Creative Problem Solving Institute 2025

A sense of belonging is powerful and critical to us as humans. During this session, we will tap into the power of creative problem solving to explore how we can collectively unlock Belonging.

- You Will Unpack What Belonging Means to You
- You Will Have Opportunity to Identify Ways to Increase Belonging
- You will Foster New Creative Connections

These days its a stretch to take a pause; usually a photo is a quick “snap” of the moment. In this workshop, we will learn how current practitioners of contemplative photography blend their taking of photos with photographic techniques that inspire pausing and reflecting. We will use our phones to practice a contemplative approach to taking photos and use reflection questions to deepen our Contemplative Photography experience.

How often do we have the chance to reflect on our lives? On what we have accomplished, what is important, and what may seem inconsequential. This workshop will give you the opportunity to pause for a few minutes and reconsider your journey so far. You'll be able to create a book using practical, seamless binding techniques (using only paper folds). This exercise will allow you to write, draw, and also bring printed photographs to include in your book. It provides you with the opportunity to share these moments in the workshop and later with others.

Dr. Kimberly Macuare

In this session, held at a local art museum (on or off campus), participants will engage in a series of hands-on contemplation activities designed to focus attention, deepen engagement, and enhance understanding. Using different modalities—writing, drawing, looking—you will explore how contemplative practices help build sustained attention skills and inspire inquiry and insight, revealing new ways of knowing. In addition to helping viewers develop deeper reflective practices around art viewing, participants will also consider how these activities could be used as part of their general facilitation toolbox.

Anthony Billoni

Most people are looking for an edge in their decision-making. We spend time clarifying the challenges in our workplace and in our lives, developing ideas, and then planning for action only to find ourselves stalled or back at square one just a bit frustrated. Wouldn’t it be great if there existed a resource that would yield more novel and useful ideas than you could have ever imagined? Creativity expert and arts professional Anthony Billoni developed and tested a process that combines using a setting filled with original art with CPS tools that will guide you toward this treasure trove of new and useful ideas. By the end of the session you will have experienced art like never before.