From Mixed to Shared

The city of Haifa is auditioning for a starring role in one of Dr. Standerfer's upcoming classes on framing and the power of language to create and reinforce mindsets.  Like many cities in Israel, Haifa's population is a mix of Arabs and Jews.  In some cities the mix is more successful than others, meaning that the two populations work and play well together.  Haifa is considered to be one of the best examples of a mixed city.

Mixing isn't enough though.  And Haifa isn't enough.  Yesterday Amny and I took the train to Haifa to attend a conference entitled: From Mixed to Shared.  The purpose of the conference was to challenge participants to brainstorm strategies for moving from a city where the inhabitants tolerate one another's diversity to appreciating that diversity to eventually capitalizing on the strength provided by diversity.  Appropriately, there were people from all over the globe at this conference.

This is me with my favorite piece of technology ever.  A translator.  I'd almost forgotten what it's like to understand the words other people are speaking.

And a couple of pictures from the Baha'i Shrine and Gardens just to add a little more diversity to the day.

A few hours in Haifa wasn't nearly enough.  I'll be going back just to explore the city before I leave Israel.