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International Journal of Appreciative InquiryMay 2015Volume 17 Number 2AI PractitionerISBN ational Appreciative Inquiryin Conversation and in ActionEdited byMarge SchillerMatthew MoehlePeter WhitehouseSponsored byAppreciating People

AI PractitionerInternational Journal of Appreciative InquiryMay 2015Volume 17 Number 2 ISBN 23-6Intergenerational Appreciative Inquiryin Conversation and in ActionInside this issueWelcome to May 2015 issue of AI PractitionerIntergenerational Appreciative Inquiry inConversation and in Action celebratesthe diversity and generativity ofintergenerational conversations. Business,education and communities show what theycan achieve by reaching out and connectingwith different age groups. They share theirsuccessful methods to ‘go between in orderto create the beyond’.in reviewing the momentous citizenengagement process in Singapore thatinvolved 660 dialogues, 47,000 who met inface-to-face meetings and 4,000 more whoengaged online.In Research Review & Notes, Gail Simonat the University of Bedfordshire in theUK highlights cases on collaborative orreflexive inquiry from social services.AI Resources includes a variety of resourcesrelated to intergenerational efforts thatcelebrate diversity.We would like to thank Appreciating Peoplefor sponsoring this issue.Anne RadfordEditor, AI PractitionerIn her Feature Choice, Jacqueline Wongdevelops a model for engaged governance5Intergenerational AppreciativeInquiry In Conversation and InActionEditors: Marge Schiller,Matthew Moehle andPeter Whitehouse9Feature ChoiceTowards a Model for EngagedGovernance: Citizen Conversationsfor a Participatory DemocracyJacqueline WongIntergenerational AI Methods24Film PortraitsTheir Potential for AppreciativeIntergenerational Conversations27 ‘I Have a Dream’A Call for Intergenerational DreamingMargaret Wright29Appreciating All GenerationsIntergenerational DialogueRobyn Stratton-BerkesselJoep C. de JongAI Practitioner May 15 Intergenerational Appreciative Inquiry In Conversation and In ActionBack Issues at www.aipractitioner.com

Intergenerational AI and Business32Children of their TimeDescriptions, Credos and Views ofthe Different Generations36Agnes JoesterIntergenerationalAppreciative Inquiry HelpsManagers Move BeyondGenerational Misconceptionsin the Workplace40Mentorship is AgelessIt is About Gratitude, Reciprocityand AppreciationMaureen McKenna andDiane PascoeCandace Steele FlippinIntergenerational AI and Communities43Appreciative IntergenerationalCommunity Building46A Strengths-Based Approach inUgandaStories and Examples ofResults Using AppreciativeInquiry47Because We are Stronger TogetherDonna ButtsGenerations Coming Together toMake a Change in Their CommunityKristin Bodiford andArthur Namara AraaliGenerations UnitedKristin Bodiford50Girls About PoliticalParticipation (GAPP)Marge Schiller andCharlotte MarshallIntergenerational AI and Education55Beyond Intergenerational toIntergenerative58Going Between to Imagine BeyondAppreciating Young PeopleConversations that MatterSue JamesPeter Whitehouse64The First AppreciativeEducation ConferenceA Story of IntergenerationalIngenuityJennifer Bloom, Stephanie AnnSuarez, Hope Wooten, JodieWaldroup, Kaitlynn Kirk, StephanieBaskerville and Erin Smith61Young People in a SchoolSetting Making a PositiveDifference to Senior Citizensin their CommunityCraig Knight and Glyn WilloughbyAI Practitioner May 15 Intergenerational Appreciative Inquiry in Conversation and in ActionBack Issues at www.aipractitioner.com

Intergenerational AI and Thriving Families67Lessons from AncestorsMy Historical IntergenerationalAppreciative Inquiry74Thomas E. MyersAppreciativeIntergenerationalConversations77A Place to FlourishIntergenerationalConversations Toward Endof LifeStructure for Storytelling, Inquiryand DialogueAlexandra StavrosTony Silbert and Mary Vargas80Appreciative Inquiry ResearchReview & Notes85Appreciative Inquiry asOrganisational Research CultureAbout the sponsorof this issue89A variety of resources that focus ongenerational diversity as a resourceto be celebratedGail Simon90Appreciative InquiryResourcesAbout the August 2015 IssueStories and Examples of ResultsUsing Appreciative InquiryEditor: Ralph WeikelMatthew R. Moehle,Roopa Nandi and Hardik Shah92Advertisements93The Centre for AppreciativeInquiryAppreciating PeopleThe Taos Institute95IAPG Contactsand AI PractitionerSubscription InformationFeature Choice ArticlesAI Practitioner 2015942015 World AppreciativeInquiry ConferenceAI Practitioner May 15 Intergenerational Appreciative Inquiry in Conversation and in ActionBack Issues at www.aipractitioner.com

