2nd Annual
International Conference on Transforming Conflict
  Amman, Jordan
  June 20-23, 2012 
~Proposal Form
~Press Room
~REGISTRATION
~PROGRAM 2012
~YOUTH SCHOLARSHIP APPEAL

  

1st International Conference on Trangenerational Trauma
  Amman, Jordan
  September 19-22, 2012 
~Proposal Form
~Press Room
~REGISTRATION
~PROGRAM  2012   
  

7th Annual
International Conference on
"Engaging The OTHER"
  San Francisco Bay Area
  Late Fall, 2012
~Proposal Form
 ~Press Room
~REGISTRATION
~Previous 2011 Program
  

2nd International Conference on Practical Models For Peace
   The Holy Land
  2012 
~Previous 2011 Program
~Proposal Form
~Press Room
~REGISTRATION   

5th Annual
International Conference on Religion, Conflict, and Peace
  Dearborn, Michigan, USA
  Spring, 2013 
~Proposal Form
~Press Room
~REGISTRATION
~Previous 2012 Program

 

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~ UPCOMING  CONFERENCES ~

~ REGISTRATION IS OPEN ~

In the midst of Unprecedented Transformation in the Middle East, a Landmark Conference in Jordan

June 20-23, 2012 ~ Amman, Jordan

Sponsored by:
Common Bond Institute (US), International Humanistic Psychology Association,
Endorsed by:
King Abdullah II and over 100 organizations & universities internationally
Official Partner of:
Charter For Compassion & Parliament of World's Religions

A Multi-disciplinary, Multi-cultural Conference
empowering peace through empowering citizens and the next generation of leaders with effective, collaborative skills in dialogue, interpersonal communication, decision making, negotiation, problem solving, mediation, conflict resolution, teamwork, leadership, good governance, and sustainable reconciliation

Now More Than Ever...

 At a time of rising turmoil and polarization - a time that calls for new thinking, new vision, new understanding, and new ways of relating in an increasingly interconnected and interdependent world.

Common Bond Institute invites you to join in supporting international efforts advancing the consciousness of peace and healing by raising the capacity of the individual in society to constructively and compassionately transform conflict in their daily lives.


Support our Efforts
by making a Tax Deductible donation through our partner organization:
International Humanistic Psychology Association (IHPA)

Who We Are and What We Do

Common Bond Institute  (CBI) is a U.S. based Non-Governmental Organization that grew out of one of the first Soviet-American non-government human service exchanges initiated in 1982. CBI organizes and sponsors conflict transformation conferences, professional training programs, and relief efforts internationally, and provides needs assessment and resource development, networking and coordination support to assist newly emerging human service and civil society organizations in developing societies.

Our Mission

Cultivating compassion and the fundamental elements of a consciousness of peace, along with local capacity building, are seen as natural, effective antidotes to small group radical extremism and large group despair, as well as to hardship and suffering in the human condition. To this end, enabling each society to effectively resolve and transform conflicts, satisfy core human needs within their communities, and construct effective, holistic mechanisms for self determination, self esteem, and fundamental human dignity and worth to strengthen current and future generations is the purpose of our work.

CBI is grounded in the application of humanistic psychology's principles in it's commitment to capacity building at both the grass roots and social institutional level. It's focus is on increasing skills and services, exploration of human relationship dynamics, and expanding public dialogue and awareness of critical issues.

Our Style and Commitment

By design, our efforts are fundamentally collaborative for a larger impact. CBI works to actively form strategic alliances with organizations, groups, and individuals dedicated to nurturing global relationships as a whole in creating and promoting an authentic world culture of peace. We maintain an expanding global network of partner groups and organizations that cooperate in pulling the requisite pieces together to create and operate programs, while minimizing the drain on individual group resources.

Intentional Community: Essentially all of our efforts, and particularly conferences, are designed to be living laboratories for participating in deep, authentic community as a common ground of reference for exploring core themes and integrating formal learning. Creating an atmosphere of trust where individuals can engage in genuine, compassionate dialogue across stereotypes and fear-based beliefs is meant to promote carrying such a space into daily life to nurture a common wisdom, common sense of belonging, and common bond.

