Learning Together
As the 2019 Relational Summit draws nearer, we wanted to highlight the various opportunities to engage in Relational Cultural Learning and Collaboration. As was the case last year, the schedule of events includes a mix of free and paid events spanning four days. All-Access and Daily Access passes are available.
TICKETS AVAILABLE: Full Summit Pass / $80 (Daily Passes also available)
Schedule of Events
* Note: Works in Progress sessions subject to change
Thursday, September 19
Getting (re)Grounded in RCT
Get grounded or re-grounded in Relational Cultural Theory with beginner and advanced sessions, a common meal and conversation, plus a chance to explore the shape of RCT through an interactive poster session.
TICKETS AVAILABLE: Day Pass – Thursday Only / $20
| Time | Event | Location |
| 4:00 PM | RCT Refreshers Begin the weekend with a short overview of Relational-Cultural Theory (RCT) and the key concepts this framework brings to learning. Beginning and advanced discussion groups are available. |
Bloomington Center for Connection |
| 6:00 PM | Commons Enjoy light dinner fare and beverages as we connect with each other and discuss the weekend ahead. |
Bloomington Center for Connection |
| 7:00 PM | Poster Session: The Shape of RCT Participants are invited to display and present their work in a poster session, to stimulate conversation around current interests while advancing RCT through visual language. There will be hands-on activities to help you explore visual ways to make RCT more accessible. |
Bloomington Center for Connection |
Friday, September 20
Deep Dives into RCT
Friday’s schedule features a series of deep dive sessions exploring the use of relational cultural theory across a range of fields and issues. Works-in-Progress Sessions include presentations from leading RCT experts and informal discussion and collaboration. Things will get playful in our late afternoon/evening session as we explore the intersection between Gaming and the Five Good Things
TICKETS AVAILABLE: Day Pass – Friday Only Ticket / $30
| Time | Event | Location |
| 8:00 AM | Morning Connection Participants are welcome to join us at the Bloomington Center for Connection for some morning coffee, bagels and connection before the day’s events. During the last half hour of morning connection there will be some (optional, but fun) lighthearted games to offer a chance to connect. |
Bloomington Center for Connection |
| 10:00 AM | Works-In-Progress (Session 1)* Three tracks are available for small group exploration of a topic relevant to RCT:
|
Bloomington Center for Connection |
| 12:00 PM | Lunch Discussion: Recovery from Empathic Failure Gather over lunch to discuss the implications of failure through an RCT lens and how we are affected by our perception of those moments. (Food provided) |
Bloomington Center for Connection |
| 1:00 PM | Works-In-Progress (Session 2)* Three tracks are available for small group exploration of a topic relevant to RCT:
|
Bloomington Center for Connection |
| 2:30 PM | Works-In-Progress (Session 3)* Three tracks are available for small group exploration of a topic relevant to RCT:
|
Bloomington Center for Connection |
| 4:30 PM | Gaming & the Five Good Things In addition to their enjoyment and challenge, games can be a tool for strengthening relationships. In this workshop, we’ll explore how the Five Good Things offered through mutually growth-fostering relationships apply to gaming. We will break into small groups for a role-playing game, coming back together to share our experiences with the larger community. (Food provided) |
Bloomington Center for Connection |
| 8:00 PM | Movie in the Park: “Coco” FREE PUBLIC EVENT In celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month, enjoy an outdoor showing of “Coco,” an animated movie about an aspiring musician who enters the Land of the Dead to find his great-great-grandfather, a legendary singer. This event is free to the public and presented by Bloomington Parks and Recreation, The City of Bloomington Community and Family Resources Department, and The Ryder Magazine and Film Series. |
Bryan Park |
Saturday, September 21
RCT in Education + RCT and our Bloomington Community
Saturday morning’s sessions at Bloomington Center for Connection will focus on the role of RCT in education, while the afternoon will be a time to engage the rest of the local community in relational practices. We encourage participants to check out Reslianace! at Third Street Park before heading over to Bloomington City Hall for free public events with Dr. Lashawn Williams on finding connection and voice in difficult times.
TICKETS AVAILABLE: Day Pass – Saturday Only / $20
| Time | Event | Location |
| 8:00 AM | Morning Connection Participants are welcome to join us at the Bloomington Center for Connection for some morning coffee, bagels and connection before the day’s events. During the last half hour of morning connection there will be some (optional, but fun) lighthearted games to offer a chance to connect. |
Bloomington Center for Connection |
| 10:00 AM | Learning and RCT* Three tracks are available for small group exploration of a topic relevant to RCT:
|
Bloomington Center for Connection |
| 12:00 PM | Resilience! A Community Uplifting Event FREE PUBLIC EVENT Join with our extended community for music, spoken word, and hands-on activities to raise awareness and money for RAICES, a nonprofit agency that promotes justice by providing free and low-cost legal services to underserved immigrant children, families, and refugees. Resilience! is a social justice event to encourage community engagement and promote social change in a time when some may feel powerless. Performing artists include Ross Gay, Yuriria Rodriguez, and Bloomingsongs’ tango duo Winnie Cheung and Ben Bogart, among others. |
Waldron/Hill/Buskirk Park (Third Street Park) |
| 2:00 PM | Creative Work Toward Community with Dr. LaShawn Williams FREE PUBLIC EVENT What does community look like? Dr. LaShawn Williams will lead participants engaging honestly and authentically to create mutual understanding, mutual empathy, and mutual respect. This event takes place at Bloomington City Hall and is free and open to the public. |
Bloomington City Hall |
| 7:00 PM | Keynote Panel: Harvesting Hate FREE PUBLIC EVENT Join Dr. LaShawn Williams, Dr. Dolores Finger Wright, and Amy Makice, LCSW, for a panel discussion on a relational approach to anti-racism and using RCT to address white supremacy. Panelists will also answer written questions. This event takes place at Bloomington City Hall and is free and open to the public. |
Bloomington City Hall |
Sunday, September 22
Reflection and Sense Making
Sunday will give us the chance to come together one final time to process the experiences of the weekend. Featuring a live taping of the My Racist Friend podcast, a luncheon, and closing with an unconference time at Bloomington Center for Connection.
TICKETS AVAILABLE: Day Pass – Sunday Only / $40
| Time | Event | Location |
| 10:00 AM | My Racist Friend (Live Podcast) Long-time friends Don Griffin, Jr. and Amy Makice, LCSW explore societal issues through the authentic lens of relational-cultural practices. This conversation will be episode 8 for the first season of a podcast. |
TBD |
| 11:30 AM | RCT Luncheon Enjoy a final meal together with other Summit participants as we reflect on the weekend of connection. |
TBD |
| 1:30 PM | What We Learned Unconference In this self-organizing session, participants are invited to propose a topic of discussion for small-group conversations whose goal is to listen to and include all perspectives. Leave with clarity about your topic and some actions to take after your leave the Summit. |
Bloomington Center for Connection |