Dr. Sherry Miller
From birth, growing up on a ranch in Montana my grandparents, especially my grandmother, Bertha Miller, homesteaded and my parents gave their love and lives to, to now and building la Casa de Las Tres Gracias with Mykell and Siggy in Antigua, Guatemala, I have lived with and through “Appreciative Inquiry” without knowing its name. I just knew life was an adventure well worth living.
As a social worker starting the first teen home for "juvenile delinquents" in Montana, to teaching on the Crow Indian Reservation, to being the superintendent of two public schools districts in the United States, to extensive work in international schools including serving for 9 years as the Director of Colegio Maya, the American International School of Guatemala, I have believed in the importance of dialogue, respect, active caring and positive change.
Now, having officially retired, I am evolving more freely and joyfully than ever and this Empowerment Unlimited venture is an affirmation of that positive evolution. Inez Rovengo introduced me to qualitative research during my doctoral work at the University of Alabama, knowing I already knew the power of story. From there to discovering change futurists like Peter Senge, Margaret Wheatley and David Cooperrider and his work with Appreciative Inquiry and now Appreciative Leadership, I also found Jeff, Maribel, Todd and Mary Jo at Colegio Maya in Guatemala City and we, with many others there, started applying the principles more conscientiously in our work at Maya and far beyond. Today I am involved in its application in many venues and am especially excited about working with the movement, Seres. One of our dreams is to build a demonstration center here in Guatemala that nurtures transformative leadership, especially with youth, and provides space for demonstrations of appropriate technology, farming and community building that are what the world so needs to get its hands on and hearts around.
I know we all have gifts and I know one of mine is energy. I know I am looking forward to using some of this energy to share some of what I know, am excited about, and believe in with others—others who want to explore change, to find their own center and power and to work together, even if apart, to bring more health, peace and satisfaction to themselves, their schools, their workplaces and the world.
As I love to say, “ever onward!” (softened by the words of my son, Carl, reminding me of the balance: “oh mom, just chill!”)
Oh yes, the photo was taken by my daughter, Maja, at Christmas time this year in Sri Lanka in the Mediaeval Capital City of Polonnaruwa.
As a social worker starting the first teen home for "juvenile delinquents" in Montana, to teaching on the Crow Indian Reservation, to being the superintendent of two public schools districts in the United States, to extensive work in international schools including serving for 9 years as the Director of Colegio Maya, the American International School of Guatemala, I have believed in the importance of dialogue, respect, active caring and positive change.
Now, having officially retired, I am evolving more freely and joyfully than ever and this Empowerment Unlimited venture is an affirmation of that positive evolution. Inez Rovengo introduced me to qualitative research during my doctoral work at the University of Alabama, knowing I already knew the power of story. From there to discovering change futurists like Peter Senge, Margaret Wheatley and David Cooperrider and his work with Appreciative Inquiry and now Appreciative Leadership, I also found Jeff, Maribel, Todd and Mary Jo at Colegio Maya in Guatemala City and we, with many others there, started applying the principles more conscientiously in our work at Maya and far beyond. Today I am involved in its application in many venues and am especially excited about working with the movement, Seres. One of our dreams is to build a demonstration center here in Guatemala that nurtures transformative leadership, especially with youth, and provides space for demonstrations of appropriate technology, farming and community building that are what the world so needs to get its hands on and hearts around.
I know we all have gifts and I know one of mine is energy. I know I am looking forward to using some of this energy to share some of what I know, am excited about, and believe in with others—others who want to explore change, to find their own center and power and to work together, even if apart, to bring more health, peace and satisfaction to themselves, their schools, their workplaces and the world.
As I love to say, “ever onward!” (softened by the words of my son, Carl, reminding me of the balance: “oh mom, just chill!”)
Oh yes, the photo was taken by my daughter, Maja, at Christmas time this year in Sri Lanka in the Mediaeval Capital City of Polonnaruwa.
