If you believe Montessori is a movement for real and lasting change in this world -- capable of transforming children and society -- we invite you to join us at the NAMTA/OMA 2014 Fall Conference, "Creating a Montessori Community For ALL" to explore what possibilities might unfold when presenters from both AMI and AMS, national leaders in the field of community and Montessori advocacy, and parents/families, guides of all levels, and administrators, join together.
Why Community?
Community and a sense of belonging are important...
...for our children! Alfred Adler, (an eminent psychologist and student of Maria Montessori) suggested the primary need of every child is to feel a sense of belonging and significance...many consider the psychological sense that one belongs, to be a necessary condition for successful learning experiences.
...for ourselves! Community shapes our identity and bolsters our physical, mental, emotional, and economic health.
...for Dr. Montessori’s vision of peace! Our capacity to contribute to the creation of a world that works for all is intimately tied to the vitality and connectedness of our communities.
Why Collective Impact?
The potential for the Montessori community to create real and lasting change for children and society grows exponentially as more and more Montessorians begin to work collaboratively to protect high quality Montessori education and ensure it becomes an option available for all children. But how might we orient ourselves to be successful? One model to consider is Collective Impact -- a powerful paradigm for social progress that enables diverse organizations to create lasting large-scale change.
The power of Collective Impact lies in the heightened vigilance that comes from multiple organizations looking for resources and innovations through the same lens, the rapid learning that comes from continuous feedback loops, and the immediacy of action that comes from a unified and simultaneous response among all participants. (SSIR) [Click here to learn more about Collective Impact.]
Why Paul Born?
Holding the intention that whatever results we are hoping to accomplish in the world, community needs to be at the center of our thinking has enabled Paul Born and the Tamarack Institute to leverage the power of Collective Impact and transform how social issues like poverty are being addressed across Canada -- changing more than fifty government policies, supporting over two hundred social innovations, and reducing poverty for more than two hundred thousand people. Paul is a Montessori Dad who believes “that we do have the time, the money, and all the tools necessary to solve any challenge, by coming together in community.” (Deepening Community, Pg XIV)
