By now many of you have started your journey to Florida as we gather this week for the IACP Annual Forum in Orlando. What a fitting location for this year’s theme of Sharing the Collaborative Magic! I like to think of the IACP Annual Forum as the starting point for the new year ahead. Yes, we have a few months left until the calendar flips, but we all know the holiday fatigue that can set in come November and December, so why not utilize this time to ensure that your next year will be your most magical one yet?

The IACP Annual Forum brings the Collaborative spirit out in almost everyone I see in attendance, and I encourage you all to use this time to brainstorm ideas and ways to better share the magic of Collaborative with your community. As you go along your travels to Orlando, think about some of the failures and successes you have had this past year. Bring these questions and ideas to your colleagues. Find the answers you are seeking and implement them into your practice. 

Last week, My Collaborative Team concluded the first year of our Collaborative Introductory Learning Program. We ended the 10-month program talking about having an adequate Collaborative Toolbox and the resources professionals can and should be using in their peacemaking practices. The IACP Annual Forum is one of the top places you can find tools and resources for your Collaborative Toolbox, and I encourage everyone in attendance to add at least one new tool to their toolbox for the upcoming year.

With that in mind, My Collaborative Team is proud to announce that in 2023 we will be holding a 10-month Advance Training Series to help our members add to their toolbox every month. This series will be free for all My Collaborative Team members and come with CLE credit for all attendees. This is just one of the many reasons to add My Collaborative Team to your toolbox. I encourage those in attendance to stop by the My Collaborative Team booth and learn more about how we can be a valuable tool to add to your Collaborative Toolbox.  Also, don’t forget to purchase your IDEA T-Shirt. Proceeds from the shirt will go to Equality Florida and the IACP IDEA Committee. Multiple shirts can be added to an order, so order for your family and friends!