Exploring the Impact of Attachment on Personal and Organizational Transformation
Genetic Alliance 25th Anniversary Anchor Event
Exploring the Impact of Attachment
Leadership Track: March 31 (morning) – April 2, 2011
General Track: March 31 (evening) – April 2, 2011
Eastern Mennonite University
Harrisonburg, VA
Come join us at the first event of our 25th anniversary year-long celebration, where we will meet a world-class cadre of leaders to catalyze the next wave of Genetic Alliance’s growth and development.
Genetic Alliance enters its 25th year transformed and animated by our dedication to the culture of the organization as its driving force. We invite you to join us in the experience and exploration of transformed and transforming leadership.
Though many things such as vision, leadership, and collaboration have fueled our growth and impact in the world, looking back, we would point to our commitment to openness as the greatest catalyst for transformation. Key to that openness is our willingness to keep stretching ourselves both as individuals and an organization, particularly as we realize our interconnectedness. This conference is just such an opportunity.
John Bowlby, the father of attachment theory, defined attachment as a “lasting psychological connectedness between human beings.” (For more on Bowlby, see this post on our Transforming Leadership blog). Through our commitment to openness, we have experienced this connectedness in many ways and on many levels: between Council, senior management, and staff; between staff, advocates, researchers, academicians, policymakers, and foundation funders; between our organization and multitudes of other organizations; and more.
This connection is distinguished by the commitment to the whole of our well-being. We are convinced that this conference is a context in which we can take what we have learned and practiced to a new level because of its focus on an integration of science, spirituality, and personhood.
We are creating a special program for Genetic Alliance advocates, healthcare providers, families, and researchers by weaving our program together with the Conversations on Attachment: Integrating the Science of Love and Spirituality Conference at Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, VA, March 31-April 2, 2011.
In the Genetic Alliance program, we will use the issues and concerns surrounding the care of individuals, energy of advocacy, necessity of counseling, provision of healthcare, and significance of research on genetic conditions as our starting point. Together, we will come to understand the effects of attachment on our relationships in all spheres of our lives and how the practical work associated with it can and will enhance those spheres.
Will this event be worth your time, attention, and resources? We provide information on the Background page, as well as on EMU’s website, to help you answer that question. We offer two tracks: The Leadership Workshop begins in the morning on Thursday, March 31, and is by application only; the General Track begins in the evening on Thursday, March 31, and is open to all. We also will be offering you a variety of ways to prepare yourself for the conference so that you get the most out of it.
We would very much like you to join us, enable community growth, and expect great things to happen for you, those close to you, and the communities that you serve.
Genetic Alliance will coordinate its own leadership and advocacy track that will weave through the EMU conference. In addition to the cost of the conference ($130), which you will pay to EMU when you register, please bring $15 (check or cash) for lunch, which Genetic Alliance will provide on Thursday (Leadership Track) and Friday (General Track).
