Newsletter archive
Spring 2025
A review of Justice in the Making: Relating, Participating, Communicating
A review of Justice in the Making: Relating, Participating, Communicating
Robyn Penman’s ground breaking new book, Justice in the Making: Relating, Participating, Communicating was published last month and is already being highly acclaimed. In this quarter’s news, Sheila McNamee, Professor Emerita, New Hampshire University, offers a considered review of the book; noting that “Penman offers an impressive review of established understandings of justice…, thoroughly introduces the limitations of those understandings and offers an alternative that speaks directly to the pragmatic appreciation of possibilities for justice in our lived experience”
New Collaborations: A report from Abbie VanMeter
New Collaborations: A report from Abbie VanMeter
Our new Executive Director of Collaborative Innovations, Abbie VanMeter, writes about the exciting new things happening at the CMM Institute—including the line-up for our fourth podcast season, the continuing evolution of our collaborations with, and for, CosmoActivities, new resource offerings, and an invitation to our community.
Honoring Stephen Littlejohn
Honoring Stephen Littlejohn
A special panel was convened at the Western States Communication Association Annual Convention in Albuquerque in February, to honor Stephen Littlejohn, a founding Director of the CMM Institute—amongst many other things. Kim Pearce was part of that panel, and offered some significant stories pointing to how much Stephen contributed to the evolution of CMM and the CMMi.
Winter 2024
New parenting resources coming soon!
New parenting resources coming soon!
Our CosmoActivities line of resources is getting a new addition. CosmoParenting is designed to support parents by enriching their parenting toolbox. This toolbox is added to through one short podcast episode each week, providing opportunities to reflect, listen, connect, practice, and engage in conversations.
CosmoKidz at gifted conferences across USA
CosmoKidz at gifted conferences across USA
Our recent presentation at the Tennessee Association for the Gifted conference was well received and we are now kicking off a renewed effort to promote our CosmoActivities at other Gifted conferences in the US. Our next presentation will be in Arizona in February of next year.
Don Waisanen: Public Dialogue and Deliberation division leadership
Don Waisanen: Public Dialogue and Deliberation division leadership
Don Waisanen is starting his four-year leadership term of the Public Dialogue and Deliberation division of the National Communication Association (NCA), beginning as vice-chair elect for the coming year.
Interpersonal Communication: Award nomination
Interpersonal Communication: Award nomination
Earlier this year we announced that the 8th edition of Arthur Jensen and Sarah Trenholm’s interpersonal communication textbook had been published. Now the publishers, Cognella, have nominated the 8th edition of Interpersonal Communication for the McGuffey Longevity Award which honors textbooks that have had a long shelf life.
Meeting of the Waters: At the Relating Systems Thinking and Design conference
Meeting of the Waters: At the Relating Systems Thinking and Design conference
Abbie VanMeter and Sergej van Middendorp, together with colleagues George Fedha, Laurence Habib, Dewi Hartkamp, Flavio Mesquita da Silva, and Fred Steier, recently presented a paper and facilitated a workshop at the 13th Relating Systems Thinking and Design conference in Oslo, Norway. Their paper explores how we can design for collaborative support networking that affords the co-creation of regenerative, sustainable, and just futures in the face of the many catastrophic events we are currently facing.
End-of-year reflections: Kim Pearce
End-of-year reflections: Kim Pearce
In this year’s end-of-year reflections, Kim Pearce draws on the song of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer as inspiration for a way of being in the world. In these turbulent and uneasy times, she calls on all of us to be a community of practice, transforming social worlds of ridicule and ostracism into worlds of compassion and love.
Marit Eikaas Haavimb: Heart and soul of the CMM Institute
Marit Eikaas Haavimb: Heart and soul of the CMM Institute
With tremendous sadness, we need to let you know that Marit Eikaas Haavimb, CMM Institute board member, colleague, and friend, passed on November 8. Marit has been the heart and soul of the CMM Institute, bringing a quality of presence, openness, creativity, and love to each meeting, each event, every project, and every conversation she participated in.
A Letter from Abbie VanMeter on new CMMi role
A letter from Abbie VanMeter on new CMMi role
Abbie VanMeter has made a wonderful contribution to many activities of the CMM Institute over the past few years. In recognition of her contribution and her potential for so much more, we have created a new role for her: Executive Director of Collaborative Innovations. In her letter to the CMM community she talks about her influences, her inspirations and her high hopes for what she can help create with us all.
Fall 2024
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.
Summer 2024
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.
CosmoParents: Have you a story to share?
CosmoParents: Have you a story to share?
Cosmoparents is the latest development in our CosmoActivities resource sets. We hope to share stories from parents about their own parenting experiences and invite you to participate in the next round of developments.
CMMi Fellows 2024: A diversity of issues
CMMi Fellows 2024: A diversity of issues
We have five new Fellows for 2024 and their projects cover a diversity of issues: from stories of merit in Malaysia, through to disability accommodation, trauma-informed systemic practice, spirituality, and race and identity.
