Parker Palmer is a writer, teacher, and activist who, since the early 1980’s, has been writing about the importance of recognizing that intellect, spirit, and emotion must be acknowledged and connected for human beings to be whole.

Out of his work, a movement called "Formation" has grown, first in public schools, and now extending to community colleges. Palmer asks “Who is the self that teaches?" and he defines formation as, “journeying, individually and in community, to our inner selves, our hearts and souls, to identify our true selves and our deep integrity. From this center proceeds our action.” Through formation work at JCCC, participants ask “Who is the self that teaches, counsels, interacts with colleagues, serves students in supporting roles, administrates?”

Contacts

Formation
Sandy Calvin Hastings
Professor, English
sandrac@jccc.edu
CC 221-C, Ext. 3323, Box 31

Formation
Terry Helmick
Professor, Speech
thelmick@jccc.edu
CC 313-D, Ext. 4104, Box 36

Formation
Myra Young
Professor, Speech
myoung@jccc.edu
CC 313-A, Ext. 4128, Box 36

Additional Information

Formation is a term chosen by author Parker Palmer to describe a special approach to discernment that can be used to explore one’s inner landscape--–intellectually, emotionally,and spiritually."

Formation has been active at JCCC since the spring of 2001, when teaching circles formed to discuss Palmer’s books "The Courage to Teach" and "Let Your Life Speak". In June of that year, three faculty members traveled to Taos for a retreat in which they prepared to facilitate formation retreats, and since then they have facilitated several retreats, including a series of five retreats involving the same group of faculty and staff. We look forward to the growth of formation at JCCC as more facilitators are prepared and more staff and faculty participate in formation activities.

Resources

Below are links to articles by and about Parker Palmer and the Formation Movement. Also, more information about formation and the Center for Renewal and Wholeness in Higher Education can be found on the League for Innovation’s website.

Biographical Information about Parker Palmer

Teaching in the Face of Fear

Articles by Parker Palmer

Center for Renewal and Wholeness in Higher Education

Activities

In book groups, retreat samplers, and other types of gatherings, we strive to learn—or to remember—who we are and what we know, and then work to connect that inner self, our “inner teacher,” with our lives, keeping before us the goal of working and living authentically. Through study, solitude, silence, poetry, music, art and discussion, participants strive for individual discernment with the help of supportive community.