Visions into Actions

Themes and Topics

The 2008 Global Citizenship Conference’s central theme is  
“Re-Envisioning Communities” and will allow the exploration of a variety of sub-themes:

Challenging Assumptions

            In order to Re-envision Community, we must first be analytical of our current understandings of community. To challenge assumptions is not to reject all aspects or definitions of community, but rather it is to be critical of those perspectives of community that augment the division of humanity, rather than nurture understanding. We must also develop an understanding of pluralism in communities; the multiple levels of communities that we are a part of and that intersect at varying levels. We can look at individual relationships, school communities, local communities, and international communities among others.

Diversity in Discourse

            As our view of community broadens to incorporate people of different nationalities and cultures, we must be aware of biases that are formed from our Western ideals and encourage open dialogue and communication to challenge them. It is important to keep an open mind to other avenues of thought and to appreciate innovation and creativity. Ultimately, this will aid in the creation of a more understanding, unified global community.

Identities within Communities

            It is pertinent to acknowledge that communities are formed by individuals, and that every individual is part of multiple communities. Thus, GCC 2008 hopes to be a means through which every conference delegate can come to understand his or her roles and responsibilities in local and global communities.

Reciprocity in Relationships

            The relationships that we develop and foster in our lives must not be unidirectional. Whether these relationships are between two people, or two nations it is important that relationships are created equally in dialogue, rights and opportunity.

Sustainability and Long Term Change

            To bring our re-envisioned concepts of community into action, we must look toward how social and ecological initiatives on both a local and global scale can be implemented and further, how they can be sustained over the long-term. We must also understand that change can happen in many ways, and may not always be positive. We must strive to be critical in analyzing our actions to aware of all potential results, both positive and negative.