Don Waisanen: Democracy Renewal award
Don Waisanen: Democracy Renewal award
Don Waisanen, one of our Stewards, is an inaugural grantee for the Democracy Renewal Project. This project is part of a new program of research funding offered by Public Agenda, a research-to-action nonprofit in the US dedicated to building a democracy that works for everyone.
Spring 2024
A great new interpersonal communication text: Review
A great new interpersonal communication text: Review
John Chetro-Szivos reviews Arthur Jensen’s and Sarah Trenholm’s newly published interpersonal communication text. This is a significantly revised eighth edition of their undergraduate text that John describes as masterfully weaving information on interpersonal theory into a vibrant tapestry of ideas and applications. John sums up his review with “this is the text I wish I had as an undergraduate”.
Revealing the narratives of peace-building in Colombia: A CMM perspective
Revealing the narratives of peacebuilding in Colombia: A CMM perspective
Joan Camilo López, the Youth, Peace, and Society program manager in the AC4-Climate School at Columbia University gives us an overview of the ways Colombians have narrated peace and war, especially those Colombians who have been officially silenced. She shows how using a CMM perspective can help to identify and reveal new narrative possibilities.
Help us co-create CosmoParents
Help us co-create CosmoParents
CosmoParents will be the next development in our CosmoActivities line. “What is CosmoParents?” you might ask. Well, us too! In the true spirit of CMM, we hope to co-create CosmoParents with parents and caregivers and are asking for your help.
Great achievements of our Teen Fellows
Great achievements of our Teen Fellows
Our Teen Fellows joint publication, Life in Our Garden: Anthology of Youth, was launched on March 15. This is a fantastic achievement for them and we will have more to say about it in our next newsletter. Over January, they also contributed to our podcast where they each give a wonderful glimpse into their life and into the process of creating their book.
Winter 2023
Applied social construction and design thinking: Implications for military contexts
Applied social construction and design thinking: Implications for military contexts
Two of our Stewards, Susan Steen and Barton Buechner, recently participated in the 2023 Language, Regional Expertise and Culture (LREC) Symposium held annually by the Air Force Culture and Language Center (AFCLC). This year’s theme was Integrated by Design and Susan and Bart explored aspects of CMM-based collaborative inquiry, incorporating quantum theory and design thinking, that addressed the theme.
End-of-year reflections
End-of-year reflections
The Stewards of the CMM Institute met at the end of November to reflect on our hopes and goals for the work that we do individually and as an Institute. Kim Pearce reports on our reflections and outlines some of the highlights of our work for the coming year.
Welcome to new steward: Don Waisanen
Welcome to new steward: Don Waisanen
We are delighted to welcome Don Waisanen to our Board of Stewards. Don is a Professor in the Baruch College, CUNY Marxe School of Public and International Affairs and is committed to supporting CMM in its defining role of advancing the forms of communication that can best address current challenges and put humanity on an upward trajectory.
Communities of practice: An important peace-building role
Communities of practice: An important peace-building role
Beth Fisher-Yoshida is continuing her work supporting the peace-building initiatives in Medellin, Colombia. She has found that the ongoing organic development of a CMM community of practice amongst the youth and community leaders in Medellin is playing an important role.
Fall 2023
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.
Summer 2023
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.
Cosmoghan: A research-based education project
CosmoAfghan: A research-based education project
The CosmoKidz educational package developed by the CMM Institute has been translated and adapted for use with Afghanistan children. Dr. Hossein Kaviani describes how the package was adapted and how he and his research team see this as contributing to a pluralistic, politically tolerant society in the Middle East.
Spring 2023
Partnering with the Desmond Tutu Health Foundation
Partnering with the Desmond Tutu Health Foundation
We recently formed a partnership with the Desmond Tutu Health Foundation in Cape Town, South Africa. They will be using our CosmoKidz educational resource sets for strengthening the social and relational skills of the young people they serve.
CMM-informed perspectives on creating online learning environments
CMM-informed perspectives on creating online learning environments
Lilya Shienko, a 2021-2022 CMM Institute Fellow, has co-authored two book chapters with CMM Institute Board member Barton Buechner. These chapters are extensions of her Fellow’s project work in which she extends her fellow’s project work. The first of these chapters is on “Co-constructing belongingness— Strategies for creating community and shared purpose online: The social construction of community and meaning” and the second is “Getting ‘unstuck’—Transforming lived experience of veterans in transition to civilian life.”
New Story, New Power: An exciting new publication
New Story, New Power: An exciting new publication
Beth Fisher Yoshida has just published an exciting new book, New Story, New Power: A Woman’s Guide to Negotiation. Her book draws on 30 years of negotiation research and practice, offering a critical guide on how women can dump the cultural baggage that makes negotiation difficult and how they can write a new story to strengthen their resolve and negotiation acumen.
Narrative Timelines in Negotiation Preparation
Narrative Timelines in Negotiation Preparation
Following on from the successful publication of her new book on negotiation strategies for women, Beth Fisher-Yoshida describes some of the conceptual background to negotiation practices. In this article, Beth explains the importance of narrative awareness in the preparation for negotiations.
