Problems that have been unsolvable can be solved. There can be new understandings among institutions and cultures of what it takes to fulfill what really matters to people and to make a difference in the world.
Transformation is a phenomenon of language in which we invent new language and generate new realms of possibility-- quite literally we invent new realities in which to live. The world we are looking to transform is not the world of objects and things, but the world of language: the discourses and conversations that constitute our current realities and the world in which we live. Creating a new world, a world transformed, involves creating new realities in language.
Such realities, however, cannot be personal or limited to just a few people, they must be available to and live in the language of other peoples, organizations, and institutions around the world. They must account for the past, differences in how people use and relate to language, and differences in cultures and generations. It’s not the people we seek to transform, but the realities in language that give us, and them, the world we live in. A new world requires new realities, and new realities are created in language.
The 2010 Conference for Global Transformation is calling for papers and workshops that speak to new worlds and new realities. History is [replete] with demonstrations of new worlds and new realities being created: The Reformation; the invention of calculus, the internal combustion engine, and the printing press; European exploration of America; and the building of the Suez canal all heralded new worlds and new realities.
When you invent a possibility, if you don’t account for the past, it isn’t really a possibility--it’s probably a pipe dream. But when you invent a possibility that accounts for the past, your invention can change the world. We want to build on what you, and others, have learned about creating new worlds and new realities and how they recontextualize previous worlds and realities.
Conference Sessions:
Conference Sessions will include presentations on a wide range of topics and issues:
Historical Looks at New Worlds and New Realities.
What can we learn from historical record of economics, history, science, or other disciplines about the creation and impact of new worlds and new realities? How have new worlds and realities shaped our understandings of the past and our outlook for the future? What new worlds and realities have you created for others and how have these shaped your life and the lives of tohers?
Addressing the Gap.
How do you address the generational and cultural gaps between the language of your promise and the language of those who are younger and older than you? What challenges and possible ways for addressing those challenges do we face in enrolling and registering people in other cultures and generations into our promise for the world? What strategies do you have for closing the gap? What have you tried? What have you learned?
Expanding the Circle.
How do you get your communications to go beyond your first circle and live in the conversations of “strangers”? What does it take to be able to deliver a communication to someone in our originating circle that can end up in the community? How do we give a conversation away? What have you tried and what have you learned about getting a conversation into a community, society, or culture?
Reports from the Field.
What has been happening with your promise? In what way is the world different as a result of you living your promise? What have you learned that works and doesn’t work? What is the status of your promise in a particular country or region of the world?
Best Practices (How Tos).
When it comes to living an impossible promise, there are things you have learned that work and some that don’t. What are they? What specific tools, practices, and ways of operating have you created that contribute to and support delivering on an impossible promise? What are some of the reliable practices you have found to keep you engaged, to enroll and register others, or to expand the conversation?
Posters:
Posters presented by conference participants will address any of the above issues or questions, or any other aspect of formulating and implementing a promise for the world. Posters are an ideal way to “just talk” to other participants about ideas they have, things they have learned, or issues they are working on.
Workshops:
Workshops are intended to provide people with new tools, ideas, and skills related to designing and implementing a promise for the world.
Submit a Proposal for a Poster
To find out how your impossible promise can be considered for a poster session, request guidelines from: CGTguidelines@landmarkeducation.net.
Agenda
Friday, May 21, 2010
1:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Conference Registration
3:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Conference Sessions and Reception
Saturday, May 22, 2010
9:00 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. Conference Sessions and Reception
Sunday, May 23, 2010
9:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Conference Sessions