This June the International Positive Education Network engaged in the second annual, World Positive Education Accelerator (WPEA) and Appreciative Inquiry (AI) Summit. Individuals from around the globe came together to actively participate in brainstorming ideas for the sake of increasing well-being and character virtue through positive education. Educators, positive psychologists, parents, and college students alike are in great need for unity among the globe in order to make a long-lasting impact.
Speakers such as Martin Seligman, Angela Duckworth, and Laurie Santos spoke openly about research that is currently being done and what is anticipated to be discovered within the next few years. What’s different about WPEA from most conferences is the addition of Appreciative Inquiry. Appreciative Inquiry is a model used in order to activate change. Questions and prompts were given to each table, with the intention that each group would share their individual thoughts with people who have differing occupations, cultures, and worldviews. In order to create a prototype, one must completely remove themselves from comfortable and inward reflection in order to share ideas with those in their group.
Our very own Erica Eyer and Aubrey Baker were selected to present their idea on how to accelerate positive education by providing an arts workshop for disadvantaged families to find their unique impact on the world and have a creative outlet to tell their stories. Their conviction and bravery was recognized by close to 100 participants and their idea was voted the best to present from the main stage.
When Erica Eyer was asked how IPEN impacted your life and what did it teach you she responded, “IPEN was impactful because it showed me how special and unique Lark’s Song is. No one is doing what we are doing. Everyone is still in the talking phase about how to solve problems. Megan saw a problem two hears ago and decided that talking about it just wasn’t enough. Now there is a school in Zambia with a digital curriculum, camps, trainings, etc. Lark’s Song is truly leading this movement.”
You can learn more about IPEN and the WPEA here @ https://ipen-festival.com/