Winter 2022-34
Love, Fear, and CMM—A Truly Transformative Trio
Love, Fear, and CMM—A Truly Transformative Trio
Paige Marrs, PhD, & Don Marrs are about to launch an exciting new online tutorial-based program based on The Extraordinary Relationship Formula®. We invited Paige and Don to tell us more about this program, and why they find the trio of love, fear, and CMM to be so truly transformative.
Positive Disintegration Theory and CMM
Positive Disintegration Theory and CMM
We held a webinar on the patterns connecting Positive Disintegration Theory and CMM in November. There are some exciting interconnections and you can find out more by listening to the recording of the webinar and reading the accompanying notes.
Stories Lived. Stories Told: Your guide to Season 1
Stories Lived. Stories Told: Your guide to Season 1
The first season of our podcasts, Stories Lived. Stories Told. is drawing to a close. This has been an exciting new venture for all of us and our listeners have been growing accordingly. Our storyteller, Abbie, has developed a guide to help find your way around the episodes of Season One.
Fall 2022
New Working Paper: Restorying the “white problem”
New Working Paper: Restorying the “white problem”
We have just published our third paper in the Working Paper series: “Restorying the ‘white problem’: Working towards racial justice, Part 2”, authored by Robyn Penman. This paper builds on the previous paper in the series, “Racial justice, relational responsivity and responsibility”. One reviewer of the new paper described it as a “powerful, practical, and a very strong application of the communication perspective to a very tough issue. I feel compelled to take your recommendations, learn more about them, practice them.”
CosmoKidz program: New developments
CosmoKidz program: New developments
The CosmoKidz program grows and changes and is being recognized as a valuable program for helping to raise caring kids. In our recent news we can report on a significant review of the program, a new website for all our CosmoKidz resources, finalizing our research database with strong supportive data from a schoolwide program, and with more CosmoTeenz developments to come.
Summer 2022
A cosmopolitan sensibility: Compelling stories from a communication perspective: A review
A cosmopolitan sensibility: Compelling stories from a communication perspective: A review
A cosmopolitan sensibility: Compelling stories from a communication perspective was published towards the end of last year. Gitte Haslebo, an educator and trainer in social constructionist theory and practices for more than 30 years and a Taos Associate, reviews this edited volume of compelling stories, finding them ”rich in key CMM ideas.”
Highlights and replays of the 2021 Joint Conference
Highlights and replays of the 2021 Joint Conference
The 2021 joint conference held with the AFT, the CMM Institute and Friends of KCC, was a special conference in many ways. The collaboration between our three organisations led to an exciting showcase of just what the systemic approach developed by the Kensington Consulting Centre and the CMM approach that was deeply embedded in the training could do towards making better social worlds. If you missed the conference or just want to immerse yourself again, we have some wonderful material for you to read.
Call for proposals: CMMi Working Paper series
Call for proposals: CMMi Working Paper series
The CMMi Working Papers is a new publishing venture. We have already published two papers in our new Working Paper series and have a third in production. We are now calling for proposals from our broader community for publishing consideration.
Newest Steward: Daniel Walters
Newest Steward: Daniel Walters
We are delighted to announce that Daniel Walters was recently appointed a Steward of the CMM Institute. While Daniel might be our newest Steward, he is by no means new to CMM. You can find out more from his biography.
Making CosmoKidz history in Louisiana
Making CosmoKidz history in Louisiana
The CosmoKidz program at the Independence Leadership Academy in Louisiana is making news. We were recently sent a newspaper clipping of developments under the header of “Cosmic Character” and have reproduced the photos and text to share, with permission, with all of you.
Stories Lived. Stories Told: New podcast series
Stories Lived. Stories Told: New podcast series
We have started a new podcast series in conjunction with an Inspired young graduate student, Abbie VanMeter. Abbie gives us the background for the series and what she is hoping to achieve. We invite you to read more about the series and then listen in to Abbie exploring Stories Lived. Stories Told.
CosmoTeenz fellowships announced
CosmoTeenz fellowships announced
We are excited to announce the appointment of five inspiring young women as CosmoTeenz Fellows. These new Fellows will be working together over the next year, using their talents, skills, and creativity to bring into being something they think will make a difference to our social worlds.
Spring 2022
New CMMi Working Paper: Racial justice, relational responsivity and responsibility
New CMMi Working Paper: Racial justice, relational responsivity and responsibility
This is the first paper to emerge from discussions in the CMMi Social Justice Working Group. In this paper, Robyn Penman considers the issue of racial justice within a relational framework, that includes a relationally-responsive, and responsible, form of understanding emerging from an “us”. Drawing on the various models and heuristics of CMM, she shows us how we can develop a different sense of racial justice and how we can expose the pervasive relational dynamics at work in perpetuating injustice. Community discussion of the paper is invited.
