Being a communication scientist is a bit like being a chef at home after a long day. I have the tools and knowledge to craft nourishing conversations, but sometimes, I just want cereal—or silence. Or instant noodles—or sharp debates.

My siblings love to tease me: “You should know how to say that better—you teach this!” 

And they’re right. I do. But knowing how to communicate and choosing when—and how much—is an art in itself.

In this session, I’ll be sharing on exactly this: that tension of how to practice appreciative communication not as a performance, but as a human choice—one that connects without exhausting, that invites without insisting.

Because the real science is in the sustainable practice. And maybe, in choosing toast over soufflé… but still setting the table with care.

8:00 am PT | 11:00 am ET | 5:00 pm CET | 11:00 pm SGT | 1:00 am AEST 

Open Space!

Open Space Padlet

You’ll join us in the main Zoom room for a brief welcome, and then we’ll open 8 breakout rooms, each dedicated to one of the session topics listed below. You’ll be able to freely move between rooms throughout the session, so you can explore the conversations that interest you most.

Each topic is hosted by a community member, and you can find short descriptions and host names below.

Khanyisa Manzini & Keri Kornelson – AI in Higher Education: Stories, Insights, and Collective Learning

Explore how Appreciative Inquiry is shaping teaching, learning, and research in higher education. Through storytelling and shared dialogue, we’ll surface lived experiences, highlight emerging innovations, and begin building a collaborative network for strengths-based change across the higher ed landscape.

Eric Mohler – What If Men Healed? Reimagining Masculinity with AI

Using Appreciative Inquiry to explore how men might heal from inherited norms of dominance and disconnection—imagining new pathways toward emotional depth, relational strength, and social contribution.

Nick Heap – Appreciative Inquiry Squared

A meta-conversation: an appreciative inquiry into the best of Appreciative Inquiry. Share your peak AI experiences and dream forward together to imagine what’s next for the field.

Carrie Marcinkevage – AI and IT: Applying AI in the Tech World

A gathering for IT professionals and others to explore how AI principles apply in tech environments—sharing stories, challenges, and ideas for using AI to transform IT cultures and systems.

Mathieu Côté – Slow Ethics in a Fast World

How do we uphold deep ethics in an age of exponential tech? This dialogue explores how "slow down ethics" and rapid innovation might co-evolve—inviting wisdom, caution, and responsibility into high-speed systems.

Duncan Ferguson – Youth Wellbeing in this Digital Age: An AI Summit

Let’s discuss: designing an AI Summit for and with youth; the challenge of a client that is not the focus of the summit; how to guide that client through topic choice and writing the interview findings report; anything else that comes up!

Federico Varona – Appreciative Paradigm

Discover how Appreciative Inquiry becomes more powerful and coherent when viewed through the broader lens of the Appreciative Paradigm—an interconnected framework for generating transformative personal and social change.

Nicole Morris – Strengths-Based Sustainability with the RAD Model

Seeking feedback on a new visual tool—the Regenerative Action Diagram (RAD)—a strengths-based framework for sustainability and regenerative business rooted in Appreciative Inquiry and inspired by systems thinking.

As we honor the roots of Appreciative Inquiry and rise to meet tomorrow’s challenges, the need for trauma-informed psychological safety has never been greater. In a world where collective and individual trauma shape how we show up, fostering brave spaces—not just comfortable ones—is essential for meaningful dialogue, learning, and innovation.

In this highly interactive session, I’ll share my own experiences navigating psychological safety in uncertain times and how I’ve had to adapt my approach to meet the needs of teams and organizations. Together, we’ll explore:

🌿 What psychological safety is (and isn’t) in a trauma-impacted world

💡 How being trauma-informed strengthens our ability to facilitate meaningful conversations

🎤 Strategies and successes—shared by you and fellow participants

Through facilitated discussion and shared storytelling, we’ll co-create approaches for AI practitioners to cultivate environments where people feel safe enough to take risks, voice dissent, and step into the future with confidence. Come ready to reflect, contribute, and leave with insights from a community of changemakers!

This session invites participants to move beyond sustainability and actively design regenerative business strategies that revitalize communities, strengthen economies, and foster long-term social well-being.

Using the case study of Naturally Lewis, an economic development organization located in Lewis County, NY, we will explore how economic development can transition from harm reduction to net-positive impact, generating shared value for businesses, communities, and stakeholders alike. This interactive session will challenge participants to reimagine and evolve regenerative business practices using an advanced AI-based design lab.

Through real-world insights, facilitated dialogue, and rapid ideation, participants will:

1. Examine the Regenerative Shift – Explore key differences between sustainable and regenerative models, using Naturally Lewis as a case example.

2. Identify Tensions & Leverage Points – Discuss real challenges (e.g., engaging resistant businesses, balancing economic vs. social impact) and uncover leverage points for transformation.

3. Co-Create New Approaches – Engage in a Regenerative Innovation Sprint, where participants collaborate in small groups to design bold new regenerative initiatives that could scale in their own contexts.

4. Test & Evolve Ideas – Share concepts, challenge assumptions, and refine strategies through peer coaching and appreciative dialogue.

This session focuses on the DESIGN portion of our 4-D Cycle. Expect to begin crafting pathways to turn our dreams into reality. You will  be able to choose which topic is of most interest to you and expect to have conversations with other Jam participants interested in the same topic.

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