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7th Annual
International Conference on
Engaging The OTHER
     May 4-5, 2013
     Dearborn, Michigan USA

~ Proposal Form
~ Press Room
~ REGISTRATION

~
PROGRAM


  

5th Annual
International Conference on
Religion, Conflict, & Peace
      Spring, 2013
        
Dearborn, Michigan USA

~ Proposal Form
~ Press Room
~ REGISTRATION
~ Previous 2012 Program

2nd Annual
International Conference on
Transgenerational Trauma
     Fall, 2013

     Amman, Jordan

~ Proposal Form
~ Press Room
~ REGISTRATION

~ PROGRAM


 

   

Social Health Care - SHC
Training & Treatment Program
 Trauma Recovery - Jordan


Catastrophic Trauma
Recovery Training - CTR



Bait Al Hayat / House of Life - Children's Treatment Center


Capacity for Peace and Democracy


 

Multimedia Library

VOICES OF REASON
Topical Articles and Chapters

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Partnership and
Consulting Services

 
About Us and
Available Speakers

 

SUPPORTERS
Endorsing and Supporting Organizations



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Like-Purposed Efforts




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See Quick-Links At Bottom Of Page For More Conference Information

~ Register Now ~
(All pre-registrations are only through CBI website)

7
th Annual International Conference on
"Engaging The Other:"

The Power of Compassion

May 4-5, 2013 ~ Dearborn, Michigan, USA

~ Register Now ~

At a time when polarization is the true culprit,
a multi-cultural, interdiciplinary conference addressing fear-based belief systems, negative stereotypes, polarization, enemy images, scapegoating, and artificial barriers of distrust that divide us.

Presentation of the Social Health Care
major Trauma Recovery Program
aiding Refugees in the Middle East

  Schedule and Program Overview  ~  Print version of Program
   ( See further information links below )

Co-sponsored by:
Common Bond Institute (CBI), People's Peace Fund, Michigan State University,
 Parashakthi Temple, International Humanistic Psychology
Association (IHPA)
Endorsed by:
An international list of over 100 cooperating organizations and universities
Official Partner and Event of:
Charter For Compassion
and Parliament of World's Religions

~ A Conference For Everyone ~

WE INVITE YOU THIS YEAR TO:
an international working conference examining the role of transgenerational trauma, compassion, and healing in our relationships with "The OTHER" from a universal, cross-cultural perspective to promote a wider public dialogue about images of "Us and Them"
JOIN
us to take part in 2 days of dialogue and action planning for compassionate healing to bridge the divide and cultivate our capacity for appreciation of diversity, reconciliation, and genuine engagement.

PURPOSE AND GOALS:

Overall Goals of the Conference:

 This year's ETO program focuses on unresolved communal trauma and transferance of the trauma experience into future generations as potent fuel for future animosity and violence, including:
- the implictions for fear-based belief systems, negative stereotypes, prejudice, alienation, polarization, scapegoating, and forming enemy images that promote adversarial perceptions of the "The Other."   and
- the power of compassion and humanitrian service to victims in healing communal trauma, re-empowerment, and promoting positive relations within and between societies.

As an immediate example, the humanitarian crisis of millions of Syrian refugees traumatized by war and violence in their country will be examined for it's potential to fuel future violence if healing is not accomplished. Organizations engaged in relief efforts in Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey will be presented, along with action planning break-out sessions to explore concerted cooperation and mutual support for a larger response. As such the 2 day gathering will serve as a focused networking and coalition building place for a number of emergency human service programs focused on this latest crisis of massive communal trauma.

Additional conference goals include:

 Raise the level, depth, and breadth of public dialogue and awareness on core issues. The conference examines dimensions and dynamics of "The OTHER" on individual and group levels, and considers how enemy identity is formed, perpetuated, and manipulated.

 Identify and compile fundamental questions, dilemmas, and implications for further deep inquiry and examination in an expanding public dialogue, and to challenge embedded negative belief systems that promote adversarial perceptions of the "The Other."

 Tap our shared wisdom, compassion, and responsibility as a community - from the local to the global - in developing practical applications. Developing and sharing practical strategies for applying results to the current state of local and world relationships to promote increased understanding, sensitivity, and compassion as a means of countering and neutralizing hostility, particularly inter-group hostility.

 Create Networking Opportunities to promote collaboration, action planning, and next steps following the conference.

 Formulate findings and products to make available to all - through publications, media, the Internet, educational curriculum, networks, community based dialogue groups, etc.

 On-Site Video Interviews and Proceedings
1 page Color Conference Flyer
(in pdf)  1 page Black & White Conference Flyer (in pdf)
1 page Color Conference Poster
- 8 1/2 X 14 size (in pdf)

 

                                                  An important, timely dialogue 
                                                           ....everyone needs to be part of.