The character of our programs offers a microcosm of the larger, diverse, global community for a first hand experience of moving beyond artificial barriers and blind spots to the reality of what is both possible and practical. This purposeful use of intentional community is a central element of our work. It assumes the basic drive/need for integration through inter-connectedness and belonging that can be nurtured to develop conscious intent toward harmony and peace in our relationships.

Personal empowerment, compassion, and the role of the individual in society at both the local and the global level in addressing the human condition are central to our committment and our work. In acknowledgement of decades of dedication to this CBI and it's founding director, Steve Olweean, are recipients of the 2011 Charlotte and Karl Bühler Award from the American Psychological Association for outstanding and lasting contribution to Humanistic Psychology internationally.

Support of Like-Purposed Organizations

Our committment extends to assisting other organizations and groups in their efforts to build capacity for healing and peace by lending our expertise and gobal network resources in support of their success. This can be in the way of contracted services that save an organization significant precious financial resources, collaboration that shares the energy load, or trainers and speakers.

Please join us for any of our programs by contacting CBI
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Current Annual International Conferences:
          Upcoming major events in 2012:

1) 4th Annual Conf. on Religion, Conflict, and Peace  (March 23-25, 2012)  - Dearborn, Mich.
2) 2nd Annual Conf. on Transforming Conflict             (June 20-23, 2012)  - Amman, Jordan
3) 1st Annual Conf. on Transgenerational Trauma     (Early Fall, 2012)  - Amman, Jordan
4) 7th Annual Conf. on Engaging The Other                  (Fall, 2012) - San Francisco, Calif. USA
5) 2nd Annual Conf. on Practical Models For Peace    - The Holy Land

At a Time of Unprecedented Transformation in the Middle East,
     a Landmark Conference in Jordan

  2nd Annual International Conference on
Transforming Conflict: Sharing Tools for Dialogue and Engagement 
June 20-23, 2012 ~ Amman, Jordan
Sponsored by: Common Bond Institute (US), International Humanistic Psychology Association
Endorsed by:  over 100 organizations and universities internationally
Official Partner of:  Charter For Compassion & Parliament of World's Religions
A Multi-disciplinary, Multi-cultural Conference providing the individual in society with effective, collaborative skills in dialogue, interpersonal communication, decision making, negotiation, problem solving, mediation, conflict resolution, teamwork, leadership, good governance, and sustainable reconciliation
Registration Is Open To All  ~  Press Room
~ Call For Proposals ~ Presenter Proposal Form   Dialogue Facilitator Form


A New International Conference
  1st Annual International Professional Conference on
Transgenerational Trauma: Communal Wounds and Victim Identities
September 19-22, 2012 ~ Amman, Jordan
Held in conjunction with the establishment of a global, multi-cultural network of professional working groups engaged in the study of inherited unresolved communal truama and the implications for violence and war within and between communities
    ~ Call For Proposals ~
     Presenter Proposal Form   Dialogue Facilitator Form   Program Overview  
     Global Network for the Study of Teansgenerational Treauma   Press Room (for PR materials)

A focused dialogue and deliberation on the dynamics of inherited, unresolved communal trauma from one generation to the next, including historical understandings, the development and perpetuation of communal victim identitites, implications for present and future relations between communities - particularly war and violence, and the development of new models and methodologies for healing and preventing communal trauma and it's transfer into future generations.

An initiative and invitation by
Common Bond Institute, International Humanistic Psychology Association,
and the International Federation of Medical Students' Associations
In cooperation with
over 100 professional associations, organizations, and universities internationally

Watch for details on Fall 2012 7th Annual ETO Conference


Challenge Your Stereotypes

  6th Annual International Conference on
"Engaging The OTHER": The Power of Compassion  (ETO)
December 1 - 4 , 2011  
Site: Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, Calif. USA
Sponsored by:
   Common Bond Institute (CBI), Santa Clara University, Global Ministries University, 
   International Humanistic Psychology Association (IHPA), Pacifica Institute,
Partner of: Charter For Compassion & Parliament of World's Religions
Presenter Proposal Form:   (PDF version)  (HTML version)
Dialogue Facilitator Form: (PDF version)  (HTML version)
When polarization is the true culprit, a multidisciplinary, multicultural conference examining concepts of "The OTHER" from a universal, cross-cultural perspective to promote a wider public dialogue about compassion and images of "Us and Them."

