A warm and welcoming opening session to get us connected, oriented, and excited for the Jam! This will roll immediately into the first of three sessions  - Discover - that will take us through a 4D Inquiry into where Appreciative Inquiry might do its best future work. In the Discovery Dialogue you will be invited into a conversation with a small group of other Jam participants.

A 4D Inquiry for the Global AI Community:  Discover, Dream, Design

Facilitated by: Lindsey Godwin, Joeri Kabalt, Fer Caballero, Kim Marie McKernan, Marlene Ogawa

These dynamic and interactive sessions invite our global community to dive into a complete 4D Appreciative Inquiry process, examining the past, present, and future of this transformative approach to positive change.

• Discover: We'll unearth the stories and strengths that have shaped Appreciative Inquiry worldwide.

• Dream: We'll envision bold futures for this methodology across organizations, communities, and systems.

• Design: We'll start crafting pathways to turn these dreams into reality, guided by our collective values and aspirations.

These sessions offer a meaningful opportunity to connect with fellow Appreciative Inquiry practitioners, amplify successful practices, and co-create a shared vision for the future of AI. Whether you’re new to Appreciative Inquiry or a seasoned practitioner, your perspective is vital in shaping the journey ahead

Join us for a rare and powerful conversation with Appreciative Inquiry’s founders, David Cooperrider and Ron Fry, and leading scholar-practitioner Lindsey Godwin, facilitated by Tanya Cruz Teller. Together, they’ll share reflections from over 30 years of pioneering strength-based change—and explore the future possibilities AI holds for a world hungry for hope, connection, and meaningful action. In a time that calls for new ways of seeing and leading, Appreciative Inquiry offers a proven and inspiring path forward: one that builds capacity, sparks innovation, and reimagines what’s possible through the lens of strengths.

Dr. David Cooperrider is a founding thought-leader of Appreciative Inquiry and a distinguished professor at Case Western Reserve University’s Weatherhead School of Management. His groundbreaking work on strength-based change has revolutionized the fields of organizational development and leadership, inspiring positive transformation in businesses, nonprofits, and communities around the world. Through his research, writing, and global consulting, David has helped shape a new narrative for change—one rooted in possibility, collaboration, and human flourishing.

Dr. Ron Fry is a co-creator of Appreciative Inquiry and a professor at Case Western Reserve University’s Weatherhead School of Management. A pioneer in the field of strength-based change, Ron’s work has advanced how organizations approach leadership, collaboration, and innovation. Through his teaching, research, and consulting, he has helped organizations around the world unlock human potential and create lasting, positive impact by focusing on what works and what’s possible.

Dr. Lindsey Godwin is the Academic Director of the David L. Cooperrider Center for Appreciative Inquiry at Champlain College, where she leads the world hub for AI education and practice. A leading scholar-practitioner, Lindsey’s work bridges the gap between theory and practice, helping individuals and organizations around the world apply Appreciative Inquiry to create positive, sustainable change. Through her teaching, writing, and consulting, she brings a fresh, accessible approach to strength-based leadership and transformation.

Tanya Cruz-Teller is a leader in systemic change with over 20 years of experience in international development, specializing in Appreciative Inquiry, strengths-based strategic planning, and inclusive stakeholder engagement. A champion for diversity, equity, and inclusion, she combines coaching, technology, and local knowledge to design innovative, collaborative processes across virtual, hybrid, and in-person formats. Tanya is a sought-after speaker and has led impactful initiatives with the Synergos Institute and the South African government.

Evaluations, audits, and visitations are often seen as top-down, compliance-driven processes - but what if they could be meaningful conversations that inspire learning and innovation?

This interactive workshop explores how Appreciative Inquiry can transform evaluations into strengths-based, engaging experiences. Drawing on my work with the NIPV (Netherlands Institute for Public Safety), where 23 security regions have implemented AI-based visitations, we'll explore how project managers and visitation committees were prepared using AI-principles to create collaborative, insightful, and energizing evaluations involving diverse participants such as firefighters, incident commanders, and disaster medical coordinators.

