Conversare – moving right along to next steps of Conversing Community
For those lively spirits who have been following this blog re the inventing of Conversare in Hong Kong in 2009 and subsequent ‘happenings’ in diverse places around our little planet…
Also for others newly acquainted to this way of being together…
For a sense of what Conversare is and how it has been perceived widely see https://conversare.net
https://conversare.net/introducing-conversare/
and https://conversare.net/feedback/
Noting that a participant in an event in Indonesia described her experience as “Simple and deep, a spiritual adventure”.
And for a couple of ‘wholesome stories’ pre the current federal administration see Conversare in America
Also https://conversare.net/conversare-ambience-direction-and-the-awe-of-conversation/
With this ‘something now evolving’ being ‘in tune’ with Robbie Stokes ‘I talk to strangers’ and his “Be the change”.
With these above in mind are you intrigued about what is now evolving?
About which here is a ‘taster’ (smile) of ‘the underpinning’ of ‘what’s on the wind’ regarding next steps to creation of ‘The Conversing Community’. In which a core feature of life in such is ‘conversing’
with fellow residents in the same geographical area – such as within a local council – as a way of being in everyday life.
Which is arising through most thoughtful queries from a friend who asked:
Conversare is social gatherings in public places in which participants engage in conversation with strangers over a meal. Which is well and good but what happens after events? Is there a means by which they are part of the process of building community? Especially through people resident in a particular geographical area talking to one another as a manner of everyday living.
This resonated strongly in me and several colleagues with whom I shared these questions.
Which has given rise to the prospect that it could happen in a local council area in which I live. Where I have a ‘track record’ of substantial accomplishment. One example is my putting the case – together with colleagues and arising from training by Greenpeace – to a meeting of the full council that they adopt a ‘Climate Emergency’.
Also, as background to this, in one part of my earlier life I was a university lecturer in Nutrition in the School of Medicine at Flinders University in Adelaide. This was the first medical school in Australia to consider adopting a graduate entry curriculum. Which meant that students were to have an undergraduate degree to be qualified to enrol. Up until then admittance was on the basis of high school achievements.
In the preparations for my ‘having a say’ about this initiative and with support and training in public speaking from a famous American financial advisor, I put this question to my colleagues:
“What is the adjective we would wish to see attached to the word ‘doctor’ as the endpoint of our new curriculum?”
While there is a lively story behind how this all ‘happened’ the essence is that my ‘word’ was ‘Thoughtful’. Which turned out to be influential in leading to the formulation of two main goals for the new curriculum:
(1) that the graduates would be well versed in the science and practice of medicine. (2) that they would relate well to their patients and communities.
Which brings to my mind – and maybe yours too – that adopting more ‘thoughtful’ ways of engaging with each other is ‘the way to go’ in how we humans connect with each other as a matter of ‘everyday’ life.
As a contribution to this my colleagues and I are in process of setting up the first ‘Conversing Community’. With a series of Conversare events being the starting point. To be complemented by ways in which local residents can become more aware – and develop their skills – of being more confident and competent conversationalists. And so come to be willing and able to give of themselves.
Which could lead to residents becoming more capable of knowing what to add after saying ‘Hello’. And in turn could lead to reduction in the amount of loneliness which is increasingly widely reported as a substantial health hazard.
Quite what these ‘thoughtful ways’ are is being considered at present. One distinct possibility is through making podcasts on conversational skills which could be readily available – along with helpful staff – at local libraries.
And then bringing the outcomes of these initiatives to the attention of diverse others – including financial advisors! – widely. To question whether there are more crucial issues on which to pay attention than being financially secure in these troubling times.
Pie in the sky?
Or do you have a strong sense that there could be ‘something substantial’ on the wind?
Looking forward, indeed …
Al
Al (formerly Alan) Stewart, PhD
Process Artist
Facilitator/host of conversations that matter and participatory fun
Senior Fulbright Scholar
Blog: www.conversare.net
“We are in this together to treat each other well.
Whenever we do this good things happen.”
Al Stewart
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