Contact us at: dottywood@charter.net
Creating Inclusion - inclusion is central to a healthy community. When people feel isolated, they behave by isolating others. When people feel a sense of belonging, they are welcoming, tolerant, compassionate, and receptive to learning.
We have several key individuals in our organization with skills for creating inclusion. We have studied a cooperative learning model called 'tribes'. In our art projects, we use a modified form of this democratic group process. We call it a 'creative contract', and it is very simple to facilitate.
Community agreements
As we work together, in a hands-on setting, people learn to use specific collaborative skills in working together, and to reflect both on the interaction and the learning that takes place.
Creative Decision is a shared event. This is distinct from the conventional artist-driven approach to art making, where the creative act is the sole province of one individual, and the group is there to act out the wishes of the primary artist.
Reflection is important in the learning process, and in self-awareness. Modeling reflection in a group process offers it as a tool to participants, to be used outside of the art project. Our cooperative process includes reflection in every step.
Democratic practice skills - Cooperation is a form of democratic practice.
Spiritual Ownership - when an individual does creative work on a wall in a park, for example, he or she feels a sense of belonging in that park, and shows a visitor the work, with pride and a sense of accomplishment.
Contact us at: dottywood@charter.net