Why “Constellations”
By Siri Ming
We have many reasons for choosing the name, "Constellations" for our practitioner lab as well as our larger community of practice and training space. First and foremost, through the connections we hope to foster here, the possibilities in our science and practice are as exponential as the constellations. And what better metaphor for a community exploring language than a "constellation"—something that is an abstract, arbitrary pattern in the sky that we have imbued with meaning and stories that shift depending on context and culture? We are continually adding to our collective story as we practice and learn from and with one another.
There is another, more personal reason we chose this name, though. Many years ago, I had the very good fortune to work at STARS school, where Dr. Mary Ann Powers mentored us and a whole generational cohort of behavior analysts—including Constellations co-founders Julia Fiebig and Becky Watson. Mary Ann was truly a gravitational force that drew people together, much as we hope Constellations will draw our members in as well.
Mary Ann talked to us about how we were with her, "counted on Skinner's hand" (she would demonstrate the degrees of separation with her fingers)—Skinner, then her mentor Nate Azrin, then Mary Ann, then us—but more importantly, then whoever we went on to mentor. Whatever our academic lineages (and we all had impressive academic lineages of our own), we all counted ourselves with Mary Ann. She showed us that behavior analysis was a dynamic, living and growing field, and that it was important to keep expanding and pushing against the edges of what we knew how to do, maintaining our intellectual rigor while holding on to deep kindness and compassion for the people we work with. She knew that there was plenty of space for everyone to make a contribution. Mary Ann was our North Star but she never overshadowed anyone else's light—she held it up for all to see. She knew, and showed us, that our own work is made more meaningful by being able to see it in its full context, with all its connections. While we have all gone off to do other things, we try to reunite when we can, as Mary Ann's "constellations"—her stars, in new contexts, creating new meaning in our work.
It is in her spirit that we have called this community "Constellations"—a place to hold each others' lights high.
Mary Ann and some of her “constellations”—including Siri, Becky & Julia.
