Words of Groupwork

The Global Group Work Project convened 10 Action Research Workshops from 2005-2008, in a wide range of venues, including 5 in the US, 1 in South Africa, 1 in Germany, 1 in Italy, 1 in England, and 1 at the United Nations.  Almost all Workshops began with participants sharing a word or phrase that captured their feeling or thought about Groupwork, in their own language.  Here they are in a Groupwork Poem:

 Groupwork!  What it Means to Me

• Gruppen sind wie “et Leben” (groups are like life)
• We all are part of many groups including the world family.
• Groups are as much about the political as they are about the social and the personal.
• A group is a most important social unit. We all live in groups (originally written in Hebrew).
• Gruppen sind mehr als die summe ihren Mitglieden.
• Groups are fun!
• Mutual aid
• Good groups run on clear purposes: When we are together we are more than when we are apart.
• Group can oppress as well as liberate
• Define purpose.
• What happens inside (members) and outside (community)
• Group: the building blocks of community, the crock pot for social development.
• Groups offer individuals and communities to grow, communicate, collaborate and heal. They are an effective vehicle for many human endeavors.
• Mehr als 2 sind ein grouppe.
• Promotes inter-dependence.
• Wenn eine alleine traumt ist esnus ein Traum ;wenn viele gemeinsam traumen ist das der begin einer neuen Wirklichkeit.
• Les groupes peuvent changes le monde.
• Groups are exciting, self-challenging and fulfilling.
• Groups are what is done in communities- the best way to do social work.
• Strengthens community/ mutual caring/ shared responsibility.
• Connections
• Groups are a ”natural” form for human rights.
• Groups create more impact on people’s life.
• Groups remind us that without others we are dead.
• Ability to use experiences of oppression to strengthen professional identity.
• A group I had originally formed was replicated and improved by my colleague and I’ve had a chance to see it grow!
• The Munich surprise!
• The fascination of change from a ‘me – position’ into ‘us-feeling’.
• Class experience where ‘in action’ students’ experience of ‘intervention’ of behaviors for 1^st time – one of those ‘wow’ moments!
• NJ is hosting the 29^th symposium!
• Increasing interest in diversity in rural Minnesota tasks groups.
• The readiness of members to show their emotions.
• The possibility of the personal becoming political!
• Kids building strengths finding their voice reclaiming relationship & families.
• Students in a masters’ group work course not only discovered the joy of learning social group work principles, but also renewed their awareness of & commitment to social work by seeing the group work principles within that broader context.          
• A ‘new’ group forming out of an ‘old’ one.
• Witnessing ‘sparkling moments’…”ah-ha” – movement in the change circle within an individual & group members / process.
• Diversity of point of views.
• Attended IFSW in Munich!
• Belonging to a global family and experiencing the feeling and the spirit of group work.
• Belonging to a community of passionate, committed and politically concerned individuals across international borders & traditions
• Integration / gruppe; Laubor marked/arbejds markedet  
• Samuinna       (?Sign’fur H. Ingo’hsdoth:I?)
• Release (In Hebrew: Group therapy – Relief)         
• Mutual help                
• Inclusion        
• Support
• Loyaal zỹn     
• Powerful          
• Partnership/Imeitheal           
• Parent groups           
• TZI      
• Fun     
• Sharing
• Possibility
• Love
• Humanism
• Invigorating
• The power of the group
• Strengths perspectives
• Universal       
• Mutual            
• Empowering
• Normalizing   
• Mutual            
• Ujama/Brotherhood      
• Synergy         
• Unity   
• Celebration   
• Empowering     
• Community       
• Process – Tahalich              
• Life                 
• Strength         
• Colorful          
• Energizing     
• Exhilarating   
• Healing
• Motivating
• Anticipation
• Sharing
• Mutual Aid
• Tool
• Efficient
• Messy
• Austenite
• Empowering
• Collaboration
• Love
• Sharing
• Make things happen
• Ambivalent
• Excited
• Essential/vital
• Under utilized
• Challenging/stimulating
• Energizing
• Sharing
• Support
• Interaction
• Complex
• Mutuality
• Peoples’
• Together
• Meitheal (Irish)
• Collective
• Empowering
• Fun
• Peers
• Challenging
• Partnership
• Learning
• Community
• Teamwork
• Responsive
• Synergy
• Sharing & Fun
• Innovation
• Dinamika
• Together
• Like minds
• Group Cohesion
• Lets HITCH-fun
• Synergy
• Two
• Discovery journey

Please contribute your word or phrase —  and help build this groupwork poem.  Also, please share why you chose this word or phrase!

Thanks from the Global Group Work Partners