Leaders share vision for 2009 World Appreciative Inquiry Conference
See potential for event to be a turning point for addressing 21st century developmental challenges
Thursday July 9, 2009 -- Michelle Strutzenberger
As major shifts continue in the world today, leaders of the 2009 World Appreciative Inquiry Conference share a vision that the event will be a turning point for addressing 21st century developmental challenges.

“My vision . . . is that this conference will be turning point for the people around the globe in harnessing the positive power within and around themselves to think, do and become different people, in elevating the strengths revolution and in creating a sustainable, wise and inspiring future,” Dhruba Acharya, conference co-chair tells Axiom News.

Lindsey Godwin, also a conference co-chair, qualifies that while past conferences have looked at how Appreciative Inquiry (AI) and other strength-based approaches can help create positive change in organizations, this event is taking a different slant.

“With this conference, we hope to explore the many innovative applications of Appreciative Inquiry and other strength-based approaches for change and development that are currently being used to address the developmental challenges of the 21st century,” she says.

Issues that will be considered include livelihoods, health and hygiene, the environment and climate change, education, and inclusive development, among others.

The following questions are intended to help shape the dialogue throughout the conference:

• How can AI and other strength-based approaches support the present day developmental challenges of the world?
• How can AI and other strength-based approaches contribute to bringing social justice, addressing equality and reducing gaps between rich and poor?
• How can we leverage the lessons about the transformative power of AI that have already been experienced in businesses and organizations to address the pressing environmental needs of our planet?
• How can we link the power of AI and other strength-based approaches to the most pressing issues of a global change agenda — from improving health and education to creating sustainable communities and deeper personal development?

Godwin says her hope is that by lifting up the best practices and stories of success from around the globe, “we can not only illustrate how Appreciative Inquiry has already made a positive change in countless communities, but we can also learn how to take strength-based change methods to the next level — and continue creating positive change around the world.”

To learn more about the conference, click here.

— More to come

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