~ Donate to our Subsidy Fund ~
to help students and participants from developing communities attend

  1)
Make a Tax Deductible donation
through our partner organization
      International Humanistic Psychology Association
  2) Buy premium Coffee now
to support Common Bond Institute
      and socially and environmentally responsible products.

FORMAT AND CONTENT:

An outstanding pool of Presenters and Facilitators gather from diverse perspectives to share concepts of The Other and formulate concrete action plans for putting principles into practice to address urgent situations.
Structure of the ETO Conference
. A 2 day working program of:

  1. Presentations of major emergency and local capacity building trauma recovery programs for refugees in Middle East
  2. Topical Plenary Panels
  3. Facilitated Dialogue and Action Planning Groups
  4. Live 2-way Global Links to key stakeholders in Middle East
  5. Interactive All-conference Dialogues
  6. Rich Networking and Collaboration Opportunities
  7. Final Action Planning Process for next steps beyond the conference.
  8. Multi-cultural Community.
  9. Displays

Examples of Long Term Areas of Inquiry for the ETO Conference series:

 The Other - as humankind's oldest and most resilient foe.

 Our shared identity as The Other.

 The inter-generational inheritance of unresolved communal trauma as part of cultural ethos (heroes, martyrs, and collateral damage).

 Dynamics of the energy of fear and exclusive group identity in formulating devaluing, dehumanizing and demonizing stereotypes that allow "good" people to do "bad" things to others by objectifying entire groups to the point of justifying inhumane treatment.

 Paradoxical dynamics of (mutual) victim identity, and victim becoming perpetrator.

 The role of inherent sin and exclusive dogma in requiring the presence and embodiment of innate evil in the world, and vilifying an ever-present Other as it's expression.

 What happens to a society - short and long term - when the energy of fear, revenge, and victimization become systemic and are manipulated to galvanize a process of demonizing and dehumanizing a perceived Other to justify oppression, inhumane treatment and violence?

 Are there cultural myths that trigger reactionary rather than rational, proactive behavior? If so, what is the character of those myths?

 How can we better recognize and consciously transform negative belief systems, both on an individual and cultural level, and, in doing so, transform cultural ethos?

 What are effects of direct person to person contact on innate fear of the unknown and mysterious, and are there practical methods for experiencing this quality of contact in a global community?

COORDINATION WITH OTHER EFFORTS:
This ETO Conference series occurs in conjunction with an edited book in progress titled "Engaging The Other", addressing psycho-social concepts of "The OTHER" from a multi-cultural perspective, exploring unique possibilities when the energy of animosity and opposition is transformed into the power of healing and collaboration, and raising important questions for fuller examination. It is also programmatically linked to other international conferences, including the International Conference on Transgenerational Trauma (TT) (Jordan), and the International Conference on Religion, Conflict, and Peace  (RCP) (Michigan, USA). Like the above companion conferences, the ETO Conference is a cross-cultural collaboration for global representation.

EXPECTED OUTCOMES AND FOLLOW UP:

1)  Formulate findings and produce a resource of published results (articles, research papers, conference reports, and edited volume), recorded proceedings and interviews, media and art images, and a proposed documentary film geared toward both the global professional and lay public to increase awareness and stimulate engaged dialogue.

2)  Create and promote a working network of activists advancing the mission of the conference to explore practical collaborations across divides addressing the elements of polarization and enmity, and to nurture mutual understanding, respect, and compassion.

3)  Link ETO program to like-visioned international conferences and seed community based dialogue groups to expand the diversity of representation, build on each event's processes, and promote a widening public dialogue locally and globally.

4)  In collaboration with our international network of cooperating organizations and utilizing findings from the conference, plan and develop an "Engaging The Other" curriculum intended for application with schools and universities, community organizations, religious groups, government agencies, political groups, and the general public. (see description below).

  EXAMPLES OF PARTICIPANTS:  
 Mental health professionals, Community leaders and activists, NGO representatives, Political leaders, Spiritual leaders, Peace activists, Government representatives, Students, Cultural/Ethnic and Spiritual Community representatives, Human Service providers, etc.
 Visionaries and front-line thinkers in social-political principles, psycho-social-spiritual dynamics, and human consciousness.  
 Academics, Social Science researchers, and Representatives of university departments, professional associations, and academic groups around the world (including Psychology, Psychiatry, Social Work, Sociology, Education, Political Science, Government, Religious studies, Philosophy, Peace studies, International studies, History, Law, Anthropology, Media, the Arts, etc.).
 Key participants from current or recent regions of turmoil in the world.
 Anyone from the public

LOGISTICS:
Dates:
       May 4-5, 2013
Length:      2 day Conference (Saturday moning opening to  Sunday afternoon closing).
Publicize:  Program Ads, Tote Bag Ads, Display Tables

