As a disruptive force in the education space, Patti Dobrowolski performs magic with both kids and adults. Patti works with the power of inner and outer visuals to help individuals, teams, and organizations around the world focus to achieve their dreams. She talks about her process, based on neuroscience and imagination, to help students (and all of us!) reach our desired reality. This empowering approach to life is important for our teens’ overall well-being and mental health as we begin inviting imagination into classrooms.

In this episode, we’re talking about why it’s helpful to allow children the opportunity to truly think creatively and openly about their futures and how to unlock new possibilities for themselves. Patti weaves in each student’s personal strengths or “agilities,” as discerned in a simple and free assessment. She shares how pictures and illustrations can improve anxiety for any age and why inviting imagination into education is so important to our future.

After the interview, I make some important connections between Patti’s thought leadership and the evolution in education. We look at a few resources for creativity and social communication and I share with you some really actionable tips you can use immediately at home or in your classroom.

About Patti Dobrowolski

Patti Dobrowolski, author of 9 TIPS to UP YOUR CREATIVE GENIUS and DRAWING SOLUTIONS: How Visual Goal Setting Will Change Your Life, is founder of Up Your Creative Genius, a consulting firm that uses visuals and creative processes to help companies and individuals around the world accelerate growth and change. A critically acclaimed comic performer, internationally recognized keynote speaker, writer and business consultant, she has brought innovative visual practices to Fortune 500 companies, NGOs and small businesses. Her consulting career spans 25 years working to design, develop and facilitate workshops with all levels of organizations across multiple industries to help them more effectively manage changes they are facing.

Patti holds an MA in Psychology: Drama Therapy from the California Institute of Integral Studies. A multiple award winner, she is a three time TEDx speaker at “Draw Your Future,” “Imagination Changes Everything,” and Creative Genius: You.

Recent clients include: Microsoft Inc, Amazon, Starbucks Coffee Company, Pepsico, Samsung Innovation, FedEx, Turner Broadcasting, FritoLay North America, Hoffman LaRoche Inc., Lufthansa, Genentech, Intel, HP, Gilead Sciences, Providence Health Services, The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, USDA, Vistage, Guild Mortgage, Seattle Space Needle.

Jump Through the Conversation

• [2:25] How daydreaming helps you in life
• [3:37] What the draw your future process does for adolescents
• [4:17] Working with Kansas City students on designing their future and using the Agilities Work Profiler (AWP)
• [8:00] Limiting beliefs and how they impact our children today
• [9:17] How to start shifting limiting beliefs
• [12:01] Patti’s magic wand wish for our youth
• [14:30] Maureen’s take of Patti’s 3-step plan
• [15:44] How Patti’s focus on inviting imagination aligns with the work of Sir Ken Robinson

Links and Resources

• Patti Dobrowolski’s Up Your Creative Genius
• Patti Dowbrowolski’s Draw Your Future TedX Talk
• DeBruce Foundation free Agilities Work Profiler (AWP) to help adolescents discern their agilities/strengths
• Sir Ken Robinson’s Ted Talks about the importance of creativity in the schools
• Everett Improv/Britney Barber. In addition to improv classes, Britney and her team work with student groups to use improv tools to lower anxiety and navigate life.
• Michelle Garcia Winner of Social Thinking and the Socially Curious and Curiously Social guidebook, explains perspective taking
• Perspective taking sample activity and imagining others’ experience
• Writing from the character’s perspective
• Taking the opposing side on a debate
• Practicing a beginner’s mind perspective
• Sparking a sense of wonder
• Email Maureen
• Follow Education Evolution on Facebook
• Follow Education Evolution on Twitter
• Follow Education Evolution on LinkedIn
• Maureen’s book: Creating Micro-Schools for Colorful Mismatched Kids

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