Wiser Together is a pioneering venture of conversational experiences, learning programs and consultation services designed to develop and sustain multi-generational collaboration on the most critical issues of today. Multi-generational World Café practitioners are poised to work within communities and organizations to tap into the collective wisdom and co-creativity that shows up when we intentionally invite the voices and unique contributions of all generations to participate.
**Wiser Together Guiding Principles **
- Invite and Honor Unique Contributions
- Foster Real Partnerships
- Design Innovative Experiments
- Create Safe & Inclusive Spaces
- Use Creative Ways of Learning and Working Together
- Cultivate Meaningful Friendships
- Learn Together, Harvest Insights and Share Discoveries
- Share the Stories of our Past; Develop the Stories of our Future
**Invite and Honor Unique Contributions:** *How can we acknowledge, respect and utilize the wisdom and experience of all generations, including those that came before or after us?* - Use personal storytelling and deep listening techniques for identifying the common hopes we share, independent of age or stage - Do Community Asset Mapping of unique contributions and experience of each generation
**Foster Real Partnerships:** *How can we shift traditional mindsets and assumptions in ways that deal compassionately with hierarchies and stereotypes, which can keep us stuck in unproductive relationships between generations?* - Bring multi-generational teams that model collaborative leadership to host key gatherings - Identify issues of common concern that are larger than individual interest - Use proven dialogue methods that uncover hidden assumptions and mindsets in collaborative ways
**Design Innovative Experiments:** *How can we embody the Wiser Together approach to the work we are already doing in order to test and share the evolving Wiser Together guiding principles, approaches and core questions, as well as our ongoing learnings?* - Practice leading edge learning methods such as participatory action research - Engage on-line communication and collaboration tools to design and share the results of action learning experiments across networks - Create venues that foster multi-generational story-telling around key projects
**Create Safe & Inclusive Spaces:** *How can we design environments and collaborative processes which assure that every voice and perspective has the equal opportunity to contribute their gifts?* - Use a variety of large group hosting practices and collaborative on-line tools - Engage dialogue-based collaboration processes to build strong and lasting partnerships - Create hospitable spaces which include sharing nourishment for the whole being: body, mind, and spirit
**Use Creative Ways of Learning and Working Together:** *How can we introduce authentic dialogue, the arts, ritual and celebration as well as other modes of creative expression to access collective intelligence and cultivate wise action?* - Invite the use of music, movement, art, poetry, silence, and other forms of creative expression—both individual and collective. - Engage the natural world as an ally
**Cultivate Meaningful Friendships:** *How can we create opportunities to build strong personal relationships of mutual trust and respect with others across the life cycle in all Wiser Together projects?* - Share meals and other informal times together - Use personal storytelling/storysharing as a core process - Inquire into each other’s dilemmas and concerns
**Learn Together, Harvest Insights, and Share Discoveries:** *How can we individually and collectively incorporate time for reflection and mutual learning as well as the documentation and sharing of stories, tools, and frameworks across our networks?* - Use graphic facilitation/documentation in both face to face and virtual gatherings - Develop & continually evolve a Wiser Together Playbook incorporating key designs - Create multi-generational “ambassadors” to other networks and conferences
**Share the stories of our past / Develop the stories of our future:** *How can intergenerational partnerships create opportunities to learn the truth about history and to allow meaningful relationships to be at the root of designing the future we imagine?* - Share the stories and forces that have shaped who we are – personally, culturally, etc. - Critically analyze what happens when we come together - Use methods of reconciliation and allow the stories from the past to influence shared positive futures