The Art of Hosting Conversations and Collaborations Across Generations

with Chris Corrigan, Tim Merry, and Barbara Bash

In many of today's cultures, both within and outside our institutions and organizations, we have compartmentalized the generations. We move in silos from kindergarten to schools to universities to work – and finally to nursing homes. In a time when we need to come together to address significant challenges, revitalize our organizations and communities, and co-create common futures, we find that we must re-learn how to engage meaningfully and productively across the generations.

The Art of Hosting is a set of practices and principles, and a way of being that prepares us to convene conversations that matter, and that move groups and communities towards generative action. In this module we will learn and practice the Art of Hosting while exploring questions and sharing stories of what is possible when the generations work together.

This module is open to all ages. Bring your your curiosity, your stories, and your readiness to participate.

This module is within the "Convening Strategic Conversations" track that began with a module led by Juanita Brown and David Isaacs in 2001 and continued on with Toke Møller, Marianne Knuth, and others in subsequent years. Since then the "Art of Hosting" has become integral to the Institute's own approach to convening programs and dialogues. This module also carries forward the inter-generational theme which has run through various dialogues and initiatives, including the Intergenerational Dialogue of 2004, the Global Village Square of 2005 and 2006, and the Intergenerational Leadership Exchange in Ontario in 2008.

Chris Corrigan is a facilitator of conversation in the service of emergence. His business is supporting invitation: the invitation to collaborate, to organize, to find one another and make a difference in communities, organizations and lives.

To read more about Chris and his work, see his site. You'll also find there, a taste of the art of hosting.

“In a changing and complex world, there are no answers, there is no certainty. Leadership and questions are everywhere. We are called to be in active engagement with the world around us, to make sense of things we are seeing and to act on our visions and ideas for the good and benefit of all.”

Tim Merry developed his craft as founder and partner in Engage! Interact in the Netherlands, and continues work in this field as a free agent in Canada. Currently, he is setting up a community leadership and social entrepreneurship training centre in Canada called the Shire. In a time of increasing speed, diversity and information saturation, Tim believes the clarity we seek is already within ourselves, our communities, our organizations and networks. He is inspired by what happens when we create the conditions for people to engage meaningfully with each other, reach collective clarity and take action that is sustaining.

Barbara Bash is a published author and performance artist who lives in the Hudson Valley of New York. She has worked for many years as a calligrapher and teacher of book arts and nature journaling. She was co-director of the book arts program at Naropa University and has collaborated over the years with musicians, storytellers, and dancers,exploring calligraphic performance art. Her study of Dharma Art with Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche and Chinese pictograms with Ed Young contributed to her understanding of eastern principles as applied to western forms. She has written and illustrated many award-winning books on natural history for children and adults. Her most recent book is True Nature: An Illustrated Journal of Four Seasons in Solitude. She teaches Big Brush calligraphy workshops throughout the U.S. Barbara has been involved with Creative Process at the Institute since 2002. She has also been collaborating with Bob Wing and Toke Møller in developing a leadership workshop that draws on the principles and practices of the "Circle, Brush, and Sword."

Shambhala Summer Institute Modules

Action Inquiry: Transformational Leadership in the Midst of Action
with Bill Torbert & Mary Stacey

The Art of Hosting Conversations and Collaborations Across Generations
with Chris Corrigan, Tim Merry, & Barbara Bash

Coping with Chaos: Tools and Practices from Human Systems Dynamics
with Glenda Eoyang & Wendy Morris

Embodied Leadership – Empowered Life
with Wendy Palmer

Leader as Coach
with Sarita Chawla & James Flaherty

Leader as Shambhala Warrior
with Margaret Wheatley, James Gimian, & Jerry Granelli

Organizational Trust: Cultivating Authenticity, Commitment, and Collaboration
with Ruben Perczek, Susan Skjei, & Steve Clorfeine