AI Practitioner Volume 17 Number 2 ISBN 23-6-1Marge SchillerMatthew MoehleMarge Schiller is grandmother to Max and Sarahand founder of the Positive Change Core : a globalcommunity serving schools and youth with strengthfocused approaches. She is co editing the secondversion of Appreciative Leaders: In the Eye of theBeholder. serves as an advisor for the Leiden/TaosPh.D. program and lives in Massachusetts and Florida.Contact: margeschiller@me.comMatthew Moehle is president of Positive Change Coreand academic coordinator and associate professorfor Field-based Graduate Programs in Educationfor Southern New Hampshire University. He oftenconsults with schools, businesses, and not-forprofit and community organizations to help fosterinnovation and positive change.Contact: matthew@matthewmoehle.comMay 2015Peter WhitehousePeter Whitehouse is a professor of Neurology andPsychiatry, Neuroscience, Psychology, Nursing,Organizational Behavior, Bioethics, CognitiveScience and History at Case Western ReserveUniversity interested in developing innovative learningenvironments to promote flourishing, includingintergenerational schools.Contact: tive Inquiryin Conversation and in ActionThis issue of AI Practitionerfocuses on the connectionbetween intergenerationalinteractions and AppreciativeInquiry, and how thisconnection can be reflectedin conversations, in actionsand in the stance we take ineveryday situations.This issue of AI Practitioner celebrates the diversity of human experience and theintergenerational power of sharing and learning from our different perspectives andexperiences. We highlight how Appreciative Inquiry has been a source of inspirationfor people to turn multigenerational efforts into intergenerational efforts. We areexcited about Intergenerational Appreciative Inquiry. Like the difference betweenmulti and interdisciplinary the prefix “inter” draws attention to importance of deeper,more powerful connecting relationships.It has become popular to categorize individuals by age and generation. References to“millennials” circulate in the press and social media seemingly constantly. Other labelsinclude Gen X, Baby Boomers, Teenages, Seniors, Gen Y, The Greatest Generation,iGen, Traditionals, War Children and more. We categorize individuals by age as soonas they start formal school, when we divide individuals by grade levels based almostexclusively on age. Because this categorization is so prevalent, seeing beyond sociallyconstructed walls between age groups can be just as difficult as seeing alternatives totraditional deficit-based problem-solving approaches to change!This is not to say that there are not benefits to understanding the differences betweenan infant and a toddler, a first grader and a fifth grader, and recognizing that someonein their 20s holds a different reality of the world than someone in their 50s. Indeed,there is theoretical and practical value in understanding developmental stages.AI Practitioner May 15 Intergenerational Appreciative Inquiry In Conversation and In ActionMore Articles at www.aipractitioner.com5

AI Practitioner Volume 17 Number 2 ISBN 978-1-907549-23-6In multigenerationalsettings, differences inages and the resultingdiffering perspectivesbased on generationalperspectives are not fullyvalued . intergenerationalinteractions happen whengenerational diversity iscelebrated and leveraged.May 2015However, when age and generational differences are treated as problems, such labelscan bring about biases and limitations much as labels of religion, gender and race can.In intergenerational interactions – engaging with people of different ages andstages of life – is an opportunity to go beyond what would otherwise be possible,to maximize innovative potential and realize new levels of generativity. We coinedthe word “intergenerative” to call attention to the creative energy that occurs whenfields of knowledge, theories and practices as well as generations, disciplines,professionals, nations and faiths come into dynamic tension with each other.This issue focuses on the connection between Intergenerational interactions andAppreciative Inquiry and how this connection can be reflected in conversations, inactions, and in the stance we take to everyday situations.What do we mean by intergenerational?Intergenerational interactions happen through multi-age conversations and actions.Generativity is maximized when the limitations created by socially constructed labelsbased on people’s age are minimized. When generational differences are leveragedas strengths rather than treated as barriers to understanding, transformativeconversations emerge and our capacity for positive possibilities expands.Intergenerational interactions are a specific type of multigenerational interaction. Inboth, people from different generations come together in conversation and action.However, in multigenerational interactions, the strengths inherent in such diversityare not being leveraged. In the workplace, multigenerational workforces have beencharacterized as something that needs to be managed and overcome.In contrast, intergenerational interactions happen when we leverage generationaldiversity. In intergenerational interactions, engaging with people of differentgenerations is seen as opportunity. We can go beyond what would otherwise bepossible. Instead of allowing socially constructed labels based on people’s agesto be barriers, they are seen as a means to something greater. By embracingintergenerational interactions, we open ourselves up to transformative conversationsand actions with those of another generation.By moving from multigenerational interactions to intergenerational interactions, weexpand our mutual capacity for the positive. In intergenerational settings, havingdifferent ages together creates a maximum mix that is magic.This May 2015 issue of AI Practitioner focuses on theoretical and practicalaspects of intergenerational interactions – cases and stories when multiple agesof individuals come together to increases opportunity, possibility and generativity.This issue highlights theoretical concepts and practical examples from individuals,businesses, schools, communities, families and other organizations that flourishthrough the maximum mix of ages and perspectives. We see this maximum mix asintergenerational magic.AI Practitioner May 15 Intergenerational Appreciative Inquiry In Conversation and In ActionMore Articles at www.aipractitioner.com6