Center for Applied Appreciative Inquiry (CAAI)

The Center for Applied Appreciative Inquiry (CAAI) at Rutgers University-Newark School of Public Affairs and Administration assists community organizations and groups with strategic planning, reorganization, and community engagement initiatives toward facilitating positive change. Through the use of positively constructed questions and a structured dialogue process, Appreciative Inquiry (Ai) seeks to discover the conditions, factors, and strengths that contribute to success and how they can be replicated to create new possibilities for greater future success. The center has provided technical assistance to colleges and universities, nonprofit and public sector organizations.

The center facilitates customized Ai summits for:

Organizational strategic planning
Organizational culture change
Redesign/reorganization of structures, systems, and processes
Mergers, consolidations and shared services
Community engagement and visioning
Creative solutions to public policy issues

In addition to customized organizational programs for:

'Appreciative' Leadership and Team Development
Development of Positive Communications

Certificate Program
The non-credit Certificate in Appreciative Inquiry for Strengths-based Leadership and Innovation in the Public and Nonprofit Sectors provides students with an opportunity to learn how to apply Appreciative Inquiry (Ai) and the SOAR methodology (Strengths, Opportunities, Aspirations, and Results) for positive organizational change and innovation and strategic planning. Through coursework and fieldwork, student apply what they learn by designing an Appreciative Inquiry-based project unique to their organization or community.

Contact Information
James Davy, PhD
Distinguished Practitioner in Residence
School of Public Affairs and Administration (SPAA)
Rutgers University–Newark
jdavy@newark.rutgers.edu
732-754-8969

CAAI Projects

Essex County College
Using Appreciative Inquiry, CAAI assisted the President and Board in 1) reaffirming the college’s Mission, Vision, and Values statements and 2) develop a strategy for addressing its accreditation issues.
Newark Arts
CAAI assisted in designing Newark Creates community listening convening’s using Appreciative Inquiry.
Rutgers University–Newark's Office of Communications
CAAI conducted a multi-day strategic communications summit involving all communications professions working at Rutgers Newark. The topic of the summit was: RU-N: Renowned Worldwide for Publicly Engaged Scholarship
Newark Fairmount Promise Neighborhood Community Engagement/Strategic Plan
CAAI was commissioned by Rutgers University Newark Community Partnerships, the Urban League of Essex County, and the YMCA of Essex and West Essex to facilitate a process of strengths-based community engagement in developing a strategic plan for the Fairmount Neighborhood Promise Neighborhood.
Newark Fairmount Promise Neighborhood – Community Advocates Workshop
CAAI trained a cadre of community advocates in the utilization of strength-based dialogue with local residents in solving problems and issues.
Newark Fairmount Promise Neighborhood – Parent/School Relationship Workshop
Using Appreciative Inquiry, CAAI coached community advocates in conducting a workshop for parents and teachers in collaborative communication.

The College of New Jersey
CAAI conducted two one-day summits with the personnel of a key department to strengthen teamwork. The topics of the two summits were "We Centric Teamwork: Pulling Together for the Good of the Whole" and "Harmony Realized."
National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER)
CAAI designed and facilitated a collaborative stakeholder SOAR process for the development of its five-year strategic plan.
New York City Administration for Children
As part of the City’s initiative to develop family enrichment centers in Highbridge and Hunts Point in the Bronx and East New York, Brooklyn, CAAI conducted a comprehensive Appreciative Inquiry for Community Engagement training for all new staff of the centers.
Middlesex County College
After assisting the college develop its 2015-2018 strategic plan, CAAI return to facilitate a college-wide collaborative process for the 2019-2022 strategic plan. CAAI designed and facilitated a SOAR process for the college (Strengths, Opportunities, Aspirations, Results).
Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Center (BSRC)
BSRC, the oldest poverty agency in America, commissioned CAAI to assist in developing and facilitating strengths-based organizational culture change.
Atlantic City Free Public Library (ACFPL) Staff Development Workshop
ACFPL engaged CAAI to conduct a one-day professional development workshop for all staff in the principles and practices of Appreciative Inquiry.
East Stroudsburg University- Enrollment Management Services
CAAI assisted the Office of Enrollment Management Services of East Stroudsburg University address and resolve operational problems using whole system, strengths-based dialogue.
Jersey City Employment and Training Program (JCETP) Strategic Plan
JCETP commissioned CAAI to lead and facilitate a community wide strategic planning process using Appreciative Inquiry and the SOAR methodology.
Pennington Borough Free Public Library Strategic Plan
CAAI designed and facilitated a community-wide strategic planning process for the municipal library.
Essex County College (ECC) Strategic Plan
ECC engaged CAAI to design and facilitate whole system strategic planning process using Appreciative Inquiry and the SOAR methodology.
Middlesex County College (MCC) Strategic Plan
MCC commissioned CAAI to design and facilitate whole system strategic planning process using Appreciative Inquiry and the SOAR methodology.
College of St. Elizabeth (CSE) Board Retreat
Using Appreciative Inquiry, CAAI facilitated a Board of Trustees retreat to reaffirm the college’s mission.
College of St. Elizabeth (CSE) Strategic Plan
CSE commissioned CAAI to design and facilitate whole system strategic planning process using Appreciative Inquiry and the SOAR methodology.
Touro College Enrollment Services – Professional Development Workshop
CAAI conducted an all staff professional development workshop in enhanced communications and engagement using Appreciative Inquiry.
YMCA of Montclair Strategic Plan
CAAI designed and facilitated a strengths-based, community-wide strategic planning process for the YMCA of Montclair.
Trenton Public Schools Community Summit
Working in partnership with Educational Testing Service (ETS) and using Appreciative Inquiry, CAAI designed and facilitated a community summit to address long-standing labor/management problems within the district.
Trenton Public Schools Community Engagement SOAR Forums
The Trenton Public Schools commissioned CAAI to design and facilitate SOAR forums for local residents in each of the four wards of Trenton.
Trenton Public School Central Office Customer Services Summit
CAAI designed and facilitated a one-day improving customer service 130-person summit for all staff of the Trenton Public Schools central office and school principals.
Villages In Partnership Board Retreat
CAAI facilitated an executive board retreat for a foundation (VIP) that provides support services and clean water for the villages of Malawi, Africa.
Hudson County Chamber of Commerce Board Strategic Planning
CAAI facilitated a strategic thinking retreat of the Board of Trustees in examining its mission and developing short-term goals over a three-year horizon.
St. Francis Hospital PACE – Staff Development Workshop
St. Francis PACE, an all-inclusive program of care for the elderly, commissioned CAAI to conduct a one-day professional development workshop for improved performance and services.
Jersey City Office of the Deputy Mayor – New Job Readiness/Training Model
The Office of the Deputy Mayor of the City of Jersey City engaged CAAI to facilitate whole system dialogue in developing a new job readiness-training model for unemployed mothers.
The College of New Jersey Office of Human Resources – Professional Development and Organizational Assessment
CAAI was commissioned to conduct a professional development workshop in strengths-based practices for organizational improvement and to conduct an organizational assessment to address key personnel issues.

Center for Applied Appreciative Inquiry (CAAI)

CAAI Projects

Newark, New Jersey

Around New Jersey