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Community Building
COMING
UP FEBRUARY 8, 2010:
CREATIVITY MATTERS: ENGAGING CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION IN WORK ... A
Housatonic Valley Cultural Alliance Roundtable
Creativity matters in all aspects of society, work and life. The
imagination mindset helps us think in new ways ... which produces creative
ideas and solutions ... and ultimately leads to innovation. If you want to
unleash your imagination and explore new ways of expressing your
creativity in meaningful ways, don't miss this interdisciplinary
networking forum for artists, educators, business people, entrepreneurs
and others who are interested. Come and explore what creativity is, who
has it, how it relates to purpose and work - and how one can tap into more
of it both personally and professionally. Facilitated by Steven Dahlberg,
faculty in the Public and Community Engagement group at the University of
Connecticut, and director of the International Centre for Creativity and
Imagination. This program is free and open to all. Refreshments provided.
Sponsored by Housatonic Valley Cultural Alliance and Western Connecticut
State University School of Visual and Performing Arts. Please post this flyer to help
spread the word about this event. Monday, February 8, 2010 7:00-9:00
p.m. @ Western Connecticut State University, Midtown Campus | Alumni Hall,
181 White Street, Danbury, Connecticut, 06810. RSVP requested to info [at]
hvculturalarts [dot] org or 203 798 0760.
COMING
UP FEBRUARY 14, 2010 - CREATIVITY NETWORKING:
Food & Creativity: A Love Story ... with
chef and food scholar James Simpkins
 Chef
and food scholar James Simpkins will facilitate a dialogue about today's
occurrences of the age-old interaction of community, food and love. In
nearly every culture, dietary customs and traditions -- as well as taboos
-- have a special, foundational role in society's infrastructure. Since we
must eat to live, acquiring food is always our primary concern; yet, we
want more than calories. We are also highly selective about who we share
meals with. But what practical sense can we make of the contemporary forms
of these connections? Come and explore how a responsible, sustainable and
selective food culture -- a topic which engages creativity and love -- can
always assist in creating successful communities in both historical and
current contexts. Please post this flyer to help
spread the word about this event. Sunday, February 14, 2010, from 2:00
to 3:30 p.m. at The Silo at Hunt Hill Farm, New Milford, Connecticut. RSVP
to 860.355.0300 or culbertsonv [at] hunthillfarmtrust [dot] org.
JANUARY
2010 - CREATIVITY NETWORKING:
Creativity: What Is It? ... with creativity educator Steven Dahlberg
 January
marks the relaunch of the monthly Creativity Networking series -- this
time in northwest Connecticut! In the first session, come and explore the
general topic of "what is creativity?" -- plus, who has it, and
how one can tap into more creativity both personally and professionally.
Steven Dahlberg, who will host the series, also will lead the kick-off
session in January. Dahlberg is the head of the International Centre for
Creativity and Imagination and teaches "Creativity + Social
Change" at the University of Connecticut. Please print
and post this flyer to spread the word about the series.
 "Living
Your Purpose Through Creativity" on The Intuitive Path radio show
with Anja Weiland
Listen
to the stream from the live interview of Steven Dahlberg on December
10, 2010.
"Locating
Creativity: Can Art and Innovation Revitalize Hartford?" on WNPR's
Where We Live @ Real Art Ways
 Steven Dahlberg talks about creativity and creative community building
during this live public radio event in Hartford, Connecticut on November
19, 2009. Listen
to the full episode, with introductory comments from Charles Landry,
and check out the related blog
to this on-going series.
