2020 Relational Summit - Creative Connection

315 West Dodds Street,Bloomington IN 47403

13 May, 2021

Description

This event is postponed, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A new date will be announced after the situation is resolved. The information on this page reflects the original plans and will not be updated until a new date is scheduled. The event dates are tentatively listed as a year in the future to allow time for the disease to be addressed, but our hope is that the Relational Summit will be held at the end of summer or in the fall of 2020. Creative Connections: Inspiring Relationship in a Disconnected World The 2020 Relational Summit is a series of collaborative activities provided by the Bloomington Center for Connection that use relational approaches to address the problems plaguing our world today. The four-day event is scheduled for May 14-17 and will include opportunities to learn about and apply creative relational approaches to climate change, education, social action, community life, and self-care. Our keynote speakers will be Drs. Maureen Walker and Amy Banks, Founding Scholars at the International Center for Growth in Connection (ICGC). Each will provide inspiration during our Saturday workshops, sparking conversation in small groups and processing the insights that result from those discussions in the context of the larger group. Expected Schedule of Activities THURSDAY, MAY 14 Play Date — 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM — Bloomington Center for ConnectionEnjoy light dinner fare and beverages as we connect with each other and discuss the weekend ahead. Explore a wide variety of board games and co-creative activities intended to help us connect with each other in the spirit of collaboration. FRIDAY, MAY 15 Deep Connections — 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM — Bloomington Center for ConnectionIn breakout groups spread across four sessions, small-group discussions will focus on topics across three themes: Playing, Imagining, and Growing. My Racist Friend (Live Podcast) — 7:30 PM - 9:00 PM — TBDListen to a panel discussion of RCT applications for social justice, hosted by Don Griffin, Jr. and Amy Makice, LCSW. SATURDAY, MAY 16 Thinking RCT — 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM — Dimension MillBegin the day with a dive into Relational-Cultural Theory (RCT) and key concepts afforded by this framework. Beginning and advanced topical discussion groups are available. Keynote: Dr. Maureen Walker — 11:15 AM - 1:45 PM — Dimension MillDr. Maureen Walker will provide a brief presentation to pose questions for small group discussions over lunch (provided). Everyone will regroup to discuss the insights that arose from each conversation. Keynote: Dr. Amy Banks — 2:00 PM - 4:30 PM — Dimension MillDr. Amy Banks will provide a brief presentation to pose questions for small group discussions over lunch (provided). Everyone will regroup to discuss the insights that arose from each conversation. RCT Movie Night — 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM — Bloomington City HallA panel of experts will critique scenes from movies and television from an RCT perspective. SUNDAY, MAY 17 Morning Service — 9:15 AM & 11:15 AM — Unitarian Universalist ChurchDr. Maureen Walker will provide the sermon for two morning services at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Bloomington. This service is live-streamed. D&Dish — 2:00 PM - 6:00 PM — Bloomington Center for ConnectionCreate fictional characters and use them to interact in a fantasy world using collaborative storytelling, leveraging RCT concepts.. About Our Speakers Dr. Maureen Walker is a licensed psychologist and writer who helps people bridge cultural differences such as race, religion, gender and other social status markers. Dr. Walker has been a powerful speaker and educator for over 30 years. She has the ability to connect with her audience so they leave with a greater understanding of the factors at work when bridging cultural differences. Dr. Amy Banks is a Senior Scholar at the Wellesley Centers for Women. Along with Leigh Ann Hirshman, she is the author of “Four Ways to Click: Rewire Your Brain for Stronger, More Rewarding Relationships,” an easy-to-use, practical guide that helps readers assess the quality of their relationships and strengthen their neural pathways for connection. Dr. Banks is the first person to pair RCT with neuroscience and is the foremost expert in the combined field.