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2012 Schedule, Program Overview,
and Guidelines

International Conference on
Transforming Conflict:
Sharing Tools for Cross-Cultural Dialogue

June 20-23, 2012 ~  Amman, Jordan
Site:  Sadeen Hotel, Amman, Jordan

Sponsored by:
Common Bond Institute (US)
International Humanistic Psychology Association

Endorsed and Supported by:
King Abdullah II, the Jordanian Government, USAID,
and over 100 universities and organizations internationally

Official Partner of:
Charter for Compassion & Parliament of World's Religions

~ Call For Proposals ~
Workshop Presenter form: PDF Version   Plain Text Version
Dialogue Group Facilitator form: PDF Version  Plain Text Version
Conference Description  (pdf file)

* On This Page Find:
Daily Schedule, Conference Features,
Session Descriptions and Format,
and Guidelines for Dialogue

 Conference Components

A 4 day Schedule of:

1.  Break-out sessions of Workshops & Practical presentations
   
2.  Topical Panels
3.  Daily Conference-wide Facilitated Dialogue Groups
4.  Keynote Speakers
   
5.  On-site Pod-casting and Blogging
6.  Rich Networking for Cooperation on Applications
   
7.  Cultural Events and Performances
   
8.  Multi-cultural Community
9.  Exhibits and Displays
   

Conference Program Opens:  Wednesday night 
Conference Program Closes:  Saturday afternoon
Farewell Dinner Party:                Saturday evening

Location:  Coral Sadeen Hotel, Amman, Jordan                  

Conference Program Schedule
        Full Program to be posted in the near future

Wednesday, June 20

    4:00 pm                     *On-Site Registration & Check-in
    6:00 pm - 8:00 pm:    CONFERENCE OPENING
    8:00 pm - 9:00 pm:    Cultural event

Thursday, June 21
9:30 am - 9:30 pm:

    9:30 am -  11:00 am:  Concurrent Breakout Sessions - A
                                            Workshops
  11:15 am -  12:45 pm:  Concurrent Breakout Sessions - B
                                            Workshops
   12:45 pm -  2:30 pm:   Lunch
    2:30 pm -  4:00 pm:    Plenary Session - C  (full conference)
    4:15 pm -  6:00 pm:    Concurrent Breakout Sessions - D
                                            Facilitated Dialogue Groups
    6:00 pm -  8:00 pm:    Dinner
    8:00 pm -  9:30 pm:     Social/Cultural Event

Friday, June 22
9:30 am - 9:30 pm:

    9:30 am -  11:00 am:  Concurrent Breakout Sessions - E
                                            Workshops
  11:15 am -  12:45 pm:  Concurrent Breakout Sessions - F
                                            Workshops
  12:45 pm -    2:30 pm:  Lunch
    2:30 pm -    4:00 pm:  Concurrent Breakout Sessions - G
                                            Facilitated Dialogue Groups
    4:15 pm -  6:00 pm:    Plenary Session - H  (full conference)
                                          Film and Dialogue
    6:00 pm -  8:00 pm:    Dinner
    8:00 pm -  9:30 pm:    Social/Cultural Event

Saturday, June 23
9:30 am - 3:00 pm:
(7:00 pm - 10:30 pm: Farewell Banquet)

    9:30 am - 11:00 am:   Concurrent Breakout Sessions - I
                                          Workshops
  11:15 am - 12:45 pm:   Plenary Session - J  (full conference)
                                          Final Dialogue Group
                                          Assessment of future skills training needs,                                           brainstorming practical applications,
                                          action planning, and networking for
                                          cooperation beyond conference.
  12:45 pm -  2:00 pm:    Lunch
    2:00 pm -  3:00 pm:    TC  CONFERENCE CLOSING
                                          Summarizing & Processing of conference                                           experience, Feedback on conference and,  
                                          recommendations, Cooperation, Next Steps,
                                          and Farewell.
    7:00 pm - 10:30 pm:   Farewell Dinner Party
                                          (a final time to break bread together)

Intent, Format, and Description of Program Sessions:
         Workshops, Facilitated Dialogue Groups,
         Topical Roundtable, & Keynotes:

Over the 4 days of the program the conference is intended to build an interactive learning community that encourages participants to learn from prepared material while also bringing their own perspectives and wisdom to the table in exploring constructive, concrete applications in daily life to improve relationships and conditions in their society. With the encouragment of King Abdullah II and his government, the conference is intended to empower the individual in society with necessary skills to take on increased civic participation and collaborative, proactive leadeship roles in advancing beneficial social reform.