FRESH:
A Community Dialogue About Local Food, Sustainable Agriculture and
Creative Communities
 Following the screening of FRESH
THE MOVIE and a short film about Plow
to Plate (about a New Milford, Connecticut, project involving local
youth and the community in farming, cooking and healthy behaviors), a
community dialogue took place exploring local farming and food,
sustainable agriculture, creative communities and healthy eating. It was
held Sunday, October 11, 2009, as part of Bank Street Festival in Milford,
Connecticut. The event was sponsored by: Plow to Plate; with the
International Centre for Creativity and Imagination. Community Dialogue
panelists included: Dr. Diane D'Isidori (Plow to Plate Co-Founder), David
Cherniske (Community Farmer and Educator), Marydale DeBor (Plow to Plate
Co-Founder; New Milford Hospital), and Steven Eng (Sullivan Farm Student
Worker and Chef). Hosted by Steven Dahlberg (Director of the International
Centre for Creativity and Imagination). Listen
to this dialogue (first 30 seconds of volume is soft).
Ken
Robinson Encourages Creativity, Passion and Talents
By Steven Dahlberg - Creativity
writer and consultant Ken Robinson launched his new book, The
Element, at the Ridgefield Play House in Connecticut at an event
sponsored by The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum. Robinson began by
reminding the audience of the power of the imagination. "All cities
owe their existence to imagination," he said. "It's this power
of imagination will take us into the future -- or not. And it's this kind
of imagination that's most at risk. I think we squander it. Not only
squander it -- but suppress it ruthlessly." ...
I was honored to also participate in a pre-lecture Roundtable on
"Innovation in Our Schools" with colleagues from education,
arts, business and government. The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum hosted
the Roundtable at which the organizers asked: "What does it look
like, feel like and sound like when all of the partners in a student's
learning community (i.e. peers, teachers, administrators, parents,
coaches, community organizations, businesses, etc.) model creativity and
innovation in a way that serves the student?" Read
More
MAY 2009
- CREATIVITY NETWORKING:
Lessons from Prison for Creative Education ... with community activist
LaResse Harvey
Come
and explore the role of arts, writing, creativity and imagination in
prison programs and their implication for integrating more of these topics
into education. You will hear the perspective of a formerly incarcerated
mother who credits her creative writing and arts experience in prison with
helping transform her life. Join us to hear LaResse Harvey's story and
what it means for creative education. LaResse is African American Policy
Director for A Better Way Foundation in Hartford. See
more on this topic. Creativity Networking is hosted by Steven Dahlberg, head of
the International Centre for Creativity and Imagination.
JANUARY
2009 - CREATIVITY NETWORKING: Threads
of Creativity in Art and Science ... with Daniel Bernard Roumain
 Join us from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, January 7, 2009, for a
special Creativity Networking in Willimantic, Connecticut. Daniel Bernard
Roumain will be joined by artist Imna Arroyo, scientists Hedley Freake and
Christian Brueckner, creativity educator Steven Dahlberg, and the public to explore the intersection of
creativity, art and science. ... Plus, mark your calendar for Daniel Bernard
Roumain's return to Storrs, Connecticut, for a Special Bicentennial
presentation of "Darwin's
Meditation for The People of Lincoln" on February 12, 2009,
celebrating that auspicious day of February 12, 1809, when Darwin and
Lincoln were born within hours of one another.
Video
clip from DBR's presentation
University
of Connecticut Launches Public and Community Engagement Program that
Focuses on Creative Community Building
An interdisciplinary team of university and community partners has
developed this new program. Through its Center
for Continuing Studies, the University of Connecticut will offer an
undergraduate emphasis in this topic in its Bachelor of General Studies
degree, as well as non-credit, professional development workshops and
seminars. Sign up now for the three-credit Creativity
+ Social Change course, to be offered Spring 2010 in
Hartford, Connecticut, and taught by Steven Dahlberg.
Engaging
Creative Community: Sculpting Society by Choice, Not by Chance
Steven Dahlberg contributed this piece to a cooperatively-produced
issue of New Village Online, which has has just been released on
the theme of "Unboxing
Democracy's Magic." The four articles explore creativity,
communities and democracy and include:
- Democracy
Without Boxes or Borders - By Len Krimerman
- Democracy
and Education: One Community Example - By Phoebe Godfrey
- Communiversity:
Weaving a Community Web of Love and Hope - By Gus Jaccaci
Steven
Dahlberg Participates in "COMV08: 2008 National Communiversity
Conference"
Dahlberg joined nearly 40 people from 14 communities -- including
Willimantic, Connecticut -- to share examples of community learning and
creative engagement. The conference was held in Maine from July 25 to 27.