 San Francisco Bay Area


 2nd Annual International Conference on
Practical Models For Peace: Making A Difference Now
The Holy Land
 Promoting awareness of, support for, and strategic collaboration between existing, practical, and successful models for peace focusing on Israel and Palestine
Addressing healing intergenerational trauma and victim identities
Sponsored By:
Common Bond Institute, International Humanistic Psychology Association
In cooperation with: an international consortium of peace building organizations focused on peace and healing efforts in the Middle East
Official Partner of: Charter For Compassion & Parliament of World's Religions
Workshop Presenter Proposal Form: HTML Version   pdf Version
Dialogue Group Facilitatior Form:     HTML Version   pdf Version

~ Just Completed ~ Watch for 2013 Details ~

 5th Annual International Conference on
Religion, Conflict, and Peace:
Walking The Talk To Compassion And Harmony
Spring, 2013
Site: Henry Ford Community College, Dearborn, Michigan USA
Previous 2012 RCP Full Program    Previous 2012 Presenter Biographicals 
An international forum promoting an inclusive, Inter-religious and Intra-religious dialogue to explore the challenges of Social Paranoia, Intolerance, Negative Stereotyping, Scapegoating, Racism, Islamophobia, and the effect on all communities; and the promise of Reason, Understanding, Compassion, and Cultural Harmony
Sponsored by: CBI, Henry Ford Community College, People's Peace Fund, International Humanistic Psychology Association, Parashakthi Temple,
Supported by: Council of Islamic Organizations Michigan
Partner and Official Event of: Charter For Compassion  and Parliament of World's Religions
Press Room: flyers, publicity information, etc.     Volunteer Application - be part of the effort
Registration Open to All



Culure Peace
of

Integrated International Conference Series

In 2004 CBI initiated an experiment to coordinate an integrated series of 5 international conferences in 3 countries that shared a focus on exploring and advancing a consciousness of peace, forgiveness, and reconciliation. The intent was to create a means for building on the concentrated focus, energy, and potential generated within the dynamics of conferences, to both increase the potential of each event and promote a more effective channeling of this energy into practical applications beyond the events themselves.

While each was independent, all events in this series were programmatically linked to build on each other for an energetic flow and larger impact. As a result of continuing this cooperation each year, outcomes have emerged and coalesced synergistically, inspiring promising new collaborative projects and partnerships, some of which CBI is directly involved in and others created by participants.

Following the success of this model we have continued the process each year, adding new conferences and inviting other international conferences to join in maximizing the energy and products of each event to promote an expanding network of social activists and healers for greater mutual benefit. Through such collaborations we work to raise the level, depth, and breadth of public awareness and dialogue on vital issues in exploring a consciousness of peace, to empower the individual in society, and to foster proactive networks that create practical strategies for applying results in advancing capacity for a culture of peace, locally and globally.

This model of integrated events continues into 2012.

Current Training Projects

In 1998, CBI established the International Training Program in Conflict Transformation as an extension of the ICR Conference. In addition to it's ongoing purposes, the ICR Conference serves as a major networking and recruiting source for training in this program. Currently two projects are operated out of this program:

Catastrophic Trauma Recovery Training (CTR)
A humanitarian relief effort established in 1998, designed to provide intensive "training of trainers" in catastrophic trauma recovery skills by expert teams of mental health specialists to local professionals and relief workers in regions of conflict assisting large civilian populations experiencing trauma from war and violence. Some of the regions represented are Russia, the Caucuses, Middle East, and Balkans. The project uses a comprehensive, integrated training/treatment model (CTR) for working with large populations of catastrophic trauma victims that is simple, standardized, repeatable, time sensitive, easily taught, and applicable cross-culturally. Assistance is intended for health professionals and relief workers from anywhere and is also appropriate for treating trauma due to natural catastrophe. CTR training teams are provided by an international consortium of professional training organizations. This humanitarian relief effort is endorsed and supported by NGO coordinating organizations within the regions served.  

