Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Work Harder or Work Together?


These are chaotic times! The pace and scale of change -- as well as the number of issues that impact our ability to optimally serve children -- continues to grow. As a result, we often find ourselves working harder -- running full-speed, deeply immersed in our isolated spheres...What else can we do? 

Paul Born (keynote speaker for the 2014 Fall Conference) suggests that there is indeed another way to navigate through these chaotic times, which will not only quench our thirst for belonging, but bolster our physical, mental, emotional, and economic health, as well -- by working together and deepening our experience of community! 

In his book, Deepening Community, Paul suggests that "community has the power to change everything". Rather than trying to survive in chaos, community can help us thrive by "finding joy together in chaotic times". Through his immense experience, Paul has found that "people can learn and make choices to work together and to care together. That no matter how difficult the task, through community engagement and collaboration we can create a positive vision, organize ourselves to achieve it, and realize a better future for all...The deeper the community, the easier and better the outcome."

The OMA and NAMTA are partnering to host a Fall Conference which warmly welcomes ALL members of the Montessori community -- family members, admins, and guides of all levels, from all settings (private and public), training, and regions -- to gather together in community to:

(1) share information and develop relationships and skills to help us work more effectively together
(2) earn professional development credits
(3) appreciate the significant part each of us plays in the whole of our community,

We hope you join us in Columbus, September 26 - 28, 2014, to consider the possibilities of what we might create together -- for our children and the world!