Conversare – a storm of recognition gathering strength

You may be interested to learn that there are substantial developments with  Converare – Bringing conversation to life.

This latter subtitle was used as the name of a nomination in the Social Category of Civic Review 2012 of the Australian Civic Trust.

Essentially it means that this enterprise received high praise and widespread local recognition at an awards ceremony at Parliament House in Adelaide on Wednesday 21 November 2012. This has happened in spite of it being only ‘on the ground’ for less than a year here and with no external source of support – yet!

Do have a look at  2012 Citations Booklet (contents)

On page 9 you can see what people within the Australian Civic Trust consider to be its potential for a ‘major impact on social life in the city.’

And, as you may appreciate, well beyond.

On page 11 you can see what influence those of you who voted earlier for Bringing Conversation to Life had on the level of exposure it received. Much appreciated.

You may wish to know that the program for the Adelaide Fringe 2013 will be available in The Advertiser on 7 December, 2012. This will feature the three Conversare events to be held at Sarah’s Sister’s Sustainable Café in Semaphore on Feb 22, March 1^st & March 8^th.

Which means that there will be opportunity to have a ‘different’ Fringe experience in that, instead of going along to be entertained, …  <smile>

These will likely fill fast, given the level of awareness about this way of interacting well now gathering momentum. Given too that this Cafe has a reputation for very fine food!

And if you intuit that there is more in this than meets the eye … here is something which may resonate.  A new book by a person whose work I greatly admire has these words:

“We live in a time of increasing polarization and irrationality … We need to acknowledge that we’re lost in a world far different that we hoped for …[we are invited]  to choose a new role for ourselves as warriors for the human spirit.”

From:  So Far From Home
Lost and Found in Our Brave New World ( Berrett-Koehler) (Paperback)
by Margaret J. Wheatley

I wonder if you see that coming together for informal face-to-face conversation in public places in local neighbourhoods could play a part in the development of more spirited, compassionate and enjoyable ways of engaging with each other?

If you do would you wish to support this initiative in whichever way(s) you feel appropriate?  One of the people who is a regular participant at the Whitmore Hotel says that one reason she comes is to support a venture she admires.

Alan Stewart
Social Artist
Adelaide