Miami
April 2, 2005: Turning Hope into Action
By Claudia Eisinger & Karyn Altman
On April 2, 2005, a specially selected group of media professionals gathered in South Florida at the waterfront home of Dwina and Robin Gibb to explore the impact of public images and stories on society. The group included communications professionals in the areas of arts, print and broadcast journalism, television production, marketing and public speaking plus others committed to facilitating positive change in the world of media. Whereas past Images and Voices of Hope gatherings included groups of invitees, this one was intentionally more intimate to enable the participants to devote time to consider future directions of Images and Voices of Hope and the role it might have in supporting journalists and media professionals moving forward.
Now in its seventh year, IVOH�s purpose is to strengthen the role of media as agents of world benefit, expand awareness of the choices made by those involved in media and to amplify human hope, thereby enhancing humanity�s capacity for life-promoting action. Through transformational public dialogues around the globe, this initiative connects and expands the community of journalists, artists, and communications and marketing professionals to explore the effects of images and stories of hope on the world.
Meredith Porte, Producer at WLRN and a coordinator of IVOH�s South Florida conversation, welcomed the group and enthusiastically set the tone by sharing that IVOH is an idea whose time has come. Meredith was followed by Eileen Schein, Project Director of National Center for Outreach at WLRN, public television�s service arm that explores the impact of broadcasting in local communities and shared her project�s aim which is to �turn viewers into doers� � engage individuals and foster local community participation.
Judy Rodgers, a founder of Images and Voices of Hope who now serves as Executive Director at the Center for Business as an Agent of World Benefit facilitated the rest of the day�s program. She opened with the idea that our social networks have power and move our world. By example, Judy shared some thought-provoking questions from recent stories in the news in relation to positive meaning making. One such story was that of Ashley Smith, the waitress held hostage by murderer Brian Nichols, who somehow managed to convince her capture to release her and surrender to authorities by simply talking him through the situation in an inspiring, compassionate way. This story had captivated much media attention has the potential to inspire others, thereby enhancing the possibility of positive change in society.
The group then separated into smaller circles in order to bring the conversation to a more intimate level through a process called Appreciative Inquiry (AI) developed by David Cooperrider of Case Western Reserve University. With thought provoking questions and personal story telling, everyone was directed to turn inwards and explore the potential of making positive meaning from the myriad of events in our live.
The group reconvened to share highlights. One participant, Darlene Kristi shared that she had decided to break out of her own comfort zone by doing the opposite of what she normally did, to step out and act in a different way. By doing so, she reached out to help a man who had lost everything in a home fire. This man, Neal Petersen, who is now her husband, (also in attendance), is a solo ocean yachtsman and who has now become an author and motivational speaker. Neal then spoke about the importance of following one�s dreams. He displayed the strength of spirit that only one who has successfully overcome adversity has. Growing up Apartheid South Africa, he faced and overcame physical, political, and financial disadvantages to realize his dream of racing solo around the world in a boat he built. He also founded No-Barriers Education Foundation which inspires children to believe in themselves and follow their dreams. He then shared his next dream - to race solo around the world again, but in partnership with journalists and children sharing his journey to inspire others to live their best lives and best dreams.
Sister Mohini, president of the Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual Organization, a spiritual educator and journalist herself, then shared her thoughts, tying together the themes of the morning and also looking to the next question for the group � where everyone was asked to consider what they would like to contribute before the end of their careers � something that would make them feel fulfilled and complete. She reminded the group of the importance of not only motivating others, but how vital it is to nurture the self and to maintain personal contentment in order to be able to give more to others. Mohini expressed a deep compassion for those in the media and sited an example of seeing a newsreader and thinking, �How can she manage all that bad news?� She shared her personal practice which includes not being influenced by negativity and not allowing hopelessness to touch her feelings by instead asking, �What can I do to bring hope?� In the case of the newsreader, she was compelled to send the reporter nurturing vibrations of peace. Mohini also demonstrated a simple method to bring light into darkness, to trust that in the presence of solutions and how to stop the feeling of being blocked by first turning within to thoughts, logic, reasoning and silencing one�s mind. To get to silence, one must first find solitude in our mind and then connect to one�s inner resources � our innate qualities. It from this that we can think clearly, find the answers, and achieve success.
Judy then led a writing exercise to propel the group to look forward, inwardly. Many shared deep dreams and passions: to write one�s memoirs, create a network of people helping people, extend the power of journalism into a government position, help retirees feel gratitude and the opportunities in living life now, give power back to the people, help others see the power of a dream, and make everyone feel special, especially young people.
The conversation then moved to the future role of IVOH and how can it better serve those in the media. Each of the founding members of IVOH shared their organization�s reasons for supporting the initiative. Judy Rodgers spoke on behalf of Case Western and the Advance Institute of Appreciative Inquiry, who offer the methodology to the media community to bring out the assets of that system. Rita Cleary spoke on behalf of Visions of a Better World whose purpose is to inspire all people to conceive and make real their dreams to make the world a better place. Sister Mohini spoke on behalf of the Brahma Kumaris whose purpose is to serve and nurture all sectors of life, including media professionals, through conversation and reflection � so that each individual can create his or her choices based on an awakened universal consciousness that will lead to the best result.
Moving forward, there are many opportunities for IVOH to amplify human hope and expand its network: to create new partnerships, perhaps with the National Center for Outreach, develop a newsletter, and create a Blog link and email as a channel to generate public demand for balance reporting. Others offered to create an IVOH day; devote, either daily or weekly, a whole section of the newspaper to conscious reporting; create a mentor program with young journalists; join the Press Club in Washington, D.C. for real conversations about media; and have a three-day summit focused on creating a more formal organization and sustaining it.
We completed the dialogue, full of enthusiasm to put hope into action, with a scrumptious lunch sponsored by National Center of Outreach and prepared by the Brahma Kumaris.
