International Institute for Human Understanding

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International Institute for Human Understanding
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History of the IIHU

• Founded in 1995 by a group of people committed to
  fostering human understanding
• IIHU evolved as a response to the human
  experiences of alienation, misconstruction, and
  separateness that often lead to suffering,
  loneliness, and the felt sense of being
  misunderstood
• An agenda of education, inquiry, and service was
  developed to respond to the urgent needs for
  dialogue and human connectedness

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Mission of the IIHU

• Fostering the welfare of humankind through
• Promoting tolerance
• Promoting compassion
• Increasing human understanding
• Promoting respect for all communities
• Appreciating differences
• Encouraging civil discourse
• Creating humanitarian models of affinity, caring,
  concern, equality, and justice

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IIHU Board Members

• Dr. Maureen Duffy
• Dr. Vineeth John
• Dr. Patricia Munhall
• Dr. Torben Riise
• Kelley Flannery Rowan

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Inspiration for What We Do

• Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful,
  committed citizens can change the world. Indeed,
  it's the only thing that ever has.-- Margaret
  Mead
• To leave the world a bit better whether by a
  healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed
  social condition to know that even one life has
  breathed easier because you have lived. This is
  to have succeeded.
• --Ralph Waldo Emerson
• To the world you may be one person, but to one
  person you may be the world.
• --Anonymous

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Activities of the IIHU

• Education
• Service
• Inquiry
• International Conferences

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• Educational programming for thinking individuals
  by internationally acclaimed faculty. Admission
  requirements are simply the desire to learn and
  to connect. Come for a day, come for a life.
• No prerequisites
• No tests
• No homework
• Learning for the joy and pleasure of it!

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What is Different about the Open U?

• Emphasis on learning through conversation about
  critical issues central to personal, relational,
  and cultural understandings
• Focus on the adult learner
• Open and welcoming doors to all
• Meeting locations throughout the community, based
  on community needs
• Social activities to benefit the community

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Philosophy of the Open U

• The promotion of human understanding in order to
  inspire
• Compassion and tolerance
• Empathy
• Improved quality of life
• The search for meaning within and among cultures
• Coming together for community and service
• Openings of more Open Us nationally and globally

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Open UTaking Good Ideas and Acting on Them

• Human understanding takes more than one
  perspective.
• Conversation is the production site of knowledge.
• -- Steinar Kvale
• I must admit that I personally measure success in
  terms of the contributions an individual makes to
  her or his fellow human beings.-- Margaret Mead

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Activities of the Open U

• Courses
• Workshops
• Forums
• International Conferences

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Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful,
committed citizens can change the world. Indeed,
it's the only thing that ever has.-- Margaret
Meadmust admit that I personally measure success
in terms of the contributions an individual makes
to her or his fellow human beings.-- Margaret
MeadAlways remember that you are absolutely
unique. Just like everyone else.-- Margaret
MeadNever doubt that a small group of
thoughtful, committed citizens can change the
world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever
has.-- Margaret Meadmust admit that I
personally measure success in terms of the
contributions an individual makes to her or his
fellow human beings.-- Margaret MeadAlways
remember that you are absolutely unique. Just
like everyone else.-- Margaret Mead

• Sample Course Offerings
• Making A Difference A Course in Leadership and
  Creative Opportunities
• Faculty, Dr. Patricia Munhall
• Solutions A Film Course for All Levels
• Faculty, Ora Karat
• Music A Path to Justice
• Faculty, Kelley Flannery Rowan

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• Course Offerings continued
• Couples Makeover
• Faculty, Dr. Maureen Duffy
• Religion to Die for
• Faculty, Dr. Elias Bouboutsis

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Certificates in Human Understanding Level
One Advanced Level Critical content and
practice in human understanding for health care,
educational, business, human resource
professionals, writers, students, journalists,
clergy, and anyone who is in interaction with
others to enhance communication, personal
effectiveness, cooperation, appreciation, and to
restore and maintain overall peace.
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Past Workshops October 27th, 900 -400 Joachim
de Posada Dont Eat the Marshmallow Yet
Understanding Leadership Principles Needed to be
Successful in a Competitive World
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Workshops continued November 3rd, 930-400 Dr.
Patricia Munhall The Dynamics of Understanding
Relationships, Communication, and Meaning
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Workshops continued December 1st, 900-400 Dr.
Maureen Duffy Give yourself and your relationship
a holiday gift! Couples Makeover
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Join Us in Working to Foster Human Understanding
www.iihu.org