David Shaw

I work in the area of Nature Mentoring and Educational Design with the 8 Shields Institute. I manage the Village and Village Talk programs, 8 Shields Rendezvous, Acorn Training, and research and development for Bachelors and Masters degree programs at the University of Vermont and in Norway.

Dave Shaw is a facilitator, host, and conversational leader, convening strategic gatherings of all shapes and sizes. He works primarily with educational and public-benefit organizations for building social and intellectual capital, project design, management, implementation and evaluation. In essence, he works with 'organizations as organisms' to make the processes of co-creation and co-evolution easy and graceful. His work with groups includes hosting The World Cafe and facilitating Open Space Technology events as ways to make our collective intelligence visible, discover creative breakthrough thinking, cultivate self-awareness, create strong interpersonal relationships and a deep sense of team work. Dave develops meetings, conferences and retreats using TWC, OST, and other methods in collaboration with non-profit and corporate clients.

Emphases: Assistant teaching, growing tree fruits, roses, peppers, garlic, leaf crops, specialty cut flowers, herbaceous perennials, and mushrooms. Facilitated community and domestic life amongst thirty-eight apprentices in residence. Served as an active member of the Social Justice Advocacy Committee.