A Case for Reflection: Giving Voice to Values and

Experiencein the Midst of Action

Illinois Council of Community College Administrators

Leadership and Core Values Institute2011 Conference

Decatur, IL

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

Project on Civic Reflection

•Established in 1998 at Valparaiso University

•Founding support from Lilly Endowment

•Offices in Chicago and Valparaiso, IN

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.

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

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!

The Civic Reflection Triangle

Civic Reflection

Civic Life

Participants

ReadingsReading Group

Scholarly Presentation

Civic Dialogue

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

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.

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

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

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”

But not only a reading…

Pairing images, video, and other objects of attention

On Giving and Serving

On Leadership

On Difference and Access

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

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.

Building in Breathing Space

“Civic reflection is an opportunity to build breathing space into our educational environments.”

-Service-learning coordinator

Norwich University

And Now…Our Own Civic Reflection Experience

PCR: What We Do1) Lead discussions2) Train facilitators3) Provide program support

and evaluation4) Develop resources (books,

curriculum, online materials)5) Make the case for reflective

discussion

Who Do We Do It With?FacultyStaffStudentsSocial WorkersAmeriCorps/VISTATeachers (K-12)Healthcare and direct service workers

Librarians and museum staffFaith and interfaith leadersPhilanthropists Leadership programsCommunity organizersAnyone trying to make a difference in

the world

Chicago Open-Call Training Workshops

Who We Serve: Individuals

Illinois Campus Compact - Students in Service 2011

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

Taking time to slow down and reflect is as importantas spending time and energy in action to transformthe 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?

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

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)

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.”

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

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.

PCR WebsiteOne Stop for Resources

• Publications• Resource Library• Facilitators’ Forum• Discussion

Questions

www.civicreflection.org

Coming Soon…

February 2012

A New Anthology

Coming in 2012 - A New Website