Dahlberg and three other Windham-area residents represented the Imagine
Willimantic Communiversity.
Think
and Be Heard: Creativity, Aging, and Community Engagement (PDF)
Americans for
the Arts releases white paper about creativity, arts and aging, written by Steven Dahlberg as a follow up to the
2007 MetLife
Foundation National Arts Forum Series
Art
with heart ... Community banner project to brighten downtown Rock Hill
The Herald of Rock Hill, South Carolina (7 February 2008)
reports that "A splash of color will liven up the winter blahs in
downtown Rock Hill, part of a community arts program sponsored by the Arts
Council of York County and the Rock Hill school district. ... The
community art project, titled Creativity: The Heart of the Community, is
led by artists in residence Steven Dahlberg and JoAnn Moran, both from
Connecticut. The project is a way for people to express themselves and
participate in creating their own community through art, Dahlberg said.
'It is a way to engage people in creating their community and bring people
together that wouldn't normally work together, like youth and adults.'
Dahlberg said. ... Dahlberg said the project is collaborative, so everyone
can add something."
Steven
Dahlberg to Collaborate with Windham
High School Young Poets
Steven Dahlberg and the International Centre for Creativity and
Imagination will collaborate with Windham
High School, The Young Poets group, and teacher Lynn Frazier for a
semester-long, interdisciplinary "Think and Be Heard" creativity
project.
Steven
Dahlberg Selected in Case Foundation's Top 100 Breakthrough Ideas
Steven
Dahlberg's proposal -- on behalf of his Willimantic, Connecticut,
community -- has been selected from nearly 5,000 proposals as a
Top 100 Idea Finalist in the Case Foundation's "Make It Your Own"
Awards program. The project is for "Weaving a New
Willimantic": A former thread-mill town weaves a new creative
fabric -- where people's ideas matter, where we engage our
creativity together and where we co-create our community's common good. We
will use inclusive dialogue processes to coordinate current
citizen-centered projects and to include more voices. --
The Chronicle profiles Dahlberg and this project: "Dahlberg
Brings People Together Through Creativity."
Continental Creative President: European Leader Calls for Culture, Diversity and Openness to Solve Global Problems
By
Steven Dahlberg - European Commission President José Manuel Barroso's closing keynote at the Global Creative Leadership Summit made a strong case for the role of creativity, innovation and diversity for addressing global problems such as climate change and fighting poverty. "Those are the two main tasks of leadership in the 21st century," he said. The other global issue linked with solving climate change and poverty is culture. "Culture is a solution."
Local
view: Now could be creative turning point for Duluth
Steven Dahlberg writes in the Duluth News Tribune (June 2007): As
the Duluth-Superior area proceeds into the Knight Creative Communities
Initiative, it’s important to consider how to engage everyone’s
creativity — not just that of artists or the creative class — in
community and economic development. ... For more than 15 years, I’ve
been working internationally in the field of creativity, advocating for
the importance of creative thinking and helping people unleash and harness
more of their inherent creative abilities. Yet my creative endeavors began
in Duluth as a teenage entrepreneur, a freelance writer and photographer
and a political junkie. I am delighted to know that the Duluth-Superior
area was among just three cities chosen by the John S. and James L. Knight
Foundation to work with economist Richard Florida.
Seat-of-the-Pants
Innovation
Steven Dahlberg talks about workplace creativity and innovation in
Industrial Fabric Products Review article - May 2007
The
Right to Be Creative – In Schools, In Prison and In Life [Named
as Editors' Pick at Gather.com]
By
Steven Dahlberg - Inmates forfeit many rights while they are in prison.
