As we approach the fifth anniversary of the life-changing COVID-19 pandemic, it’s evident that the need for human connection has only grown stronger. Amidst reflections on the crisis and its leadership, a shift towards new models is discernible, with the concept of leadership focusing on more on the art of convening and facilitating versus motivating and inspiring.
Drawing inspiration from Peter Block’s work, this workshop introduces six pivotal conversations aimed at fostering personal transformation and organizational evolution. Each conversation stems from thought-provoking questions, emphasizing the power of invitation over mandates, the significance of envisioning possibilities rather than fixating on problems, the importance of asserting refusal to lend weight to our affirmations, and the transformative potential of focusing on gifts rather than shortcomings. Participants will be equipped with actionable processes for effecting genuine social change.
Objectives:
- (Re)defining leadership as the art of convening and posing thought-provoking questions to unveil new avenues of possibility.
- Learning to forecast the future by reshaping our understanding of the past.
- Experiencing an innovative approach to organizing gatherings that catalyzes transformation.
This methodology, termed “A Small Group,” has been successfully implemented worldwide across diverse sectors, including business, education, grassroots community organizing, collaborative problem-solving, faith communities, and initiatives fostering “economies of compassion” or neighborly connections.
At the heart of my approach to nurturing “restorative communities” lies the conviction that global change takes root at the local level. Participants will be prompted with a simple yet profound question at the workshop’s outset: “Do you want to change the world?” Naturally, the response is typically affirmative. Building on this momentum, the follow-up query, “How do we embark on this endeavor?” underscores the importance of beginning with the space we inhabit—a room, where change starts.
Throughout the workshop, the six essential conversations will be meticulously unpacked, accompanied by guidance on both physical setup (room layout) and linguistic strategies to initiate transformative dialogues. Each participant will receive a comprehensive 35-page booklet delineating the protocols and methodologies employed.
DATE
Wednesday 20 November 2024 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM (UTC+10)
LOCATION
Australian National University
Canberra ACT 2601
Lee Rush
Lee Rush is the Executive Director of justCommunity, Inc., a non-profit organization he founded in 1999. Based in Quakertown, PA, justCommunity provides training and consultation services in the areas of civic engagement, community mobilization strategies, and restorative practices.
Lee is also a consultant with Designed Learning, Inc. (a Peter Block company) and an instructor for the International Institute for Restorative Practices (IIRP). He is currently serving on the board of the National Association of Community and Restorative Justice (NACRJ).
Lee draws on over forty-five years of business experience in the fields of education, healthcare, and non-profit management. During this time, he has served in a range of positions, including teaching and counseling at the secondary level, administering a day treatment program in an alternative school setting, supervising staff in a residential youth facility, directing a human resource department for a mid-sized healthcare company, and serving as an Executive Director of a 501(c)(3) health foundation.
Lee earned his undergraduate degree in Criminology from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and his Master’s Degree in Psychoeducational Processes from Temple University. He specialized in Organizational Development and Adult Learning theory. He was named the National Prevention Advocate in 2013 and has received numerous awards and recognition, including a Mission of Service Award from the International Mankind Project and a Distinguished Service Award from the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy.
