AI Practitioner, May 2025
“In the grand opera of life, acknowledgment is the standing ovation that fuels encore performances.”
~ Theodore Sinclair
AI Practitioner journal has always been important to us, as a tool for exploring how people are using appreciative inquiry in practice, and as a means to inspire our own work. We’re very pleased to share with you some free articles from the latest issue, which is themed ‘offshoots and innovations of Appreciative Inquiry (AI) emerging around the world’.
‘Offshoot’ or ‘innovation’ refers to strengths-based approaches that align with – and go beyond the core AI principles and practices – and touch almost every aspect of human interaction.
One of appreciative inquiry’s strengths is that David Cooperrider and other early AI thought leaders were committed to keeping AI open source and available to all, so we are particularly delighted to have been invited by the editor, Shelagh Aitkin, to freely share these articles and to invite you to further explore the full edition of the journal here.
You can also download these individual articles, which show the breadth and richness of this issue.
1. Introduction to Appreciative Inquiry Offshoots and Innovations
Sallie Lee, Ada Jo Mann and Jennie Hetzel Silbert
Editors Sallie Lee, Ada Jo Mann and Jennie Hetzel Silbert wanted to shine a light on some of the inspiring strength-based work around the globe. This rich edition includes examples in these seven themes: planet/ worldview; community; education; health and wellness; organisational excellence; individual learning and reflection and generative conversations.
“We believe there are people doing spectacular AI work around the world, many of whom others may not have heard about or be connected to. We dedicate this AI Practitioner issue to shining a light on some of these offshoots and innovations. Our hope is that this issue will plant the seeds for more offshoots.”
You can read the editors’ introduction to the issue in our free-to-download resources section
Read Introduction to Appreciative Inquiry Offshoots and Innovations here.
2. In Memoriam, Anne Radford
David L. Cooperrider
This issue also includes a tribute to Anne Radford, who was one of the people who really inspired and supported our journey in the early years. She founded AI Practitioner in 1998, so has long been a guiding star in the global community. It’s been powerful to celebrate many of her achievements, and her personal dedication to the appreciative path – she will be greatly missed.
“In 1998, Anne planted a seed: the AI Practitioner. What began as a humble newsletter blossomed into an international journal of theory, practice and inspiration – now with something over 1,200 published articles.”
Read In Memoriam, Anne Radford here.
3. Nourish to Flourish – Applying Appreciative Inquiry to our own Climate Action
Shaun McInerney, introduced by Keith Storace
We first worked with Shaun McInerney, who we met when we worked with him at The Studio School in Liverpool. We worked together on two journals to support gratitude and resilience in students – How to Be More Awesome and the Awesome Journal.
Read Nourish to Flourish – Applying Appreciative Inquiry to our own Climate Action here.
4. We’ve also shared our own story about our appreciative inquiry journey with our NHS colleagues Kayleigh Barnett, Katy Fisher and Daniel Hodgkiss. You can read more about this here..
#AppreciativeInquiry #AppreciatingHealth&Care #Governance #LearningfromExcellence #newbook #PSIRF #NHS
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