Key elements of the daily program design are:

1) Breakout Workshops - Training Sessions and Practical Presentations:
The format of these sessions is training and demonstration intended to provide participants with specific, practical skills through learning proven curriculum and training programs in dialogue, interpersonal communication, decision making, teamwork, leadership, negotiation, problem solving, mediation, conflict resolution, and sustainable reconciliation that are holistic, collaborative, mutually beneficial, and compassionate. Leading experts in the fields conduct the training sessions and are available for continued important networking and future contact.

2) Facilitated Dialogue Groups - Putting Principles Into Practice:
These are daily focused sessions all participants engage in, facilitated by trainers to accomplish as much as possible within the time allotted. Dialogue groups are utilized as the engines of the conference leading to exploring productive ways to put principles and skills into practice.

Content from workshops, demonstrations, panels, and keynotes provide the stimulus and focus for this discourse that is woven throughout the days of the program. These groups are intended for processing the conference experience and addressing issues, developing practical, concrete actions for constructively applying learning in our communities beyond the conference, and networking for building important relationships and cooperation to accomplish this. To assist and promote this, opportunities are provided by the conference organizers for maintaining contact and cooperation between interested participants, presenters, and the organizers, and material emerging from these discussions is included in conference proceedings and outcomes, and used for planning toward future conferences.

3) Topical Panels:
In keeping with the character of the conference, panels are intended to be an interactive dialogue between members addressing important topics - rather than a series of mini-presentations, and to extend the dialogue out to include the full audience for a significant portion of the session to promote a wider, more inclusive, and more fruitful discussion on the topic. This entire process is guided and facilitated by moderator(s) to ensure opportunities for multiple voices to be heard, that the focus is maintained, and to keep things on track in terms of time.

4) Keynotes:
Meant to offer insights, inspire, and pose important questions and issues to address, keynotes by leading visionaries help frame the focus of the program.

5) Multi-cultural Learning Community:
The conference frame is designed to build an interactive learning community that encourages participants to learn from prepared material while also bringing their own perspectives and wisdom to bear in exploring constructive, concrete applications in daily life to improve relationships and conditions in their society and directly contribute to it's development. Experts in each model will be on hand to provide the specific workshops and participate fully in the entire program along side all participants, including facilitated dialogue groups that further process learning from the workshops

6) Evening Cultural Events offer opportunities for cross-cultural sharing and appreciation, social interaction, and important community building during the conference to share cultural heritages, promote community, and create a common ground of reference for exploring core themes and integrating formal learning.

7) Networking, Cooperation, and Bridge Building: for mutual support and next steps in putting principles into practice in our communities to develop and maintain compassionate, cooperative, productive, and peaceful relationships within and between communities.

Expected Outcomes:
The conference is intended to occur annually, build on outcomes, and support the National Agenda for reform of the Jordanian government. Among it's expected products are:
1) Increased individual proficiency with effective skills and capacity to actively engage in constructive civic participation in addressing crucial challenges facing developing societies in the Middle East today, and contributing to advancing solutions.
2) Assessment of future needs for skills training and support
3) Educational and Training Resources: Compiling and contributing a growing, comprehensive resource library of highly effective curriculum and training programs to Jordan's formal educational system for ongoing availability to an expanding number of individuals beyond the conferences,
4) International Professional Network: Promoting and maintaining an on-going and expanding international network of leading institutes and experts in support of these educational materials and to advance the mission of the conference.
5) Published results: articles, research papers, conference reports, an edited volume, recorded proceedings and interviews, and media and art images geared toward both the global professional and lay public to educate, increase awareness, and stimulate engaged dialogue.
6) Establish conference as an annual conference series to build each year on professional resources, knowledge, practical skills, cooperation, and applications to the benefit of society, and to serve as a meeting place for key stakeholders.

Strategic Follow-Up: Conference organizers continue to work with participants to:
1) Coordinate and maximize continued contact and support between participants, institutes, and trainers to continue learning and promote opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation.
2) Assist in establishing, maintaining, and expanding a resource library of training materials provided to educational institutions.

 Guidelines For Compassionate Dialogue

The TC Conference strives to promote an inclusive, compassionate dialogue that honors different personal experiences, perspectives, and narratives, while allowing for better expressing and listening to each other as we work together toward understanding and harmony. Our intention is to create an open venue where we can engage meaningfully and invite in a public dialogue that brings our joint wisdom to bear in exploring sometimes difficult issues that effect us all. This is based on the premise that it does not require that we be the same to be appreciate of, at peace with, and secure in our relationships with each other; only that we be familiar enough with each others story to share the humanity and trustworthiness that resides in each of us.
We ask all participants to assist us by carrying and expressing this intent throughout the conference.

2012 TC Conference Information: