DuVersity

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The DuVersity is an organisation founded on the idea of 'transformative education', combining ideas and methods from a number of fields to achieve the goal of developing human intelligence. Within this system, difference and diversity are of the highest importance -- multiple viewpoints and perspectives are encouraged in order that they be contrasted for a better understanding of reality.

The DuVersity was founded in 1998 by Anthony Blake and Karen Stefano.

[edit] The Mission

Quoted from the DuVersity homepage:

"The DuVersity is concerned with the importance of diversity for the development of human intelligence. It seeks to improve communication in groups, encourage multiple viewpoints on the same reality, understand how thoughts arise, and have insight into the way cultures arise and are shaped by their encounters with each other. DuVersity is a universal phenomenon, beyond questions of race and gender.

The DuVersity is not identified with any religion, ideology, political view or scientific theory. It has developed its own specific tools for its research and educational programs.

The DuVersity has historical roots in the Systematics method mainly developed by the philosopher John Bennett in the 60's and in the Dialogue process promulgated by the physicist David Bohm and the psychotherapist Patrick de Mare in the 80's. It has been applying its ideas to the design of new kinds of conferencing, as in the series held in Baltimore since 1997. In 1995 it developed a new system of structured conversation. In 1998 it initiated a new area of study, the study of arrangement or pattern. In 2000, it began its series of working group seminars, based on many years of investigation into transformative education.

The program of the DuVersity includes both research and education. It sets up dialogue groups, gives courses in corresponding and affiliated methods and organizes seminar-dialogues on wide-ranging themes. It furthers research into methods of thinking, inter-disciplinary studies and cross-cultural communication."