CMM as a community of practice: Organic growth
CMM as a community of practice: Organic growth
Beth Fisher-Yoshida and Joan Camilo Lopez, as part of their ongoing project with youth community leaders in Medellin, Columbia, have observed how these community leaders have taken to the language of CMM. CMM has given them a common language to talk about and strengthen their peacebuilding work.
CosmoTeenz Fellows: Call for proposals
CosmoTeenz Fellows: Call for proposals
Do you know a teen or young adult, ages 15-21, who wants to make a difference in the lives of younger people? We are offering junior fellowship to 7-10 teens or young adults from different countries to work together to develop products, projects, and activities as part of the Institute’s CosmoTeenz program for 2022/2023.
Special webinar showcasing Fellows’ projects
Special webinar showcasing Fellows’ projects
We will be holding a special webinar on Friday, March 18, 1-3:30 pm (US EDT), featuring projects created by the 2021-22 Fellows of the CMM Institute. This will be open to all members of the CMM community. Please register for the event on http://evite.me/F5TS1rePFq
Is CMM transformative? An invitation for exploration
Is CMM transformative? An invitation for exploration
Bart Buechner, Sergej van Middendorp and Rik Spann will be hosting a roundtable discussion at the International Transformative Learning Conference to be held in April They will be exploring the proposal that CMM is transformative. Bart Buechner has offered an outline of their ideas and invites you to explore them further at the conference.
Community Webinars 2022
Community Webinars 2022
We are planning a series of community webinars for 2022. The first meeting is planned for 28 April and you will need to register in advance.
Fall 2021
Fielding Graduate University: Alumni conference
Fielding Graduate University: Alumni conference
We led a panel dialogue on “Overcoming polarized narratives” as part of the Fielding Alumni Conference at the beginning of this year. The slides and video of the session are now available.
Congratulations to our 2021 Fellows
Congratulations to our 2021 Fellows
We have offered a total of 13 Fellowships for 2021: four CMMi Fellowships, five AC4/CMMi Graduate Fellowships and four special UK CMMi Fellowships to mark our joint conference on Making Better Social Worlds for the 21st Century
Summer 2021
New publication
New publication
Sergej van Middendorp, one of our Board members, has just co-authored a chapter on collaborative support networks as a form of organizing that can help address issues of sustainability leadership in a variety of contexts. The chapter is part of an edited collection that focuses on the reciprocal relationship between leadership and sustainability in a turbulent world—well worth a read!
New Working Papers series
New Working Papers series
We have started a new series of Working Papers, to highlight new developments in CMM and stimulate conversation. Our first paper, The Elephant in the Room: Righteous Minds and Cosmopolitan Communication, evaluates the moral psychology of Haidt using a communication perspective and taking into account insights from IPNB and developmental psychology.
Stories told and stories to be told: Going down memory lane and looking ahead to the Learning Exchange September 2021
Stories told and stories to be told:
Going down memory lane and looking ahead to the Learning Exchange September 2021
Marit Eikaas Haavimb tells us about her journey down memory lane as she browsed the CMMi website videos. As she found, the video section is full of insights, ideas to ponder on, inspirations to be had, and hence to be shared and built upon She also points to the offerings yet to come at the forthcoming London conference in September.
A must-read new book Resounding: introducing an alternative metaphor for organization change
A must-read new book Resounding: introducing an alternative metaphor for organization change
Beth Fisher-Yoshida, Columbia University and board member of CMMi, reviews a must-read new book by Rik Spann (another board member) and Simon Martin. She says that the authors “ have given a gift to the world” in their innovative and thoughtful book that takes a fresh approach to the workings of organizations.
CosmoKidz is growing up: Here comes CosmoTeenz
CosmoKidz is growing up: Here comes CosmoTeenz
Our Cosmo resources for children and youth continues to grow. We are now moving on to developing creative, relevant, fun and reflexive activities based on building awareness and capacity in relationships, and suited for various stages of being a teenager.
More exciting CosmoKidz developments
More exciting CosmoKidz developments
While CosmoKidz is growing up into CosmoTweenz and Teenz it is also continuing to expand its activities for younger children. We have a new set of activities under development on race, culture and identity and another grant to continue our longitudinal research on the impact of CosmoKidz
Spring 2021
Just published: A Cosmopolitan Sensibility
Just published: A Cosmopolitan Sensibility
A Cosmopolitan Sensibility, edited by Robyn Penman, is a collection of compelling stories from a communication perspective. This is the third book in our Making Better Social World series and builds directly on the first two books showing the significance of cosmopolitan sensibility for offering fresh ideas and new hope for living in the challenging multiverse of the 21st century.
Special Joint Learning Exchange
Special Joint Learning Exchange
Our Learning Exchange this year will be held in a few weeks, in conjunction with the Association for Family Therapy and Friends of KCC in the UK. This is a very special conference focusing on Making Better Social Worlds for the 21st Century—a theme dear to all of our hearts and one especially significant for the troubled world of today.