But their "right to think and be heard" - to think creatively and
express their ideas
Applied Imagination
"It's not
hard to engage your core creativity, says Steve Dahlberg, but it can feel
awkward at first. ... 'Part of it is simply paying attention and noticing
whether you're judging what you're thinking or are remaining open to
putting the pieces together in different ways,' he says." - Quoted
in
Northwestern Mutual's Creative Living Magazine
After
Katrina: Creativity's Role in Trauma and Growth (PDF)
Commentary: The
residents in the Hurricane Katrina-hit areas are facing the challenge of
asking "what next?" and of looking for ways to meaningfully engage
in redefining their identities. The hurricane survivors aren't challenged
about how to simply adapt one particular aspect of their lives. Rather,
individuals, organizations and the community at-large are all asking: How
might I completely recreate my own life, while simultaneously recreating my
entire community from the ground up? This entire process and search is a
creative act. And thriving in one's post-hurricane life is a challenge of the
imagination.
Creativity by Choice, Not by Chance: Developing Imagination In the Intelligence
Community (PDF)
A response to the 9/11 Commission Report that declared that it is "crucial to find a way of routinizing, even bureaucratizing, the exercise of imagination" and
to the House of Representatives Committee on Intelligence hearings that followed in August to discuss the intelligence community’s
"failure of imagination" and the "requirement for imagination and creativity" going forward.
|
COMING
UP:
Creativity Networking series continues on the second Sunday of each
month at The Silo at Hunt
Hill Farm in New Milford, Connecticut. Next up is "Food &
Creativity: A Love Story" with James Simpkins - 2:00-3:30 p.m., Sunday,
February 14, 2010
International Centre for Creativity and Imagination co-presenting Connecting
Creative Communities summit with The City of Providence Department
of Arts, Culture + Tourism, and the New England Foundation for the Arts -
March 9-11, 2010 - Providence, Rhode Island
Steven Dahlberg to lead creative organization workshop for the
University of Connecticut's Center for Continuing Studies staff - January 2010 - Storrs, Connecticut
Steven Dahlberg to lead session on "creative engagement" at Artists
in Transition Conference - Sunday, April 11, 2010 - Danbury,
Connecticut
Steven Dahlberg to lead creativity in nonprofits workshops in Rhode
Island College's Certificate Program in Nonprofit Studies course -
April 2010 - Providence, Rhode Island
"Creativity + Social Change" undergraduate course
(can be taken for non-credit, too) at the University of Connecticut - Taught by Steven
Dahlberg - 6:30-9:00 p.m. - Tuesdays, Spring Semester 2010, January to
April - Hartford, Connecticut
RECENT
NEWS AND EVENTS:
Steven Dahlberg to present "Creativity and Aging" session
for the Yale
Interdisciplinary Bioethics Center's Perspectives on Aging
study group - New Haven, Connecticut - 9:00 a.m., Wednesday, January 13,
2010
Sign up now for week-long Special Studies workshop on "Imagine
What Next: Composing a Creative Life on Purpose" at The
Chautauqua Institution, to be led by Steven Dahlberg - Week
7: Imagine - August 9-14, 2009 - Chautauqua, New York
Steven Dahlberg leads "Engaging Creative Communities" panel at World
Cultural Economic Forum - October 30-31, 2008 - New Orleans,
Louisiana
"Creativity and Social Change" undergraduate course in the Creative
Community Building Program at the University of Connecticut - Co-taught by
Steven
Dahlberg - 6:00-9:00 p.m. - Tuesdays and Thursday,
September 9 to October 23,
2008 - Storrs, Connecticut
Steven Dahlberg teaches "Principles of Problem Solving" course
at Brooklyn Correctional Institution -
Fall 2008 - Quinebaug Valley Community College - Danielson, Connecticut
Steven Dahlberg appointed to serve on Ad-Hoc Committee on Economic Development for
the Town of Windham, Connecticut - July 2008
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more events and news
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