Find Out How to Help Provide Trauma Treatment to War Victims


 Capacity For Peace and Democracy - Palestine
A collaborative project with Palestinian universities to establish Centers for Conflict Resolution and Human Rights and provide a pool of visiting professors and curriculum in Human Services (psychology, social work, health science, education) and Civil Society (democratic studies, conflict resolution/mediation, government, political science, economics/business).

The purpose is to help prepare future leaders in Palestinian society and local professionals skilled in providing critical human services to the population, all to increase capacity for a viable, peaceful Palestinian nation. Another aspect is creating opportunities for NGO's and community based institutions and universities in Palestine and Israel to cooperate on issues that promote understanding, acceptance, reconciliation, and forgiveness. To date a Center for Conflict Resolution and Human Rights has been established at Al Azhar University.

Additional Efforts Under Development

To learn more about CBI and IHPA's following projects - some in their early stages of organization and some currently being put into action - please visit our page on Additional Efforts.

  • Transgenerational Trauma Network:
    a project to promote cross-cultural research and study on the dynamics of inherited, unresolved communal trauma from one generation to the next, including historical understandings, implications for present and future relations between communities - particularly war and violence, and the development of new models and methodologies for healing and preventing communal trauma and it's transfer into future generations. Plans include launching a 2012 global conference for professionals in the healing arts to engage in a focused dialogue and deliberation on the above, and to begin the process of creating and compiling a body of knowledge that can be shared globally with colleagues, policy makers, community leaders, stakeholders, and the general public.
    Our intent is to promote a collaborative global network with cross-cultural representation - essential to universal understanding and culturally appropriate applications - to form permanent working groups that cooperate on addressing intergenerational trauma.

  • "Engaging The Other": edited multicultural book on "The Other" in conjunction with the above conference.

  • "Engaging The Other" training program geared toward the lay public addressing fear-based belief systems, negative stereotypes, and prejudice.

  • Children's Trauma Treatment Center. A project to create a children's trauma treatment center in the West Bank.

  • Joint Palestinian/Israeli Trauma Treatment Training

  • Iraqi Trauma Treatment Training

  • Expanding our Website as a vehicle for learning, sharing knowledge, networking, dialogue, collaboration, follow-up to training, and virtual community. (Among the features included will be a multimedia resource library, Journal of Conflict Transformation, E-newsletter, topical E-dialogues, E-working groups, clinical consultation seminars for trainees, etc).
  • Cooperative Publishing Vehicle for voices of reason - individuals from around the world with important, cutting edge ideas to stimulate and contribute to the public dialogue.
  • Establishing and developing locally based Professional Schools and Practical Training Programs In Human Services

Support our Efforts
by making a Tax Deductible donation
through our partner organization:
International Humanistic Psychology Association (IHPA)

How You Can Be Involved In Our Efforts
      by Volunteering or Interning

We invite you to contact us if you are interested in contributing your time, energy, and talents to assist our international efforts, and in doing so:

  • Create new possibilities for conflict transformation, prevention and healing in this pivotal time,

  • Form unique relationships with individuals and organizations throughout the world, and

  • Gain invaluable professional and personal experiences along the way

More About Becoming Involved with Common Bond Institute

Contact Us

To inquire about the activities and projects of CBI please contact:

Steve Olweean, Director and Conference Co-Coordinator
E-mail:                 SOlweean@aol.com
Telephone/Fax:   269-665-9393
Postal Address:   12170 South Pine Ayr Drive
                             Climax, Michigan  49034 
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Find videos, photos, samples of our conferences, etc. on Facebook
at: tinyurl.com/CBIonFB

* (We invite you to sign the Charter Affirmation

Common Bond Institute
Steve Olweean, Director,  SOlweean@aol.com
12170  S. Pine Ayr Drive • Climax, Michigan •49034 USA
1-269-665-9393  (Phone and Fax)
Website:  http://www.cbiworld.org
CONTACT US!

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