Call for proposals: 2021 Fellowship program
Call for proposals: 2021 Fellowship program
“When family, work & community merge: Learning and growing from the pandemic experience” is the theme for this year’s fellowship program. We are seeking innovative proposals for projects or studies which use CMM concepts to reflect on what we learned from the process of responding to a global pandemic, and how we might apply what we have learned to bridge fragmented social realities and identities that have been made more visible by this experience. Applications close May 1, 2021.
Cosmoteenz
Cosmoteenz
Are you in any way connected with teenagers (13-17)? Can you ask them to help us by completing a survey on communication issues important to them?
New publications
New publications
Four new CMM related publications have recently been released: on cosmopolitan communication, health, CosmoKidz, and a special Cosmokidz book for children.
Global Social Witnessing Lab: Conference and interviews
Global Social Witnessing Lab: Conference and interviews
The Global Social Witnessing lab to be held last year is now rescheduled as an online event to be held from March 15 to 18, 2021. Join 11 artists and social activists and listen to 14 scholars who will foster and reflect on GSW activities.
Fielding Graduate University: Alumni conference
Fielding Graduate University: Alumni conference
We led a panel dialogue on “Overcoming polarized narratives” as part of the Fielding Alumni Conference at the beginning of this year. The slides and video of the session are now available.
Reviews of A Call to Cosmopolitan Communication
Reviews of A Call to Cosmopolitan Communication
Arthur Jensen’s book, A Call to Cosmopolitan Communication, was published at the end of last year by CMMi Press. It has already started to receive glowing reviews: it’s a “must read”, there is no “better resource”, and “offers a powerful way to build a pathway forward.”
Moral injury webinar March 31, 6 to 8pm EST (USA)
Moral injury webinar March 31, 6 to 8pm EST (USA)
This is the third special webinar that we have held on moral injury and conflict. It is a follow up from our successful one late last year and is being held in conjunction with the Australasian Services Care Network for Military, Veterans and their families. The special focus will be on the insights offered by CMM for understanding this important issue of moral injury.
Making better social worlds for the 21st century: Legacies and expanding horizons
Making better social worlds for the 21st century:
Legacies and expanding horizons
This year’s Learning Exchange is being held as an online event in conjunction with the Association of Family Therapy and Friends of the KCC in London on 23, 24 & 25 September. We have a great line-up of speakers already confirmed and invite you to start planning to participate.
Winter 2020-21
Reflections on 2020
Reflections on 2020
Kim Pearce reflects on a range of emotions and perspectives about our lives, the lives of others and the planet as a whole in the year 2020.
Review: Special volume of Human Systems: CMM: Extensions and applications
Review: Special volume of Human Systems: CMM: Extensions and applications
We invite you to explore this rich collection of ideas, examples, and innovative applications with an appreciation for the depth and breadth of CMM circa 2004 and for what is even more possible today.
Amplifying disruption: How to get back on track when the power is off
Amplifying disruption: How to get back on track when the power is off.
Rik Spann riffs on reality by welcoming the unexpected and moving into rapid prototyping without a safety net or a predictable outcome.
CosmoKidz in Romania: Small steps, large impact
CosmoKidz in Romania: Small steps, large impact
Iulia Georgescu and Carmen Greab have been working with teachers and students in Romania using CosmoKidz and have now translated the work into Romanian in order to make it even more accessible.
New publication on moral injury
New publication on moral injury
Bart Beuchner examines one of the best potential sources for learning about social systems and communication in conflict buried in “unheard” stories of returning military veterans—many of whom also suffer from the burden of moral conflicts encountered during service.
Communication at the Crossroads: 2020 NCA Conference
Communication at the Crossroads: 2020 NCA Conference
This year’s conference explored the intersection of the Coordinated Management of Meaning (CMM) theory with other disciplines and areas of scholarship and practice: including mental health, peacebuilding, and the enactment of socially responsible marketing by businesses. Each areas of exploration contained valuable lessons for rebuilding better post-COVID-19 social worlds.
Next year’s Learning Exchange: September, 23-25, 2021
Next year’s Learning Exchange: September, 23-25, 2021
The CMM Institute is partnering with the Association of Family Therapy in the UK and the Friends of KCC in London to provide three days of inspiring presenters from around the world.
Webinars in 2021
Webinars in 2021
Upcoming webinars include “CMM, circular questioning and cosmopolitan communication” led by Vern Cronen and Barbara McKay; and “Moral dilemmas and moral injury” to build on the previous moral webinar with particular attention to offering it at a time that suits a number of southern hemisphere participants.
Fall 2020
Learning exchange follow up space
Learning exchange follow up space
We have set up a special project space using Basecamp for all registered participants of the 2020 LE. You can watch recordings of the Learning Exchange and participate in unfolding developments from the LE.
For registrants https://3.basecamp.com/4201158/projects/18785882
To see the videos https://3.basecamp.com/4201158/buckets/18785882/messages/3048056817
IMPORTANT: Use the following passcode to access the videos in Zoom: CMMLE2020!
