Asking Powerful Questions

While answers tend to bring us to closure, questions open up to exploration. Inviting Staten Island stakeholders into a conversation that matters about the well-being of people with developmental disabilities, the Geraldo Rivera Leadership Cohort wanted to be sure that first overall question— was one that embodied the purpose of the meeting and invited participants into inquiring together. Our Calling Question, "What brings you here today? Why is it so important for us to come together to have a conversation about people with developmental disabilities on Staten Island?" compelled many insightful responses from participants within the conversation.

"If I had an hour to solve a problem and my life depended on it, I would use the first 55 minutes to formulate the right question." -Albert Einstein

Our second question invited us to consider the possibilities, "What is possible? What opportunities are emerging that can create vital change for people with developmental disabilities on Staten Island? What is getting in the way?" The question was simple, clear and focused on both inviting and challenging us as stakeholders to reflect at a deeper level—to find the knowledge or wisdom that was already there beneath the surface.