2013 ETO Conference Information

 Underlying Concepts
Main ETO Conference Page

Presenter Form    Facilitator form

Program Overview and Guidelines
Print version of Program

Presenter Biographicals and Photos (to be posted)

FEES and REGISTRATION
Site and Travel Information

Press Room
   1 page Color Conference Flyer (pdf)
   1 page Black & White Conference Flyer (pdf)
   1 page Color Conf. Poster - 8 1/2 X 14 (pdf)
   On-Site Video Interviews and Proceedings
   Conference Notice - Email version

Conference Staff Contacts

Volunteer Application - be part of the effort


Advertize and Display:

    Advertize in On-Site Program
    Advertize on Conference Tote Bag
    Display Table Rental

Donate
1) Make a Tax Deductible donation to our subsidy fund through the
International Humanistic Psychology Association to allow those
with limited incomes from developing societes to attend.
2) Buy premium Coffee now to support Common Bond Institute
and socially and environmentally responsible products.

Be part of the effort
Join our conference Volunter Team: Volunteer Application
Contact: Common Bond Institute

Conferences by CBI in 2013:
      International Conference on Engaging The Other (USA)
      International Conference on Transgenerational Trauma (Jordan)
      International Conference on Religion, Conflict, and Peace (USA)

Local Capacity Building Training in 2013:
      Social Health Care training and treatment program (Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey)

Training Program under development:

"Engaging The Other" Curriculum Project: A planned effort growing out of the ETO Conference series for conducting ongoing "Engaging The Other" programs in various locals to nurture capacity for sensitivity, understanding, inclusiveness, and appreciation for diversity. The curriculum will be designed for all age groups, to be socially and culturally sensitive, and made available to schools and universities, NGO's, community organizations, religious organizations, government agencies, political groups, etc.
Public Education: In line with this effort, program concepts will also be promoted to the general public through established and alternative media in various formats for wider public awareness, sensitivity, and understanding.

  Visit Us On Facebook
Find videos, photos, samples of our conferences, etc. on Facebook
at:  tinyurl.com/CBIonFB
or search for us on Facebook under: Common Bond Institute

* Previous ETO Post-Conference Proceedings
~ from 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 ~

View hundreds of beautiful and inspiring images

        
portraying both the content and energy of the ETO Conference

  Touch Drawing interpretation of all ETO Conferences 
by  Deborah Koff-Chapin 
All images are available for purchase through Deborah's website, whether as signed archival fine art prints or originals. *20% of proceeds from sale of prints is donated to Common Bond Institute in support of our programs. We encourage you to visit the
Touch Drawing website to enjoy these and hundreds of more amazing images created by this artist, including drawings from both the '06, '07, and '08 ETO Conferences.
(* Please contact Deborah directly at:  deborah@touchdrawing.com )



FROM OUR ETO ARCHIVES:
2006 - 2011 Proceedings & Outcomes

2011 ETO Conf. Information:
       2011 ETO PROGRAM
       2011 Presenter Biographicals
 

2010 ETO Conf. Information:

       2010 ETO PROGRAM
       2010 Presenter Biographicals
 
       2010 On-Site Video Interviews and Proceedings
2009 ETO Conf. Information:
       Content of 2009 Dialogue Group, HUB, and Open Space Notes
       
2009 On-Site Video Interviews and Proceedings
       2009 ETO PROGRAM
       2009 Presenter Biographicals
 

2008 ETO Conf. Information:
      
Touch Drawing interpretation of ETO Conferences * 
            (* Touch Drawing images of available for purchase)      

       Content of '08 Daily Open Dialogue Break-Out Sessions
       '08 On-Site Video Interviews

       '08 Video and Audio Conference Recording of Sessions
            Available at
 
Hungry Mind Recordings   
    
   2008 ETO Program Sessions
    
   2008 Presenter Biographicals and Photos
2007 ETO Conf. Information:
     
2007 ETO Program Sessions
      2007 Presenter Biographicals and Photos
2006 ETO Conf. Information:
     
 '06 Recorded Sessions by Conference Recording Services
     
Content of '06 Daily Open Dialogue Break-Out Sessions
     
2006 ETO Program Sessions
      2006 Presenter Biographicals and Photos


7th Annual International Conference on
"Engaging The Other"


May 4-5, 2013 ~ Dearborn, Michigan USA

For details on registration, fee, and program see links above, or contact CBI

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Common Bond Institute
Steve Olweean, Director,  SOlweean@aol.com
12170  S. Pine Ayr Drive •
Climax, Michigan49034 USA
1-269-665-9393  (Phone and Fax
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Website:  http://www.cbiworld.org
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