Special webinar: Moral foundations, moral conflict & moral injury
Special webinar: Moral foundations, moral conflict & moral injury
Wednesday November 4 2020, 12 noon to 1:30 pm EST
We are having a special webinar in November on how a communication perspective can be used to understand a number of moral issues. For more information and zoom links
Ruth Bader Ginsberg: Living beyond difference
Ruth Bader Ginsberg: Living beyond differencewords
The death of Ruth Bader Ginsberg is a sad loss to the judiciary and to the American people. Beth Fisher-Yoshida reflects on one of RGB’s many virtues: her capacity to see beyond difference and show us all how to create a metanarrative and higher orders of context that can bring us together.
Our first virtual LE: captured in words
Our first virtual LE: captured in words
Everyone felt our first virtual Learning Exchange was a great success. Our pictured word art above captures all the words participants used to sum up their experience and our resident muse, Rik Spann, captured the feel of the first day in a poem.
Summer 2020
When does a critical moment become an inflection point?
When does a critical moment become an inflection point?
Up until now, we have heard many stories about racial injustices, and systemic inequality. Yet, despite all the stories, personal and public, all the books, articles, lectures, podcasts, and movies available, there has not been systemic change. Ilene Wasserman reflects on the current critical moments we are all experiencing and wonders if it is enough now.
Humanity Rising
Humanity Rising
Humanity Rising’s goal is to being communities together to empower young people to change the world, especially in matters to do with our climate crisis. Sergej van Middendorp describes his experience in participating in Humanity Rising and reflects on that from a CMM perspective.
Musing between the spaces
Musing between the spaces
Rik Spann uses music as a frame for understanding all manner of things. Here he offers some of his recent musings, provoked by the impact of the pandemic, on being, playing and talking in the spaces.
Congratulations to our 2020 CMMi fellows
Congratulations to our 2020 CMMi fellows
Our theme of “going beyond polarized narratives” attracted a number of timely proposals this year. It was hard to choose from such an exciting array and, in the end, we selected 11 new CMMi Fellows for 2020.
Spring 2020
Meet Susan Steen: our new board member in 2020
Meet our newest board member: Susan Steen
Susan Steen has recently joined the Board of the CMM Institute. She is an Assistant Professor of Cross-Cultural Communication at the Air Force Culture and Language Center (AFCLC) and has written an introduction to herself and how she has found CMM inspiring in her work and life.
Call for Proposals: 2020 CMMi Fellows program
Call for Proposals: 2020 CMMi Fellows program
We are seeking innovative proposals for projects which show or create the potential for “making better social worlds” by going beyond the polarized narratives that have served to divide, rather than unite, communities. Deadline is April 15, 2020.
Winter 2018-19
Reflecting on our year
Reflecting on our year
We are excited about how we have responded to significant social challenges this year. Our end-of year reflection highlights our activities and invites your contribution.
CosmoKidz in a Whole-of-School Trial
CosmoKidz in a Whole-of-School Trial
Independence Leadership Academy in Louisiana has whole-heartedly embraced the CosmoKidz ethos, implementing CosmoKidz and deliberation activities throughout the school from pre-kindergarten to 4th grade.
CosmoTweenz D’Club kids open their hands to help others
CosmoTweenz D’Club kids open their hands to help others
We are already starting to observe the positive impacts of using our latest educational resource kit for tweens. Read how tweens in the D’Club, an after-school deliberation club based on CosmoKidz and Tweenz practices, are putting their learning to good use by raising funds for others in need.
Making Better Social Worlds: Reviews
Making Better Social Worlds: Reviews
“Probably the most important book of our era!”
“Makes dense concepts and technical vocabulary accessible.”
“Clear, useful and written for anyone who wants to expand their horizons and develop practices for making better socials worlds.”
“I’d relish conversing about each chapter with a group of upper-division undergraduates, grad students, or community members.”
Reconciliation and Graffiti in Medellín
Reconciliation and Graffiti in Medellín
Beth Fisher-Yoshida offers an inspiring account of how CMM has been used in Medellin, Columbia, to capture stories about community experiences with violence, displacement and hope for brighter futures and how an amazing mural came about.
Using CMM in military contexts
Using CMM in military contexts
In November of this year, a conference session was held on how CMM can be used as a practical tool for helping military students and veterans manage complex intercultural interactions.
Fall 2018
Final reminder 7th Annual Learning Exchange October 26-28, 2018
Final reminder 7th Annual Learning Exchange October 26-28, 2018
Creating is a central theme in a CMM framework: we create meanings, we create relationships, we create our social worlds. In this year’s Learning Exchange we want to pay particular attention to how we create our very own CMM learning communities.
Summer 2018
Camp CosmoKidz: Bigger and better
Camp CosmoKidz: Bigger and better
Last year we were excited to tell you about our first ever CosmoKidz Camp. This year we have more good news to report. The Camp has continued and it has become bigger and better with the generous support of the Louisiana Governor’s Office.
Cosmopolis opens its doors
Cosmopolis opens its doors!
Cosmopolis2045 is now sufficiently evolved to throw open its doors to visitors. The website is up and running and we invite you to come and explore our imagined city of the future.
