Prairie Lights

Join us for a reading and discussion, co-sponsored by the Office of the Vice President for Research, to celebrate The Theory of Being: Practices for Transforming Self and Communities Across Difference, edited by a research team from the UI College of Education including Sherry K. Watt, Duhita Mahatmya, Milad Mohebali, and Charles Martin-Stanley II. The book presents a state-of-the-art, robust, and adaptable process, the theory of Being, that offers strategies for working across Difference, and for embarking on constructive dialogue around the issues that drive us apart, both individually and collectively. Author Courtney Martin says of The Theory of Being: “What a wildly timely book. The concepts and personal narrative contained within these pages are like signposts for the fog of reckoning–racial, gender, class, climate–we are all in. I know I will return to it again and again as I continue to deepen my relationships within various communities that I hold dear, none of which are simple, all of which are quite beautiful and sacred to me.” After the reading, the editors will be joined by Saba Ali, associate director of research in the UI College of Education, for a conversation and Q&A with the audience. Appetizers and wine will be available.

Prior to becoming a faculty member at the University of Iowa in 2000, Sherry Watt worked as a residence life director and a career counselor at both of her alma maters and Shaw University. She is also founder of The Being Institute (thebeinginstitute.org). She is currently the Associate Editor for Book Reviews for the Journal of College Student Development. She has over 30 years of experience in, researching, designing and leading educational experiences that involve strategies to engage participants in dialogue that is meaningful, passionate, and self-awakening. Sherry and her research team are working together on research and practice that support ‘ways of being’ in difficult dialogues that inspires thoughtful and humanizing action.