Awakening Creative Collective Capacities with Emergent Learning

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As the newest member of the team, I had the privilege of attending the Brilliant Star annual meeting, which I found truly inspirational. I deeply appreciated learning about the evolution of Brilliant Star over the last 50 years and how it isn’t just a resource but a dynamic and meaningful companion that nurtures a love of knowledge, satisfies children’s natural curiosity, and contributes to the spiritual empowerment of children, families, and the wider community. One of my most significant moments was realizing that the Brilliant Star magazine is, at its heart, a love letter to children.
 

 

What I appreciated most was the chance to experience Brilliant Star through the unique perspectives, talents, and experiences of each team member. The meeting was held in the home of our Editor-in-Chief, Amethel Parel-Sewell, who, with her family, created a warm, loving environment that felt like a spiritual refuge.
 

Every morning began with prayer as we took turns providing heartfelt devotions. These moments set the tone for everything that followed. The devotional spirit instilled feelings of gratitude and connection. Each person brought their own perspective. Some shared personal stories. Others read prayers and inspiring passages. This created a rhythm of authenticity and care.

My role involves connecting the community to the magazine and website in innovative, meaningful ways. I do not contribute to producing the magazine in the same way others do. However, it is essential that I understand how each person envisions and shapes it. By internalizing the magazine as a unified whole, I can better serve educators and strengthen the relationship between Brilliant Star and the communities it serves.
 

I was in awe of the depth of insight, knowledge, and beauty shared during team presentations. The amount of information was almost overwhelming—in the best way. My main challenge was applying each presentation to my specific responsibilities. At times, it felt like assembling a puzzle without the final image as a guide. Fortunately, I enjoy solving complex problems. Key topics included Brilliant Star and advancing the Nine-Year Plan; integrating cognitive learning theory and milestones for children ages 8-12; and supporting math education by highlighting the harmony of science and religion. Other presentations explored anatomy for drawing, typography, challenges in creating comics, and a review of past issues, which encouraged reflection on learning and content development.
 

 

Earlier this year, Brilliant Star conducted a teacher survey. The results were shared for team reflection on supporting teachers and families, along with a presentation on aligning Brilliant Star content with the Ruhi curriculum and developing interactive features such as quizzes, puzzles, and group activities.
 

While listening to Dr. Steve Scotti, Brilliant Star’s STEAMS Education Advisor’s presentation on STEAMS education (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics, and Spirituality), I realized what I was experiencing. Dr. Scotti described how emergent learning occurs when a group of individuals working together develops insights, solutions, or understanding that would not likely arise from any one person working alone. Through shared experiences, consultation, and collaboration, a dynamic interaction arising from collective intelligence enables the team to generate new knowledge and creative solutions, strengthening a humble posture of learning within each team member and cultivating a collective capacity founded in unity and collaboration.
 

Juliet Monireh Bogan, the new writer of Brilliant Star’s Lightning & Luna comic, presented ideas for the future adventures of our favorite sibling superhero team as they navigate the forces of disintegration and their effects on relationships. Learning that Juliet appeared in the magazine as a Radiant Star at age nine was additionally exciting. She brings a dynamic vision and passion for addressing real-life challenges in the comic.

I was invited to share three presentations: 1) highlights from my Brilliant Star Adventures during the first weeks on the team, 2) Anello and Hernandez’s Transformative Leadership conceptual framework for transformation, and 3) an art activity utilizing the healing art modality of Zentangle, an easy-to-learn, relaxing, and fun way to create beautiful images by drawing structured patterns.

In our Zentangle workshop, we explored a simple but powerful idea: how the three protagonists—the individual, the community, and the institutions—work together to bring about visible transformation. Each team member created a design on a triangle tile, expressing themes of growth, community, and support, centered on unifying spiritual elements. At the end, each team member added their chosen color to their protagonist’s flower.

The finished flower tiles became more than artwork. They symbolized a shared commitment to empowering and inspiring all three protagonists in their vibrant community-building efforts. I also realized that within the Brilliant Star team, the three protagonists are not abstract ideas. They are lived realities. And together, we create a culture where creativity becomes service to humanity, resulting in a beautiful Brilliant Star garden.
 

 

I was recently asked why it was so important to meet with the team in person. First, as a new team member, it was vital to meet everyone and forge friendships. Second, meeting in person lets each of us engage dynamically with knowledge and share collective experience.

We also studied guidance from the Universal House of Justice and the National Spiritual Assembly. This cultivated a vibrant spirit of collaboration tied to our learning process: study, reflect, consult, and act. Third, the spirit of creative cooperation was nurtured through formal and informal moments—during meals, walks, or side conversations.
 

 

Before my flight home, I had the pleasure of walking along the San Diego Bay. As I walked along the harbor and reflected on the week’s experience, I felt catalyzed with creativity. Everything I saw had deeper meaning, palm trees became serried lines, and ship rigging became lines of action. My time by the water filled my heart, mind, and soul with joy.

I feel humbled and honored to be part of a team dedicated to serving our most treasured community members—children—and their families around the world. Each team member embodies prayer in action. This is shown through creative vision, thoughtful collaboration, and inspired service. The opportunity to serve as a member of Brilliant Star feels not only like an answer to prayer, but also like a calling—something I was born to do.

Updated on 5.04.26