Bigger Conversation Inc

BIGGER CONVERSATION, INC. IS DEDICATED TO ADVANCING HEALING AND HOPEFUL DIALOGUE AND SERVICE IN SOCIETY. THE PURPOSE OF THIS DIALOGUE IS TO BUILD COMMUNITY, WITH AN EMPHASIS ON CONSCIOUS LIVING AND CONSCIOUS DYING. BIGGER CONVERSATION, INC ACCOMPLISHES THIS PURPOSE BY: 1. SPONSORING GATHERINGS, CLASSES, WORKSHOPS AND LECTURES, PRIMARILY IN AND AROUND COLUMBIA, MARYLAND; 2. INVITING AND INSPIRING PARTICIPATION OF ALL GENERATIONS IN THE CONVERSATION, TO PROMOTE COLLABORATION AND THE CREATION OF HEALING AND HOPEFUL DIALOGUE, AND TO KEEP THE OLD AND WISE CONVERSATIONS ALIVE AND EXPANDING; 3. INITIATING AND SUPPORTING THE EDUCATION OF PARTICIPATING INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS WITH EXPERIENTIAL, WRITTEN, VERBAL, VISUAL AND ON-LINE RESOURCES; 4. ENCOURAGING THE GROWTH OF LIFE-AFFIRMING COMMUNITY PROGRAMS. OUR WORK CURRENTLY IS FOCUSED ON THE AREAS OF: CARE FOR THE CAREGIVERS, CONSCIOUS AGING, DEATH AND DYING, AND HEALING PRACTICES.

CAREGIVER WELLNESS CIRCLES (CWC) CLASSES FOR FAMILY CAREGIVERS: CAREGIVER WELLNESS CIRCLES WERE CREATED BY BIGGER CONVERSATION IN 2012 TO FILL A GAP WE IDENTIFIED IN SUPPORT FOR FAMILY CAREGIVERS. THE NUMBER OF CAREGIVERS IN HOWARD COUNTY AND ACROSS THE NATION CONTINUES TO GROW (CURRENTLY ESTIMATED AT 56,000 IN HOWARD COUNTY ALONE), ALONG WITH THE CHALLENGES THEY FACE AS THEY ADJUST THEIR LIVES TO TEND LOVE ONES. CAREGIVER WELLNESS CIRCLES, A SIX-WEEK PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES HEALING SUPPORT FOR CAREGIVERS WITH AN EMPHASIS ON REDUCING STRESS AND PROMOTING WELLNESS. AT THE END OF SIX WEEKS, CAREGIVERS HAVE CREATED AN INDIVIDUAL SELF-CARE PLAN THAT ALLOWS CAREGIVERS TO SUSTAIN THEIR SELF CARE INTO THE FUTURE. WE CONDUCTED NO CAREGIVER WELLNESS CIRCLE IN HOWARD COUNTY IN 2018, BECAUSE THE COUNTY PROGRAM ON AGING BEGAN OFFERING A SIMILAR PROGRAM, IN PART BECAUSE OF THE SUCCESS OF OUR PROGRAM. GIVEN THE POSITIVE FEEDBACK AND EVALUATIONS FROM OUR CWCS, WE PLAN TO CONTINUE OFFERING THIS SUPPORT AND ALSO TO DEVELOP A MENTORING / TRAIN-THE-TRAINER PROGRAM TO TRAIN OTHERS TO OFFER CWCS ACROSS MARYLAND AND THE NATION TO EXPAND THIS VALUABLE SUPPORT TO FAMILY CAREGIVERS.

COMFORT TOUCH CLASSES: DURING 2018, BIGGER CONVERSATION CONDUCTED ONE 11-HOUR COMFORT TOUCH CLASSES, TRAINING HOSPICE VOLUNTEERS AND STAFF. COMFORT TOUCH, CREATED BY BIGGER CONVERSATION, IS A SIMPLE, HANDS-ON TECHNIQUE DESIGNED ESPECIALLY FOR HOSPICE PATIENTS, ELDERS AND OTHERS WHO WOULD BENEFIT FROM GENTLE AND COMPASSIONATE TOUCH. THESE CLASSES WERE SUSPENDED FOR THE PANDEMIC AND WE HOPE TO RESUME THEM IN 2023.

WE HAVE CREATED A ROSTER OF CLASSES WE OFFER TO THE PUBLIC ON TOPICS OF CARING FOR CAREGIVERS, DEATH AND DYING AND CONSCIOUS LIVING. SOME OF THESE CLASSES ARE APPROVED FOR CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS FOR CERTAIN HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONS. THESE CLASSES WERE SUSPENDED FOR THE PANDEMIC AND WE HOPE TO RESUME THESE OFFERINGS IN 2023. REVENUE FOR 2021 WAS FROM CLASSES IN 2020 - PAYMENT BY PERSONS WAS DELAYED.