Dr. Maria Liu Wong and Dr. Connie Watson led a conversation (in-person and via Skype) on Aug. 29th at City Seminary of New York with their distinguished guest, Dr. Rob Mark, from PASCAL Observatory, to discuss building the PASCAL Faith and Spirituality-based Learning City Network. At the gathering, there were representatives from City Seminary of New York, DePaul University, Drew University, Fairleigh Dickenson University, LearnLong Institute of Education and Learning Research, Modiin Municipality (Israel), PASCAL, Teachers College (Columbia University), and University of Glasgow. Maria and Connie have led two other conversations in the past year to gauge the interest level of scholars and practitioners passionate and committed to this work. Along with Dr. Leodis Scott, they are also PASCAL Associates and members of LearnLong Institute, an educational thinktank based in the U.S.A. that is working closely with PASCAL to support Learning City Scholarship and practice internationally and expand the discussion in the U.S.A.

After brief introductions, the group discussed the potential purpose, membership, and outcomes of the group. Key insights included:

•  Emphasizing inclusivity of the group to include multiple faith perspectives and experiences of spirituality, broadening the group to conversation and interest in moral and ethical growth and development for individuals and communities;

• Recognizing that sub-themes within the topic (and associations of participants with each) could provide for fertile and concrete collaborative research sharing and work including interfaith dialogue, health, community development, the arts, psychology, education, theology, social justice, multiculturalism, peace building, quality of life and sustainability;

• Seeing the opportunity to speak into other Learning City Networks by adding faith/spirituality-based perspectives;

• Providing space within the learning network meetings for exploration of key topics of interest as well as networking and bridge-building (and supporting doctoral students);

• Rotating participation through leadership, blog writing (1-2/year), and organizing international Skype or local gatherings.

Two other conversations on building this network will take place before year end. The first will be at the UNESCO Learning City Conference 2017 in Cork, Ireland (September 17, 2017, 8:15 PM - 9:30 PM, Venue TBC) and the second will be at the PASCAL Conference 2017 in Pretoria, South Africa (October 2017; Exact Time and Venue TBC). After these conversations have been held and summarized, Maria and Connie will send out a confirmed title, draft vision, agenda, and goals for the Faith and Spirituality Learning City Network.

Photos of the gathering and a later meeting at Teachers College, Columbia University are attached. The first photo features members of the group who were able to attend the gathering at City Seminary of New York in person: Dr. Leodis Scott (LearnLong Institute/ DePaul University), Dr. Maria Liu Wong (City Seminary of New York/LearnLong Institute), Dr. Connie Watson (LearnLong Institute/ Glow Consultants), Sarah van den Berg (Teachers College), Dr. Rob Mark (PASCAL), Dr. Genise Reid (consultant), Milly Aquije (City Seminary of New York), and Rev. Dr. Geomon George (City Seminary of New York).

The second photo features Dr. Rob Mark's visit (after the group gathering) to Teachers College, Columbia University, to meet with Dr. Victoria Marsick to discuss possible collaboration and a "learning cities" pre-conference session (November 6) at the 2018 International Transformative Learning Conference (November 7-10, 2018). Those at the meeting were Dr. Leodis Scott (LearnLong Institute/ DePaul University), Dr. Rob Mark (PASCAL), Dr. Connie Watson (LearnLong Institute/ Glow consultants), Dr. Eleanor Drago-Severson (Teachers College; who was stopping by), Dr. Maria Liu Wong (City Seminary of New York/LearnLong Institute), and Dr. Victoria Marsick (Teachers College).