Meet Rik Spann: one of our new board members
Rik Spann: one of our new board members
Rik joined us an advisor to the board last year and this year he has become a full member. Here Rik introduces himself by way of a short biographical note around the theme of “And jam, of course”.
Meet Barbara McKay: one of our new board members
Meet Barbara McKay: one of our new board members
Barbara has just joined the CMMI Board and will be with us at the Learning Exchange. Here she tells us about her professional background and how CMM has inspired her in her work and personal life.
2018 Learning Exchange: less than 7 weeks to go
2018 Learning Exchange: less than 7 weeks to go
The special focus of this year’s Learning Exchange is on creating communities of practice that help us in being better at what we are and do. We’d love to have you with us as we explore how CMM helps in creating these communities. If you’re coming, you need to register soon.
On starting a dialogue with Robert Kegan
On starting a dialogue with Robert Kegan
Sergej van Middendorp reviews another article from the W.B.Pearce Archive at Fitchburg University, “On Starting a Dialogue with Robert Kegan, on Reading ‘In Over our Heads: the Mental Demands of Modern Life'”
Our 2018 AC4-CMMI Graduate Fellows
Our 2018 AC4-CMMI Graduate Fellows
This year we have four new AC4-CMMI Graduate Fellows who will be participating in our Learning Exchange in October: Akri Cipa, Kjerstin Pugh, Sarah Stone and Tamara Smiley Hamilton.
CosmoKidz in Louisiana: An inspiring first year
CosmoKidz in Louisiana: An inspiring first year
We have just completed our first year of the CosmoKIdz program in Louisiana and it was truly inspiring. Our research data clearly show that the program is instrumental in cultivating invaluable social skills.
Cosmogrooves in Amsterdam
Cosmogrooves in Amsterdam
One of our two new CMMI Board Members, Rik Spann, is a musicologist in Amsterdam. That is an intriguing background for someone who is also so enthusiastic about all things CMMish. How does a musicologist hear CMM? How does a musicologist be in CMM? Hear his unexpurgated response…
Spring 2018
Coordinated management of meaning (CMM): A research manual.
A new focus book on CMM research methods
Three post-graduate students from Columbia University, Filippa Naka, Adrian Jofre Bosch, Shengjie Ma, review the second book in the CMM Focus book series: Natasha A. Rascon’s and Stephen W. Littlejohn’s Coordinated Management of Meaning (CMM): A Research Manual.
Meet the new CMMI Fellows for 2018
Meet the new CMMI Fellows for 2018
We are delighted to announce the appointment of two CMMI Fellows for 2018: Adrian Wagner and Lukas Herrmann.
2018 Learning Exchange: “Creating Magical Moments” Across Space and Time: Building CMM Communities
2018 Learning Exchange: “Creating Magical Moments” Across Space and Time: Building CMM Communities
The 7th Annual CMMI Learning Exchange will be held on October 26-28, 2018. Once again you are invited to join us and other like-minded scholars and practitioners who share an interest in CMM, exploring this year’s theme of “Creating Magical Moments” Across Space & Time: Building CMM Communities.
Improv, democracy & CMM: Don Waisanen, 2017 CMMI Fellow
Improv, democracy & CMM: Don Waisanen, 2017 CMMI Fellow
The connections between CMM and improvisation run deep, and a major part of Don Waisanen’s fellowship experience has involved discovering the host of links between improv and concepts such as co-construction, holding spaces, strange loops, liminality, emergence, mindfulness, and logical force. Here, Don gives us an overview his project and what he achieved at the Learning Exchange in London.
Women who work: Meaning-making in Indonesian culture
Women who work: Meaning-making in the Indonesian culture and its impact on career advancement
Cornelia Patsy Budiman uses a CMM lens to investigate the interplay of culture, gender roles and communication on the meaning-making of Indonesian career women.
Beyond CosmoKidz: We need your help!
Beyond CosmoKidz: We need your help!
We created CosmoKidz to help young children develop relational awareness and related skills. We have more than four years’ worth of research to confirm it works. Now we want to go beyond CosmoKidz and we need your help. We invite all forms of collaboration in this new development.
Grief work, continuing bonds and co-creating new stories: Tracey Johnston & Peter Robinsons, 2017 CMMI Fellows
Grief work, continuing bonds and co-creating new stories
Tracey Johnston and Peter Robinson describe how they used the LUUUUTT model to develop an innovative approach to grief work. The LUUUUTT model guided them in co-creating new stories and understandings with bereaved persons about their loved ones that helped in re-connecting identities (personal, social and cultural) as resources for living.
Sources of inspiration: The On Being project
Sources of inspiration
We are part of a broad community of practitioners, researchers, scholars and students concerned with exploring what it means to be human and how we can make better social worlds. Here we offer an introduction to another member of this community and inspirational source for us all: The On Being project
Call for Proposals 2018 CMMI Fellows Program
Call for Proposals 2018 CMMI Fellows Program
We are seeking innovative proposals for projects that “take a communication perspective” on one or more of the social issues facing our increasingly complex social worlds. This year we are looking for proposals that draw on CMM theory and practice explicitly to show or create the potential for “making better social worlds” in a way that addresses patterns of inequality, and that fosters inclusion.
