Interview with Mark McGivern

16 Jun Interview with Mark McGivern

1. Mark, thanks for facilitating our recent Society’s first virtual AGM/Conference. You have had much experience working with online groups. Could you say something more about this?

Mark McGivern

You’re welcome. I think the AGM was a great event for the society. As a national organization in a very wide geographical and regional country like Canada it was wonderful to have people in the same ‘room’ together interacting and sharing and sensing the human presence of the other. The use of the Internet is a question of concern for many anthroposophists, and that includes me. It requires that we be very awake to its influences. I especially think this is good for people in smaller communities where there is little anthroposophical activity. People in larger urban centres have it good in a way and can look forward to attending regular events. People in smaller communities don’t have that advantage. Internet gatherings can also meet the needs of people who cannot afford to travel or don’t have the physical capacity. When voting on resolutions at AGM’s I believe we need to have a more democratic representation of the whole society present. Online gatherings can facilitate that and give space for a more diverse array of voices and concerns. I think concerns like cost, health and environmental footprint can help us guide us to a comfortable balance between online gatherings and in-person events.

2. Is there anything else you are interested in offering anthroposophical communities in Canada?

I recently launched a freelance editorial service (markmcgivernediting.com) and my goal is to offer this service to the anthroposophical community. I currently edit the mid and final reports of the Waldorf Academy in Toronto. I want to offer that service to more schools, as well as editing services for other publications from schools and groups in Canada.

I also recently started an educational service with Barbarah Nicoll called Ubuntu Learning. Our goal is to learn together through three modalities: connection, conversation and collaboration. We will offer online courses, study groups and conversations with the intention of working with content through sharing how the content is affecting us.

3. Mark, could you say a little more about your background?

I have been an anthroposophist for about 35 years and was a Waldorf class teacher for 6 years. I trained at the Rudolf Steiner Center in Toronto in 2001/2. I am a writer and musician as well.

Thanks for your time, Mark!

Susan Koppersmith