Deep Deomcracy | Monday April 10, 2017 | 5.30pm

The term ‘deep democracy’ was coined by Arnold Mindell (a physicist and Jungian psychologist) in the 1980s to refer to the need to engage with the range of one’s own internal voices, as well as all the voices in the community, to achieve social change.   Myrna Lewis (a clinical psychologist also working in the corporate sector) and her late husband Greg Lewis, adapted Mindell’s work when they were consulting to Eskom, South Africa’s power utility. They were contracted to help the workplace transform after the apartheid regime. They followed the ‘teach people to fish’ approach knowing that this was the only way to tackle issues at scale, and provided people with tools for communication, decision making and conflict resolution. The Lewis Method ‘tool kit’ was born and Myrna has been refining and expanding the work with a growing network of instructors over the last nearly 20 years. CoResolve, a participative leadership program has also been developed. Powered by the Deep Democracy tools, it addresses the challenge leaders have in holding neutrality, when the very nature of their role is that they have a view. The Lewis Method is learnt experientially and Cath Elderton will use the session on Monday 10th April to provide people with a taste of some of the tools, such as the Soft Shoe Shuffle, the 4 Steps and The Argument.  It would be good if you can come with a topic that you think it would be good for the SFN to discuss!

About Cath Elderton Cath Elderton came across The Lewis Method Deep Democracy at a workshop Myrna Lewis ran in Darwin in 2011, and has been learning it ever since. She has many years’ experience in development practice (both overseas and in northern Australia), including learning and development work. She has recently completed training in Process Oriented Psychology, a psychotherapy methodology that is another plank that underpins Deep Democracy. Venue: [We will be at UTS] University of Technology Sydney (UTS), Jones Street, Ultimo corner Thomas Street. Room 5.580 Level 5, Building 10, Take the lift to level 5, cross the atrium footbridge, walk straight ahead to room 580. Time: From 5:30pm to 7:30pm sharp | No RSVP - Just turn up | Donation $5 Enquiries | Eoin Higgins  eoin.p.higgins@gmail.com ; 0407 411 684 Call for Guest Facilitators: If you have an idea or know someone who has an idea for a session at a Facilitators Network meeting in please contact Eoin Higgins 0407 411 684 eoin.p.higgins@gmail.com

Tactical conversations to affect peoples thinking | Monday June 15, 2015 | 5.30pm

Nelson Mandela asked: How can we inspire greatness when nothing less will do? Greatness in our time means doing everything required to transition from sure ecological self-destruction to a life-sustaining future.

For this transition to occur successfully those of us who care must become skilful at raising people’s quality of thinking to a new level. Tactical conversations are an innovative approach to doing this. Developing this skill will increase your repertoire as a facilitator and as a social change agent.

We start with something physical. You will learn how to do an advanced Tai Chi push using the Feldenkrais method of teaching (fun; surprising!).

Then we will show how the principles of teaching we just used apply to affecting how people think in ways that they find beneficial. This is an innovative way of communicating that has many applications.

We can apply it to catalysing mindset shifts for healthy social change. The Inspiring Transition initiative is a vehicle to take it to scale.
 

About Andrew Gaines

Andrew Gaines is a creativity trainer, Feldenkrais practitioner, and former psychotherapist who is committed to the well-being of coming generations. He is on the Board of Be The Change Australia. He is the instigator of Inspiring Transition, a community of practice devoted to engaging thoughtful mainstream commitment to transitioning to a life-sustaining future.

=======================================================

Venue:  [Our usual venue]

University of Technology Sydney (UTS), Jones Street, Ultimo corner Thomas Street. Room 5.580 Level 5, Building 10, Take the lift to level 5, cross the atrium footbridge, walk straight ahead to room 580.

Time:

From 5:30pm to 7:30pm sharp | No RSVP - Just turn up | Donation $5

Blog www.facilitatorsnetwork.blogspot.com

Enquiries | Greg Jenkins; gregjenkins@yahoo.com ; 0418 486 501 | Eoin Higgins Eoinph@gmail.com; 0407 411 684