Empowerment through Conferences!

The WE LEARN Empowerment Experience-

Yes Conferences can be empowering!

In early March, I had the pleasure of participating in the WE LEARN Conference again this year. In a rare synchronicity, it was held in RI again like the 2009 event was. But this year’s conference outstripped even the power of the prior WE LEARN conferences I had attended.

What is it that makes WE LEARN such a life changing event for the women who participate in it?

In this short article, I describe  the first of several events which capture the power of empowerment as seen in the lives of a few participants I was close to that week.

My goals in sharing this article are several

1. That I chronicle and remind us all of the power of professional conferences for personal and professional development,
2. That readers’ passion for teaching and learning will be refreshed as they read the accounts,  and
3. That the values and aspirations which drive you to be involved in education will be validated.

Enjoy!

ELOISE EMPOWERED

Eloise is one of my new graduate students and I had the feeling that she would enjoy the women’s empowerment conference, expand her exposure of what this field of adult learning is about, and start to build her network of contacts and relationships in  the field (beyond our university program). Based on these instincts, I invited her to lead a session with me at the conference.

The results of that experience far exceeded what I have ever seen before. We planned a simple session to discuss an emotionally charged topic with the women- we thought a few might show up. I had encountered a meaningful story which illustrated some of our points and shared it with Eloise asking her if she wanted to read it aloud, and bring it alive for the  participants as well as debrief them on it.

She read the story and came back to me with a simple, but very effective idea about how to engage the participants in the action and telling of the story.   I let her run ahead and develop it the way she was envisioning it and when it came time for her segment of the session she stood and began her reading. The group (which indeed was overflowing the room with standing room only) captured each of her words and began participating in the story spontaneously, calling out, validating her responses, and urging her further. It was an electrifying and hilarious ( which it was not entirely meant to be- but worked so well that way) community activity.

In the evaluations- 3/4 cited this activity as the high point of the session.

The empowering climax was watching Eloise nervous in front of the crowd at first, gain composure with their help, become stronger and funnier with their encouragement, and exude confidence. The transformation took place before my eyes through a transaction between participants and speaker- it was beautiful to say the least.

After the next session, I saw Eloise sitting near a book table. She looked at me and said, “I am exhausted.” I laughed because I knew from speaking so frequently how the adrenaline flies high and then plummets in your body. She was not only amazed at the dynamics of the session, but the physical effects of the event on her body. I felt like I had welcomed someone into the world of public presenting, her reaction was so genuine.  

MORE TO COME…

Next month I will share the 2nd of the 3 cameos related to this conference… 

In the meantime think about how your professional conferences empower new presenters, build a bond of validation, and support among presenters and participants. Are you part of the climate which facilitates such empowerment?

What a difference we would see in professional learning if we more of this happened at every event!

Your faculty coach and professional speaker,

Dr. Kathy King

• Coaching with Kathy: http://transformationed.com/coaching/
• Book Kathy as your speaker:  http://transformationed.com/speaker/
  • (Please note, Spring and Summer 2010 are full. Dr. King is now booking engagements for Fall 2010 and beyond)