Seeking advice: mixing youth & adults at OS + video

Tue Apr 3 10:38:22 PDT 2001

Hello all,

I sent the following message about youth-adult OS sessions to Susan
yesterday, but apparently I did not address it correctly to have it reach
the rest of you.  So, here it is again

I hope that you find it useful.

All the best,

Buzz

-----Original Message-----
From: Charles 'Buzz" Blick [mailto:buzz at nwlink.com]
Sent: Monday, April 02, 2001 9:36 AM
To: Susan Partnow
Subject: RE: Seeking advice: mixing youth & adults at OS + video

Hi Susan,

Several years ago I facilitated six, three-day, community-wide, youth-adult
open space events in the state of Idaho.  They ranged in attendance from
about 75 to over 200.  About an equal number of youth and young people
attended.  We found that the young people convened more sessions than the
adults, did the majority of the recording, typed up the majority of the
final reports and took responsibility for action on many of the final action
plans.  The results of those open space events are still being used for
grant applications and a variety of other community development projects
throughout the state.

Like you, I was concerned that the young people might feel intimidated or
overwhelmed by the adults.  We found that that was not the case.  Since
young people helped design the event, pick the theme statement, get others
there and set up the meeting spaces, they felt invested in the event.  They
were not about to be left out or run over by anyone.

At the start of the opening session, the involvement of everyone - young and
old - was recognized and applauded.  No other "special" rules were used.
>From the results, it seemed that none were needed.  I was very pleasantly
surprised by the active engagement of the young people and the mutual
respect shown by everyone for others.  I'm glad that they decided not to
have "youth only" sessions.  In retrospect, any rules of that sort seem not
only exclusionary but somewhat patronizing - saying that young people are
unable to stand up for themselves and that adults are chronically
age-biased.  Thankfully, neither proved to be the case.

As for the videotaping, we asked everyone to sign a release before the event
started.  We had a sign-in sheet that explained how and why the filming was
being done.  We took both digital pictures and some video.  No one objected
to the taping or picture-taking and all signed the release form.  I think
people might have been pleased that we valued the event and their
participation enough to keep a visual record.  The digital photos were very
useful later in constructing a visual "scrapbook" of the event, for use in
explaining what happened to people who were not there, as well as acting on
the action plans in the communities.  I have included a copy below of the
wording we used in our simple permission statement.  It may not be 100%
legally valid everywhere on the planet, but it did serve to reassure
people - as well let them know what we were doing and why.

Below is the text of the "multiple person" release form.

Susan, I hope that these comments have been helpful.

All the best on your wonderful adventure with this Open Space :)  Please
post some comments after, to let everyone know how it unfolds.

Cheers!

Buzz

Charles (Buzz) Blick
Buzz Blick - Consultation, Facilitation and Training
606 Laurel Drive
Everett, Washington USA
Phone: (425) 252-8279
Fax: (425) 252-7650
Email: buzz at nwlink.com
Website: www.buzzblick.com

Permission To Use Photos, Video Images, Voice Clips or Interviews

We are taking the opportunity to videotape this meeting.  We will be making
videotapes and recording some conversations of both large and small group
sessions.  We may also be asking some participants, on a random basis, to
voice their opinions about the meetings and give "before and after"
interviews of their reactions.

All of the camera work and sound recording will be using standard, easily
recognized video equipment.  We will be not be using any secret cameras,
hidden microphones or other non-obvious recording techniques.

We plan to edit this video and audio material into one or more short video
records of the event.  We hope that this video and audio record will help us
both evaluate the effectiveness of the meeting and explain the process we
used to other groups or individuals who may want to create similar events
for their organizations.

We will not be selling any of the edited recordings or presenting them in
any commercial form.

This video and auditory record will not in any way be used to evaluate or
critique the work performance of individuals attending this event.

We hope that you will see the potential value of this visual and audio
record, and will agree to sign and date the permission slip below.

Thank you very much for your help!

***********************************************************************

Date: ___/_____/_____  Location/Event:_________________________________

"I have read the information above and hereby give my permission to have my
voice and/or image recorded during this meeting."

*
*
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