Winter 2017-18
Understanding Holding Environments: Enabling Conditions for Collective Learning
Understanding Holding Environments: Enabling Conditions for Collective Learning
First trials completed
First trials completed
The first trial of Cosmopolis2045 was completed at the end of 2017. Revisions are underway and the public release will happen in 2018. Watch this space!
New models and metaphors for communication
New models and metaphors for communication
Sergej van Middendorp discusses an unpublished paper on new models and metaphors of communication from the Barnett Pearce Collection at Fitchburg State University’s digital library.
CMM Learning Exchange 2017: Reflection from AC4 Fellow, Laura Peters
CMM Learning Exchange 2017: Reflection from AC4 Fellow, Laura Peters
Attending the Learning Exchange (LE) was a completely wonderful and somewhat unexpected experience. As a PhD student, I attend a variety of academic conferences and workshops and present my research and work frequently. However, the environment at the LE was wholly unique from other experiences I have had.
Fall 2017
Hurricane Harvey as one metaphor for our current political climate and the role of CMM as a first responder
Hurricane Harvey as one metaphor for our current political climate and the role of CMM as a first responder
The months of August and September, 2017 will go down in history as months of fierce world-wide natural disasters that will not be forgotten anytime soon. These disasters, and the ways ordinary people have responded in a time of crisis, have inspired me to think about another type of disaster entirely of our making: national/international social/political disasters. I have asked myself “what can we learn from our response to natural disasters that can help us in our social/political disasters”? This paper is my exploration of this question. Please join me in this exploration.
CosmoKidz goes to Louisianna
CosmoKidz goes to Louisianna, October 31, 2017
We have sports camps, art camps, scholastic camps, but have you ever heard of a camp that focuses on helping kids develop better communicating skills? Well, this year there was one. We held our first ever Camp CosmoKidz this summer in Louisiana. The camp and its aftermath is such an extraordinary example of how one small thing can be so positively welcomed and then blossom into more, that we wanted to tell you the story.
CMM theory helping to elevate military cultural competence
CMM theory helping to elevate military cultural competence
We don’t often think of CMM theory being used in military contexts but three military educators are doing just that. This is an exciting application and if you are interested you can read an overview of the lessons and best practices for educators and coaches they have compiled from teaching cosmopolitan communication concepts to service members and veterans.
Intercultural transitions
Intercultural transitions and migrant-host relationships in Germany: An example of activist scholarship
Versha Anderson has given us an overview of her PhD research in which she engaged in activist scholarship to understand the intercultural transitions of refugees and migrant-host relationships in Germany, their country of refuge.
Meet the 2017 AC4-CMMI Graduate Fellows
Meet the 2017 AC4-CMMI Graduate Fellows
Laura Peters conducts research on post-conflict transformations in Nepal, Julianne Parayo focuses on choral music and political reflections in the Philippines, and Tahleen Wright looks at bridging barriers between interpreter, patient, and physician at end-of-life.
2017 CMM Learning Exchange
2017 CMM Learning Exchange: “Minding the Gap – Creating New Space for Coherence”
Given the current climate in different contexts and public discourses we are interested in ideas for acknowledging and transforming the patterns of communication in ways that may foster the desire and capacity to build bridges across and within communities.
Older posts
Robyn Penman named Honorary Life Associate of the CMM Institute
Robyn Penman named Honorary Life Associate of the CMM Institute
The CMM Institute celebrates Robyn’s outstanding scholarly achievements, consulting practice, and tireless service to the CMM community.
Interview from the 2015 CMM Learning Exchange
Interview from the 2015 CMM Learning Exchange
The 2015 Coordinated Management of Meaning (CMM) Learning Exchange, also known as the FUGIC Forum, took place in Munich, Germany, from September 17-20. Hosts of the Learning Exchange were the CMM Institute and the Institute for Global Integral Competence. This interview was conducted by AC4’s Meredith Smith and Venera Kusari.
The Manager’s Dilemma, a new book by Jesse Sostrin
The Manager’s Dilemma: Balancing the Inverse Equation of Increasing Demands + Shrinking Resources
Offers solutions to anyone feeling undermined by the impossible expectation of producing more and better work with less time and fewer resources
2011-2012 CMM Global Survey Results
We are pleased to present the results of the inaugural survey on CMM research and practice. The Global Survey Project was sponsored by the CMM Institute for Personal & Social Evolution whose mission is to preserve, cultivate, and promote worldwide work based on the theory and practice of CMM, the Coordinated Management of Meaning.
2011 Global Ethics Case Competition
The Fox School of Business and Management (FSBM) hosted the 2011 Global Ethics Case Competition. It was held in memory of Dr. W. Barnett Pearce on November 17, 2011 at Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In the spirit of Dr. Pearce’s seminal work, a new generation of future leaders has the benefit of CMM experiences in a business school environment.