The participants will see AI in action and engage in a dynamic exercise to reimagine their own evaluation or feedback processes, whether in organizations, coaching, or community initiatives. We will talk about how to address the common fear of missing important learning when we focus primarily on "what works".

This session is for anyone who wants to turn evaluations into conversations that inspire growth, whether one-on-one or at scale.

The fallout of the US foreign aid funding freeze has been devastating to the global health and development industry. Many professionals in this line of work have lost jobs, and all have felt the devaluation of work that had previously been deemed important and purposeful. Yet, each moment of chaos provides an opportunity for reflection and repositioning, for reimagining and relaunching. This session will share stories and outcomes from a series of Appreciative Inquiry workshops facilitated with global health and development professionals based in the Triangle region (Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill) of North Carolina. This region hosts a high population of such workers who have dedicated their lives and careers to serving populations outside of the US with strategic initiatives to improve health and cooperation. The overall vision of these workshops, which are ongoing, is to affirm personal and professional place in the world, dream big about how to navigate the changing landscape, and design a new way forward for the field and professional community. The proposed AI Jam session will conclude by engaging participants in reflections and dreams around the same topic.

This presentation will explore innovative and strategic approaches to engaging families from diverse backgrounds in academic settings. As family dynamics evolve, it becomes increasingly important for practitioners to adapt their communication methods to foster genuine connection. Using a blend of focus groups, interviews, and informational sessions, we will share findings on how to effectively engage families by understanding their unique needs and preferences. *Differential engagement* is a powerful tool in this context, where we tailor our communication strategies based on family characteristics. For example, seniors raising children often prefer phone calls and mailed communications, while working families need easily accessible and concise information. Tech-savvy families are more inclined toward digital platforms like apps, social media, and text messages. By truly understanding the makeup of each family, we can rise to meet the challenge of fostering meaningful engagement, building on the legacy of Appreciative Inquiry to shape the future of family involvement in education.

In a world that often feels divided and disconnected, how can we reclaim the power of everyday conversations to build bridges, foster belonging, and invite possibility?

Conversations of Possibility are not about persuasion or performance. They are about curiosity, presence, and the simple act of seeing and valuing another person—whether it’s a brief exchange with a stranger, a difficult conversation at work, or a moment of connection with a loved one.

In this interactive session, we will explore:

• How small moments of connection—a question, a thank-you, an act of noticing—can shift relationships and cultures.

• The impact of high-quality connections and how they can happen anywhere, even in an elevator or a checkout line.

• How to replace the urge to convince with the desire to understand.

• The intersection of AI² (Artificial Intelligence + Appreciative Inquiry)—how technology can either erode or enhance human connection.

Participants will leave with simple, actionable ways to create Conversations of Possibility—conversations that don’t just exchange information, but transform relationships, perspectives, and possibilities.

Because the world is not broken into sides, but into stories longing to be heard.

Change isn’t always met with open arms - especially when people dig in their heels. In this lively and thought-provoking session, I’ll draw from my book, Leading Through Resistance, to help you reframe resistance not as an obstacle, but as a powerful signal for growth.

Whether you're leading a team, guiding a community, or working on personal transformation, this session will help you decode the deeper meaning behind pushback. We’ll explore how resistance shows up—sometimes subtly, sometimes loudly—and how it can actually illuminate what matters most to people.

Through rich discussion, real world examples, and reflective exercises, you’ll learn how to spot resistance early, understand its roots, and transform it into momentum for positive change. You’ll walk away with practical tools grounded in Appreciative Inquiry that help people reconnect with their strengths—even in the face of uncertainty or skepticism.

Join us to discover how resistance, when welcomed with curiosity and compassion, can become your greatest ally in creating lasting, strengths-based transformation.