The Uplift Pattern Language

Uplift patterns relates to a pattern language for uplift, a way of supporting positive discourse for humanitarian uplift. By focusing on the positive form of discourse, we are creating unknowledge which in turn shapes our discoveries. Combining patterns in novel ways allows us to create Uplift tapestries, weaving together what we know is uplifting with the voids in which these uplift patterns have not been applied. In the same way that the periodic table of the elements gave us a framework for discovering new properties of the elements, the uplift tapestry gives us a framework for discovering new patterns of uplift. Uplift patterns may be specialized to specific domains of discourse, for example HIV/AIDS orphans.

Womens Empowerment: This pattern uplifts of woman, family, community, or village by teaching women to read, do arithmentic, and start a credit union with their own savings. From this activities, women are empowered to continue their self-development, and teach other women how to do the same.
Solar Cooking: This pattern describes the creation of solar cookers to assist those in less developed countries cook their food with less dependence of firewood.
Positive Core Values: Connecting people and organizations according to their positive core values requires an approach which is able to pierce through a cynical shell which often obscures the positive core underneath. Through the use of Appreciative Inquiry, Positive Psychology, Postive Deviancy, storytelling, and many other techniques, we will create an ever-expanding web of interaction which replicates successful, uplifting ideas and actions.
Appreciative Inquiry: Appreciative Inquiry is about the coevolutionary search for the best in people, their organizations, and the relevant world around them. In its broadest focus, it involves systematic discovery of what gives 'life' to a living system when it is most alive, most effective, and most constructively capable in economic, ecological, and human terms. AI involves, in a central way, the art and practice of asking questions that strengthen a system's capacity to apprehend, anticipate, and heighten positive potential. It centrally involves the mobilization of inquiry through the crafting of the "unconditional positive question" often-involving hundreds or sometimes thousands of people. In AI the arduous task of intervention gives way to the speed of imagination and innovation; instead of negation, criticism, and spiraling diagnosis, there is discovery, dream, and design. AI seeks, fundamentally, to build a constructive union between a whole people and the massive entirety of what people talk about as past and present capacities: achievements, assets, unexplored potentials, innovations, strengths, elevated thoughts, opportunities, benchmarks, high point moments, lived values, traditions, strategic competencies, stories, expressions of wisdom, insights into the deeper corporate spirit or soul-- and visions of valued and possible futures. Taking all of these together as a gestalt, AI deliberately, in everything it does, seeks to work from accounts of this "positive change core" -- and it assumes that every living system has many untapped and rich and inspiring accounts of the positive. Link the energy of this core directly to any change agenda and changes never thought possible are suddenly and democratically mobilized.
Uplift Hotline: This pattern establishes a dial-in telephone hotline which people may call to talk to people on the other side of political, religous, or culture divides. It provides an opportunity for people to connect at their positive core values in a safe manner. Ideas and stories which emerge from the hotline relationships can be used to further detect and replicate uplift patterns.
Imagine Community: Patterned after Imagine Chicago, and internationally via Imagine Nepal.

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