About the Institute
Our mission is to contribute to the making of better social worlds by reflecting on current patterns of communication and building better ones. We know that the skills necessary for making better social worlds are unevenly distributed and often in shortest supply when needed most. We are dedicated to improving this situation by promoting abilities, skills, and ways of being that enable us to act compassionately, mindfully, and wisely into the complex worlds in which we live.
The Institute’s goal is best expressed as learning together how to develop and share a cosmopolitan sensibility regarding our communication practices. This cosmopolitan sensibility can be expressed in several ways, including the idea that we remain profoundly curious about, and open to, the many ways of being human, seeing each way as one reality among many, and appreciating that all are constructed in different ongoing patterns of communicating.
In all of these efforts, the goal is to shift our taken-for-granted view of communication (as a simple tool for exchanging ideas and information) to a more complex understanding of the creative power of communication. In practical terms, these shifts are facilitated using tools and models inspired and informed by the Theory of the Coordinated Management of Meaning (CMM).
The Institute itself represents a diverse community of individuals, groups and organizations who use the Coordinated Management of Meaning (CMM) theory to inform and enhance their work. We engage with, and learn from one another, through a variety of online and in-person forums. Individual scholars and practitioners, educators and thought leaders, and institutional advocates comprise the core of the Institute’s supporters. However, the Institute’s programs and events are open to everyone.
As the institutional home and on-going keeper of CMM’s living history, the Institute partners with people, organizations and projects that represent significant, relevant, and applicable ways to institutionalize better patterns of communication.
The public benefit 501(c)3 Institute provides:
- Opportunities for collaboration, research, and teaching, including our joint graduate student fellowship program with Columbia University and joint conferences held with like-minded organisations such as the UK Association for Family Therapy
- Professional development programs for emerging and established CMM practitioners, including our annual CMMi Fellowship program
- Development and implementation of demonstration projects, showing how we can make better social worlds, especially demonstrated in our long-term CosmoKidz and Cosmopolis projects
- Worldwide networking and information sharing most notably conducted through our Learning Exchanges and occasional webinars
- Fresh insights about CMM’s capacity to transform contemporary social issues and covered in the CMMi Press publication program
- Advocacy for the continued improvement of personal and public communication in all walks of life, through our publications, our sponsored projects and our networking
- Support for the continued development of CMM as a practical theory and as a way of being in the world
The Board of Stewards
The Institute is overseen by an international Board of Stewards. The members of the board voluntarily contribute their time and expertise to fulfilling the vision of the Institute. At various times, the members take on specific responsibilities for particular projects and activities that suit their passions and their time available. The current responsibilities include:
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| Barton Buechner, PhD | CMMi Fellows, CMMI Secretary |
| Beth Fisher-Yoshida, PhD | CMMi Fellows, AC4 Fellows, CMMi Editorial Collective |
| Marit Eikaas Haavimb, MABPSS | CosmoKidz |
| Arthur Jensen, PhD | Cosmopolis-2045, CMMi Editorial Collective |
| Barbara McKay, D.Psych | CMMi Press Editorial Collective, UK/AFT Liaison |
| Sergej van Middendorp, PhD | CMMI Treasurer, Fielding Graduate University & Institute for Global Integral Competence Liaison |
| Kimberly Pearce, MA | Cofounder, President, CosmoKidz |
| Robyn Penman, PhD | Honorary Life Associate, Cosmopolis, CMMi Press Editor, Newsletter Editor |
| Susan Steen, PhD | CMMi Editorial Collective |
| Daniel Walters | CosmoKidz |
| Don Waisanen, PhD | CosmoTeenz Teen Fellows Project, Cosmopolis-2045 |
| Ilene Wasserman, PhD | CMMi Fellows, CMMi Editorial Collective |
Latest news about the CMM Institute
Replicability and fraud: Unintended consequence of modernity
Replicability and fraud: Unintended consequence of modernity
We often take the idea of forms of communication to indicate different ways of engaging with others. However, different forms can go beyond the interpersonal level to impact on social structures and practices. In a fascinating paper, John Parrish-Sprowl, argues that the form of modernity has had a direct and often deleterious effect on the scientific research enterprise.
Stephen W. Littlejohn: Dedicated to making better social worlds
Stephen W. Littlejohn: Dedicated to making better social worlds
It is with much sadness we want to let you know that Stephen Littlejohn died in July. Stephen has such a special place in our hearts and our community. He was a founding Director of the CMM Institute, a co-founder of the Public Dialogue consortium, and part of the small group instrumental in organizing Barnett Pearce’s Festchrift. Stephen was a gifted scholar-practitioner who published and practised widely on topics related to communication, conflict and dialogue. In all he did, he showed his dedication to making better social worlds and we mourn his passing.
Special CMM webinar: Showcasing the 2024 fellows’ projects
Special CMM webinar: Showcasing the 2024 fellows’ projects
We are holding a special-subject CMM webinar on December 11th, 2024 from 1 to 3:00 PM (Eastern US time). This webinar will showcase the projects of our five 2024 CMMi Fellows. All of their projects apply CMM in novel and creative ways to real-world issues. Please join us in the webinar with our Fellows.
Exploring the relationship between CMM and Theory of Positive Disintegration
Exploring the relationship between CMM and Theory of Positive Disintegration
Our relationship with the Dabrowski Center and their Theory of Positive Disintegration continues to grow. Sergej Van Middendorp and Abbie VanMeter describe the evolution of this relationship and their latest involvement with their paper presentation at the 2024 Dabrowski Congress.
CosmoActivities at the upcoming TAG conference
CosmoActivities at the upcoming TAG conference
Our outreach program for our CosmoActivities resource kits continues to grow. The latest development will be a session at the upcoming 2024 Tennessee Association for the Gifted (TAG) Fall conference.
CosmoActivities has a new home
CosmoActivities has a new home
CosmoKidz, CosmoTweenz, CosmoTeenz, and our SOAR Resources have a new home! Here you will find all of our resource sets and they are available for free.
We have a Substack!
We have a Substack!
We now have a Substack that holds all of our CMMi created resources, including infographics, podcasts, videos, books and more. We invite you to learn more about this new website and to participate in the opportunities offered.
Stories of destiny
Stories of destiny
What is destiny and to what extent do we have a role to play in controlling the events of our lives? How much we can be effective in shaping our fate, life and death? These are the central questions explored in a new book, The Valley of Loneliness, written by Hossein Kaviani, a past CMMi Fellow.
Inner Jazz: An allegorical tale
Inner Jazz: An allegorical tale
And for something completely different…Rik Spann offers us a delightful allegorical story about our inner rhythms and taking turns.
Stories Lived. Stories Told. : A testament to emergence
Stories Lived. Stories Told. : A testament to emergence
The Stories Lived. Stories Told podcast is well into Season 3. This is beyond our initial expectation and, on reflection, it is yet again another testament to the value of emergence. Abbie VanMeter reflects on the development of the podcast.