creative minorities a presentation by br john mcmahon [email protected] [email protected]
TRANSCRIPT
Rationale for this Topic
Pope Benedict8th February 2008
“We do not know what the future of Europe will be. Here we must agree with Toynbee, that the fate of a society always depends on its creative minorities. Christian believers should look upon themselves as just such a creative minority, helping Europe to reclaim what is best in its heritage and thereby to place itself at the service of all humankind.”http://theupsidedownworld.wordpress.com/2008/02/08/christians-as-a-creative-minority
British Historian Arnold Toynbee(1889 – 1955)
"Civilizations arise not because of genetically superior individuals (there are none) or because of favorable geographical environment, but because of a creative response by a minority of individuals to a situation of special difficulty.“
http://ezinearticles.com/?The-New-Creative-Minority:-Who-Are-They-and-Where-Do-We-Find-Them?&id=198504
What is a creative minority?
Xerox Repair Technicians
Community of Practice Lave and Wenger (1991)
Practical Knowledge Casual contacts Personal relationships Swapping of ‘war
stories’
Repair Manual
Julian Orr (1990; 1996) quoted in Dwyer, N. Limits to Leadership: Who’s Flying the
Plane? Perspectives on Educational Leadership, ACEL April
Survey Monkey Team
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http://www.surveymonkey.com/AboutUs.aspx
My Experience
Development Group at Marcellin College 1982 – 1989
Catholic Education Conference Establishment Committees - Melbourne 1981 -1989; Adelaide 1993 - 1998
Disciples of Jesus
‘These twelve Jesus sent out, charging them ... Go ... to the lost sheep of the House of Israel. ... Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons’.
Mt 10:5-8
Creative Minorities Across History
Abraham, Moses and the people of Israel
The early Church in the Roman Empire
Monastic communities of the Middle Ages
For Reflection
Almost always, the creative dedicated minority has made the world better – Martin Luther King Jr.
Even if you are a minority of one, the truth is the truth – Mohandas Gandhi.
http://www.brainyquote.com/words/mi/minority190343.html
Survey July 2010
Survey
Invitation through
1. an e-newsletter
2. a blog
Analysis based on the first 12 responses
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Examples of Creative Minorities
Click icon to add picture
Examples of Creative Minorities
Sewing Circles in Kabul,
Social and emotional learning in the Cairns Diocese in Australia,
School of St Jude, Tanzania,
Indigenous/white relations in Australia,
The Maori political party in New Zealand,
Marist Youth Care in Sydney.
Some Goals of Creative Minorities
Education
Empowering the locals
Effecting change
Helping those in need
Improving living standards
Supporting orphans in India
Looking after the planet
Helping homeless youth
Dimensions of the Creative
Starts with a dream, the dream is affirmed, new life emerges;
Individuals are willing to stand out against popular thought;
Youth are directly involved with shaping and sustaining their own future;
The process involves passion.
The Process of Establishing a Creative Minority
‘It is an historical fact that in social justice terms, someone who identifies such a need will really be urged by the experience of those with this particular need to help. If the person has the necessary personal skills, much will happen to address the need. If the person has the gift of the Holy Spirit as support, that will help it blossom into a network of those who are willing to help!’
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How can creative minorities serve our world?
‘By articulating and acting on key aims that most people think about but are too frightened to say aloud for fear of retribution (as such views are often universal but the media and ultra conservatives are quick to run such views down)’.
Reggio Emilia Video
The creative minority within
Where is our call?
‘For this law which I am laying down for you today is neither obscure ... nor beyond your reach ... it is in your mouth, and in your heart for you to put into practice’ (Deut 30:11-14).
Any Response?
