News and commentary
CMM Institute Fellows Program CALL FOR PROPOSALS for 2024 Fellows
Call for proposals for 2024 CMMi Fellows
We are inviting scholar-practitioners who appreciate the central role of communication in making our social worlds to apply for a Fellowship in 2024. Our Fellowship theme is open for 2024 and we encourage anyone with a special interest in exploring any of the many social, environmental, organisational or political challenges that we are currently facing in our social worlds.
Is co-construction an answer to moral injury?
Is co-construction an answer to moral injury?
One of the themes of the 5th annual Hero’s Journey symposium was the creation of “better pathways from wounds to wellness.” It included a panel discussion that reviewed the history and trajectory of moral injury as a construct of mental health. Bart Buechner was on the panel and offers us some of the highlights from the discussion on this important issue.
CMM Institute 2021 Fellow completes dissertation
CMM Institute 2021 Fellow completes dissertation
Congratulations to Lilya Shienko, PhD, for the recent completion of her dissertation, “The relationship between personal use of social media at work and job satisfaction”, as part of her doctoral studies at Adler University. Lilya’s thesis evolved from the work she undertook as a CMMI Fellow in 2021.
CosmoTeenz comic book
CosmoTeenz comic book
Navigating mental health as a teen is hard, so we asked our teen Fellows for their help in figuring out the mess. They’ve led us to better understand mental health by sharing their heartfelt stories and we hope to pass their stories along in an entertaining medium. Find their stories of vulnerability, growth, perseverance and more in our upcoming (as yet untitled) CosmoTeenz comic book.
The Sisanda FunDaytion: Connecting and building resilience through play in Cape Town, South Africa
The Sisanda FunDaytion: Connecting and building resilience through play in Cape Town, South Africa
The CMM Institute is honored to partner with Sisanda. We have donated CosmoKidz activities for their use and we recently learned about some of the specific ways in Sisanda have been using CosmoKidz to help children and families thrive in South Africa.
Better ways of negotiating
Better ways of negotiating
Following on from the success of her latest book, New story, new power: A woman’s guide to negotiation, Beth Fisher Yoshida has contributed to a number of specific publications addressing different aspects of her work. These include the role of power dynamics, stories of gender, using new generative patterns, and overcoming stereotypes in negotiations.
Changing our way of understanding communication to align with a quantum paradigm
Changing our way of understanding communication to align with a quantum paradigm
John and Susan Parrish-Sprowl have just published an exciting new article, A case for a quantum informed approach to health communication research. In this paper, they argue it is time that communication theory and research shifts from a Newtonian understanding of the world to more a quantum paradigm. This would help us in ways to invite more inclusion as well as a more meaningful conceptualization of communication and its relationship to health.
Reflections on Season 2: Stories Lived. Stories Told. podcast
Reflections on Season 2: Stories Lived. Stories Told. podcast
Our Podcast series, Stories Lived. Stories Told. is now well into its second season. Abbie VanMeter has talked with some amazing people, all with such wonderful and different stories. Halfway through this season, Abbie reflects on what she has heard so far.
Rituals that sustain and nurture relationships: Honoring Ed Schein
Rituals that sustain and nurture relationships: Honoring Ed Schein
Emeritus Professor Edgar H. Schein, a social psychologist who bridged the academic and practical sides of culture and organization by practicing his own tenets on humble presence, inquiring and reflecting, died earlier this year. Ilene Wasserman recently published a paper in honour of Ed Schein in which she reflects on the profoundly simple lessons learnt from her relationship with him.
New introductory CMM videos
New introductory CMM videos
Abbie VanMeter, our wonderful podcaster, has produced three brief CMM educational videos. These videos support the minisodes from Season 1 of the Stories Lived. Stories Told. podcast. They are just perfect for inclusion in introductory classes for CMM.
“What Now”—a film project in the making
“What Now”—a film project in the making
Returning home from war is a challenging experience for veterans. Film maker, Terry Strauss, and CMMi Steward, Bart Buechner, are capturing their stories of pain, isolation, loneliness, loss of human connection and of the lack of public engagement and civilian responsibility & accountability in a new film project. They have prepared a trailer to help situate the final product and engage thought partners in how it might be used
Exploring the role of transitions in building resilience
Exploring the role of transitions in building resilience
Lauren Mackenzie, Barton Buechner, John Parrish-Sprowl and Susan Steen participated in a panel discussion at the 93rd annual Southern States Communication Association conference in St. Petersburg, Florida in April, 2023. The presentation included multiple perspectives on the ways that military students and veterans communicate through and about various forms of transition, and ways that this awareness might be applied to foster desirable qualities of resilience. Bart Buechner has captured the presentation in summary form.