Librarians can be effective catalysts and vital connectors who facilitate successful partnerships that enrich students' lives—"radical collaborations" that have deep and far-reaching impact. Envisioning schools as learning organizations requires collaborating with the greater communities as an integral part of the school's dynamic. How can librarians be key players in realizing this concept of schools? This book addresses this essential question, as well as how librarians can serve as catalysts in reaching beyond the traditional school to form alliances and partnerships with a range of community organizations and agencies, and how these collaborations result in transformative learning experiences not only for the students but for the adults who work together as well. The authors provide examples of schools where librarians, library directors, and educators are joining together in these types of unique partnerships. Chapters are authored by library professionals, who describe what stimulates and motivates these partnerships and how they are collaboratively developed and sustained. This publication will be a catalyst that will inspire readers to grow similar alliances in their own schools and districts among public libraries, colleges, arts foundations, nonprofit cultural organizations, and STEM-related agencies.

Collaborative skills have never been more important. At work, you can't afford to be defensive, hostile, or even too cynical. It's never easy, but getting along with your colleagues or customers is imperative, whether you're on a long-term assignment, a temporary project, or a virtual team where you're connected to colleagues only by cell phone and e-mail. Radical Collaboration: Five Essential Skills to Overcome Defensiveness and Build Successful Relationships is a how-to manual for anyone who wants to be more skillful at building relationships, both professional and personal. James W. Tamm and Ronald J. Luyet will show you how to gently look inside yourself for the answers, with page after page of thoughtful exercises and probing tools that will increase your skills. The four introspective skills you will learn are: Collaborative Intention, Truthfulness, Self-Accountability, and Self-Awareness and Awareness of Others. You also have to get what you need from the world around you. That's why Radical Collaboration teaches a critical fifth skill: Problem Solving and Negotiating. Tamm and Luyet teach you how to negotiate using the highly effective interest-based approach to problem solving. At the heart of the book is a theory of human relationships called Fundamental Interpersonal Relations Orientation, or FIRO. It explains how unmet emotional needs can sabotage our efforts to collaborate. How does the online profile work? When you get to chapter 7, you will be directed to a unique code number printed on a sticker on the inside back flap of this book. Take this number to the Web site for the book, www.radicalcollaboration.com. Here, you will be able to take a free relationship profile called the FIRO Element B. This profile will increase your awareness of how you behave in relationships and give you information about your behavior in three areas that strongly influences your ability to collaborate. The test will measure how important control is to you, how important it is for you to be included, and how comfortable you are being open about yourself. Are you are defensive and fearful? Is that preventing you from collaborating? Use the exercises in this book to identify your habits, and then learn how to moderate them. You will quickly become more effective at work and at home.

Librarians can be effective catalysts and vital connectors who facilitate successful partnerships that enrich students' lives—"radical collaborations" that have deep and far-reaching impact. Envisioning schools as learning organizations requires collaborating with the greater communities as an integral part of the school's dynamic. How can librarians be key players in realizing this concept of schools? This book addresses this essential question, as well as how librarians can serve as catalysts in reaching beyond the traditional school to form alliances and partnerships with a range of community organizations and agencies, and how these collaborations result in transformative learning experiences not only for the students but for the adults who work together as well. The authors provide examples of schools where librarians, library directors, and educators are joining together in these types of unique partnerships. Chapters are authored by library professionals, who describe what stimulates and motivates these partnerships and how they are collaboratively developed and sustained. This publication will be a catalyst that will inspire readers to grow similar alliances in their own schools and districts among public libraries, colleges, arts foundations, nonprofit cultural organizations, and STEM-related agencies.

There are all kinds of books about building trust. But The Improvisation Edge is the only one that draws on the wisdom of those who are truly experts in the dynamics of trust-building: theatrical improvisers. Think about it: other than combat, no situation requires more extreme trust than improvisation. You have no script, costumes or set—nothing to depend on but your fellow improvisers. When you collaborate on such an intense level you intrinsically engender trust. Karen Hough describes four principles that will help leaders, managers, trainers, and front-line employees adopt the improviser’s mindset. You’ll learn techniques to create a positive environment, encourage fearless participation and selfless collaboration, play to your own and your colleagues’ strengths, and turn surprises, mistakes and disasters into opportunities for something new, unexpected and maybe better than you planned. The Improvisation Edge offers a fun, engaging and very hands-on way to build the kind of organizational trust and collaboration that makes breakthrough business results possible.

Spirit is the essence of character—of what it means to be human. Finding hope in the power of collaboration underpinned by ‘spirit work’-- the care and love of students as learners-- Fullan & Edwards capture how some school districts are creating a deep learning environment for all. COVID-19, racial inequity, polarizing politics, mass misinformation, and myriad other challenges have made the future of education seem bleaker than ever. Spirit Work and the Science of Collaboration speaks directly to leaders′ hearts and advocates for the development of two qualities that will bring back hope for the future of education: "spirit work" and the science of collaboration. Spirit work centers love and care for students, staff, and communities as the impetus for creating a positive culture, while collaboration is the vehicle for manifesting that spirit work. Through powerful case studies and vignettes, the authors show how spirit and collaboration represent revolutionary potential for education. Readers will find A lifeline amid overwhelming conditions. Hope for themselves and the future of education Practical ideas for building cohesion throughout school communities We cannot allow our best advocates for children to be consumed by today’s challenges. Spirit work and collaboration can pave the way to a brighter future.

Renowned political scientist Terri Givens calls for ‘radical empathy’ in bridging racial divides to understand the origins of our biases, including internalized oppression. Deftly weaving together her own experiences with the political, she offers practical steps to call out racism and bring about radical social change.

"Kevin Gannon asks that the contemporary university's manifold problems be approached as opportunities for critical engagement, arguing that, when done effectively, teaching is by definition emancipatory and hopeful. Considering individual pedagogical practice, the students who are teaching's primary audience and beneficiaries, and the institutions and systems within which teaching occurs, Radical Hope surveys the field, tackling everything from imposter syndrome to cellphones in class to allegations of a campus "free speech crisis"--