Troubadours, Cartographers, and Storytellers
Looking Back and Moving Forward
The 2013 Habla Forum has been postponed.
More information coming soon.
 How do we look to the past in order to imagine education in the future?
We know we are living in an increasing globalized society where cultures and languages are mixing and technology is allowing us to connect and create in extraordinary ways. Work moves across national borders and many authors and researchers point out that in such a rapidly changing society it has become difficult to make decisions in schools about what students need to learn to be successful in the future. Cathy Davidson in her book Now You See It writes that, “By one estimate 65 percent of children entering grade school this year will end up working in careers that haven’t even been invented yet.”
And yet despite these societal changes, we know that there are essential ways of being in the world that have survived for thousands of years and will continue well into the future. The title “Troubadours, Cartographers, and Storytellers” speaks to those skills that have been around for centuries and are perhaps even more important today than ever before.
The 2013 Habla Forum will examine the question, “What are the essential ideas of the past that will help us find our way in the future?” At the Habla Forum we will consider ways we can frame the educational needs of the 21st century by looking back to see what skills have always been critical in forming a thoughtful and conscientious society. Although we will consider ways our world is changing, our lens will be one that carefully balances what was with what will be. Through two days of conversations, presentations, and workshops examining these ideas we hope to arrive collectively at new insights into how we might shape teaching and learning in our classrooms, schools, and alternative education spaces.
During the Habla Forum we will collaboratively explore and document the through-lines of the presentations, workshops, and conversations to uncover lessons with important implications for our work. We will publish the findings from the meeting to share with the larger field of education.
What is the Habla Forum?
Held every two years in Mérida, México, the Habla international forum is a collaborative space for educators, organizational leaders, and artists to investigate a central concept through dialogue, presentations, and workshops. The forum creates an active and collaborative space where participants deepen their thinking about the field of education outside the traditional limits of institutions, bureaucracies, and borders.
If you have any questions about the Forum please contact us at contact@habla.org.
Call for Proposals
We invite your proposals to present either an IDEA talk or a workshop at the 2013 Habla Forum. If you are interested in presenting please click here for more information.
How safe is Merida?
Merida is a very safe city where it feels comfortable to walk on the streets any day or night. We are far from the drug violence in other parts of Mexico. This article in CNN points out that Merida is safer than Wichita, Kansas in the United States. If you have any hesitation regarding safety in Merida please write us at contact@habla.org and we will answer your questions or put you directly in touch with people who visited for previous education programs and can tell you about their experience.
Itinerary
As we approach the forum a full itinerary of presentations and workshops will be posted.
| Friday, April 5 |
9:00am – 5:00pm: IDEA talks, conversations, and workshops (breakfast and lunch provided) |
7:00pm: Reception and Dinner |
| Saturday, April 6 |
9:00am-4:00pm: IDEA talks, conversations, and workshops (breakfast and lunch provided) |
4:00pm-5:00pm: Forum Closing |
Cost
$275 USD Registration before January 15, 2013
$325 USD Registration after January 15, 2013
Housing
There are many beautiful hotels in Merida. We recommend the following:
What participants have said about past forums:
“The Habla Forum is renewal for those who are typically engaged in renewing others; it's creative expression for those who are usually busy encouraging others' creativity; it's intellectual energy for those who are constantly thinking about making the world a better place. The Forum is a place to try out ideas with a mixed table of people ready for what's next. A breath of fresh air.”
Dr. Gail Burnaford, Professor of Teacher Education, Florida Atlantic University
“In equal parts: play, fun, work. Escape and immersion. Dreaming, thinking, trying. Sharing, reflecting, and trying again. Poetry, acting, dancing, drawing. English, Spanish, silence. Seeing, hearing, thinking and learning. Eating, drinking, laughing. Quite inspiring.”
Nick Rabkin, Director of the Teaching Artist Research Project, University of Chicago
"What a pleasure it is to spend time with colleagues reflecting and expanding upon our learning together, rather than simply repeating ad infinitum what we already 'know'."
Arnold Aprill, Founder and Creative Director, Chicago Arts Partnerships in Education
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