What’s New and Good in Central Texas D&D?

Following the welcome from Dr. Flowers and a recognition of the planning partners for the Central Texas D&D Summit by Taylor Willingham, Patricia Wilson and Diane Miller set up the goals for the day and gave a quick overview of the objectives.

While the NCDD 2008 conference was an incentive to convene this group, the ultimate desire is to build a learning community in Central Texas that can build on the wisdom of so many creative people dedicated to D&D and community engagement.

Specifically, we want to build a community of practice where we can share our insights, apply what we have learned and deepen the conversation.

Diane Miller then led the group in a quick round of introductions - name and association only - with the understanding that we would spend quality time in the next phase of the agenda sharing more about ourselves.

Participating in this day were:

• Cathey Capers, Partner Wellspring Resources
• Robyn Emerson, UT Student
• Steven Fearing, Management Analyst Center for Program Coordination, DADS
• Juli Fellows, Independent Consultant
• Robena Jackson, Pricipla with Group Solutions RJW
• Charles Knickerbocker, Principal Knickerbocker & Associates
• Erin Kreeger, Founder Inviting Change
• Sherry Lowry, Professional Mentor, Business Coach
• Oliver Markley, Principal Inward Bound
• Jenny Meigs, M.P.Aff Candidate 2008 University of Texas at Austin, LBJ School
• Neil Meili, Poet
• Diane Miller, Assistant Director Envision Central Texas
• Tom Moran, Program & Outreach Manager Austin Public Library
• Stephanie Nestlerode, President Omega Point International, Inc.
• Norma Perales, Coalition Coordinator The Georgetown Project
• Tobin Quereau, Professor of Human Development Austin Community College
• Rod Reyna, Public Innovator/Coach Community Solutions
• Leilani Rose, Partner Wellspring Resources
• Susan Schultz, Program Director, Center for Public Policy Dispute Resolution
• Ed Sharpe, Clinical Professor University of Texas at Austin
• Landon Shultz, Minister Bluebonnet Hills Christian Church
• Steve Swanson
• Mary Thompson, Partner Corder/Thompson & Associates
• Margaret Valenti, Neighborhood Planner City of Austin
• Taylor Willingham, Coordinator for Texas Forums LBJ Presidential Library
• Patricia Wilson, Director Civic Engagement Initiative of the UT Center for Sustainable Development
• Lindsay LeBlanc, Student University of Texas

UT student Jenny Meigs then asked the 30 participants to reflect on something new and good happening in their work that they could share with the rest of the group.

Possible ways people could think about this question were:
o What is a new and good practice that you have learned? or
o What new and good things are happening in this community? or
o What is new and exciting about the work that you are doing? or
o What is new and good about your practice?

The participants took about twenty minutes to share with each other in their small groups.

Jenny then called upon people to share what came up for them in telling their own story and listening to other stories about what is new and good. in their practice.

Sunni captured their reflections graphically. We even had one report come in the form of a poem! Here’s what poet Neil Meili shared:

Each snowflake is fragile and unique
You can freeze to death
Ten feet from you door in a blizzard.
Every child is beautiful
This is difficult to remember
When they have gathered into swirling armies
Neil Meili