Thursday evening June 12 – Noon Sunday June 15, 2008

View our list of partners for this event.

Internationally known speaker, facilitator, and author of the award-winning book, Leadership and the New Science: Discovering Order in a Chaotic World.


Have you ever wondered why our bureaucratic systems often fail to provide the kind of help and leadership we need? World-renowned author Margaret Wheatley has explored this question in her ground-breaking work and her books, Leadership and the New Science and Finding Our Way: Leadership for an Uncertain Time. In particular, she has explored the importance of grassroots and community leadership in the world we live in today. New Orleans provides a unique setting in which to study this important topic.

In the midst of many government and bureaucratic failures in New Orleans' recovery efforts, grassroots creative approaches to neighborhood and community development are emerging throughout New Orleans. We invite you to join internationally acclaimed author and consultant Margaret Wheatley for a Learning Inquiry into some of these innovative developments and the leadership networks that have fostered them.


What is a Learning Inquiry?

It’s a way of seeking knowledge through involvement that leads to understanding. Margaret Wheatley has been in the forefront of inquiry-based learning by facilitating groups of people who want to find out more about real-life examples of the community-generated leadership that she talks about in her books. She has been part of Learning Inquiries through-out the world, and now she wants to bring this exciting way of sharing and learning to New Orleans.

If you are interested in finding new ways to develop leadership in organizations and communities, we invite you to be part of the New Orleans Learning Inquiry.


Who should attend this important event?

• Community leaders and developers;
• Managers of for-profit and nonprofit organizations that are looking for ways to develop leadership that will work in today’s world;
• Disaster planners and those who study better ways to cope with disaster;
• Anyone who wishes to participate in a rich inquiry into ways to build the kind of world we want and need in the 21st century.

This Learning Inquiry will support both visitors and local organizations in their ongoing learning and provide opportunities for interested outsiders to keep the redevelopment of the great city of New Orleans on the national and international radar. As well, this provides opportunities for ongoing volunteer and capital support.

Planned schedule:

Participants will arrive on Thursday, June 12, 2008 and begin with an extensive tour of the City visiting key community leaders along the way. This tour will set the context for the Learning Inquiry. That evening the group will gather together for dinner and conversation. For the next two days, they will travel together by bus to various sites in New Orleans to hear what local communities have been doing to enhance New Orleans recovery. In the evening, the participant group will gather for reflection and inquiry into their observations with Margaret Wheatley and others. After brunch and a final reflection, the Learning Inquiry will close on Sunday, June 15.

NOTE: The Dinner at Dunbar's-Creole on Friday, June 13th has been replaced with a Dinner and community conversation with Meg Wheatley at Loyola University. This event is also open to the public for $40. You can register for it here. Just click the option for "Dinner Only"

Schedule At A Glance:

Thursday, June 12:

Check in @ Dominican Conference Center no later than 3:30pm
• Participants arrive and check in
• Bus tour of the City – 4:00pm
• Dinner at Dooky Chase's in the historic Treme neighborhood, run by Leah Chase, the nation's gem of Creole cooking.

Friday, June 13:

• Breakfast
• Introduction to the day
• Meet with community leaders
• Lunch at Café Reconcile, a hospitality school and job training ground for at-risk youth that is now in the highest range of neighborhood restaurants
• Tour community-based non-profits
• Dinner and community conversation at Loyola University
• Evening reflection with Margaret Wheatley and participants

Saturday, June 14:

• Breakfast
• Introduction to the day
• Meet with community leaders
• Lunch at the Lower Ninth Ward Village, a community center under renovation in the historic Holy Cross neighborhood
• Tour community-based non-profits
• Dinner at Lil' Dizzy's Café in historic Treme, operated by Wayne Baquet, a member of one of the great Creole restaurateur families in New Orleans
• Evening on your own – discover more about New Orleans' unique and wonderful music culture (we'll provide suggestions!)

Sunday, June 15:

• Brunch in beautiful uptown New Orleans and time of reflection for weekend’s Learning Inquiry
• We will adjourn by noon.

Get Details & Register Now!

June 12-15 2008

Who should attend this important event?

Community leaders and developers

Managers in for-profit and nonprofit organizations that are looking for ways to develop leadership that will work in today’s world

Disaster planners and those who study better ways to cope with disaster

Anyone who wishes to participate in a rich inquiry into ways to build the kind of world we want and need in the 21st century

The goals of the Learning Inquiry are:

To explore common patterns of leadership and community change,

To learn how community change efforts succeed,

To deepen personal insights into one’s strengths and imagination for leadership,

To explore which learnings might have wider application in “back home” settings,

To connect with New Orleans efforts for recovery and widen the network of community sharing and development.