1. A Case for Reflection: Giving Voice to Values and Experience in the Midst of Action Illinois Council of Community College Administrators Leadership and Core Values Institute 2011 Conference Decatur, IL

2. People need to have some distance, some space where they can look back over what they’ve done, over the meaning they’re making, and test that against the assumptions they have about the world and the values they operate with. We can’t do this on the fly. You have to be purposeful about making the space and time to do it… --Caesar McDowell, Center for Reflective Community Practice, MIT

3. Project on Civic Reflection Established in 1998 at Valparaiso University Founding support from Lilly Endowment Offices in Chicago and Valparaiso, IN

4. Our Mission: To deepen understanding, build community, and strengthen commitment by helping people think and talk together about the meaning of the good work they do in the world. We do this through the practice of reflective discussion.

5. Our Reach Locally and nationally 42 states, including Guam Trained 1,200 discussion facilitators Stable of 15 trainers who teach facilitators Engaged over 6,000 people in civic reflection discussions

6. What is Civic Reflection? Group of People Engaged in Common Work Discussion Anchored in Reading/Image or Video Facilitator Leads Discussion Focus on Assumptions, Values No Action Plan at End!

7. The Civic Reflection Triangle Civic Reflection Civic Life ParticipantsReadings Reading Group Scholarly Presentation Civic Dialogue

8. Civic Reflection Adopters Higher Education and K-12 Service and Volunteerism Arts and Culture Organizations Healthcare and Social Services Faith and Interfaith Groups Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leaders

9. How The Discussion Works Open-ended questions encourage diverse perspectives and interpretations Focus on questions of meaning and value.  Why do we serve?  What is the difference we seek – in ourselves and others?  What makes change possible? Values reflection for the sake of reflection – as a necessary corollary to action.

10. Why A Reading? Anchors the discussion Neutral but thought-provoking Adds depth and complexity Connects people to different ideas and diverse perspectives Raises substantive and challenging questions

11. Why Use Readings to Talk? Practical Give us a shared object of attention Connecting Connect us to other people, places, times Complex Provoke diverse interpretations and viewpoints

12. Sample Questions with Readings How do we connect across differences? Robert Frost, “Mending Wall” How do we lead in divided times? Abraham Lincoln, “Second Inaugural” What is a good gift? Maya Angelou, “The Sweetness of Charity”

13. But not only a reading… Pairing images, video, and other objects of attention

14. On Giving and Serving

15. On Leadership

16. On Difference and Access

17. Why Reflective Discussion? Builds skills (communication, listening, critical thinking, facilitation) Develops relationships, deepens community Sustains and retains action and morale Deepens understanding and supports dialogue across difference

18. Benefits for Participants CLARITY Increases understanding of our own values and ways of seeing the world COMMUNITY Improves relationships with colleagues and with those we serve. COMMITMENT Sustains us in our work, impacting morale and deepening engagement.

19. Building in Breathing Space “Civic reflection is an opportunity to build breathing space into our educational environments.” -Service-learning coordinator Norwich University

20. And Now…Our Own Civic Reflection Experience

21. PCR: What We Do 1)Lead discussions 2)Train facilitators 3) Provide program support and evaluation 4) Develop resources (books, curriculum, online materials) 5) Make the case for reflective discussion

22. Who Do We Do It With? Faculty Staff Students Social Workers AmeriCorps/VISTA Teachers (K-12) Healthcare and direct service workers Librarians and museum staff Faith and interfaith leaders Philanthropists Leadership programs Community organizers Anyone trying to make a difference in the world

23. Chicago Open-Call Training Workshops

24. Who We Serve: Individuals Illinois Campus Compact - Students in Service 2011

25. Marking the Day: 9-11 Public Discussion at WBEZ Chicago

26. Taking time to slow down and reflect is as important as spending time and energy in action to transform the institution. The work of transformation is not only “out there”; it is about transforming what is “in here,” our own internal views and assumptions. From Sentipensante Pedagogy By Laura I. Rendon Dept of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, Iowa State University Why Reflect?

27. Making It Happen Classrooms Service projects or events Training and professional development days Staff, board, and committee meetings Planning sessions Academic and co-curricular (classrooms, alternative spring break, service projects) Focus on Integration

28. Case Study: Highland Community College Civic Reflection Program as In-Service Day on “Fences and Neighbors” Trained faculty and staff to lead discussions with peers Broke out into small groups for discussions of readings (Frost, Kafka, Komunyaaka)

29. Highland CC: Findings 100% said CR helped them reconnect with colleagues—68% a great deal. 79% said CR sparked ideas for new activities in their work. 90% said CR refreshed and energized them for the year ahead. “This is the first in-service we’ve done that is just for us.”

30. Case Study: Illinois Campus Compact Trained 62 facilitators at 21 Illinois campuses – faculty, staff, and VISTAs Lead discussions with students - academic and co-curricular settings Classrooms, service learning, alternate spring break, mission trips, community engagement events

31. Illinois Campus Compact: Findings 88% reported increased clarity about their values and beliefs. 94% said the discussions helped them better understand the diverse perspectives of others. 83% reported better relationships with fellow discussion participants. 80% said the content and impact of the discussion made them more likely to engage in future service or other civic work.

32. PCR Website One Stop for Resources Publications Resource Library Facilitators’ Forum Discussion Questions www.civicreflection.org

33. Coming Soon…February 2012 A New Anthology

34. Coming in 2012 - A New Website