Givens
Thomas Herrmann
thomas at openspaceconsulting.com
Sat Nov 20 12:30:07 PST 2004
Dear friends in Open Space
Thanks for bringing this issue up again!
I do talk with my sponsors about givens.
There are so many things to this but I will start off by describing the
overall process I use facilitating OS-meetings.
I use the basic design worked out by Birgitt Williams in working with OST.
In fact i always open space at least 3 times in such a process. Pre-meeting,
main meeting and follow-up meeting. For the pre-meeting I use
WholePersonProcessFacilitation facilitating the participants through some
easy models to get a picture of the past and present and the hopes for the
future (post-event). I let them formulate a theme, givens, how to follow up
afterwards and how to keep everyone informed later on. The post-OS-meeting
is usually facilitated using WPPF sometimes in combination with OST.
The thourough prework has several purposes one of them is to allow the
sponsor to make an informed choice of wheather he/she wants to use OST for
the meeting. In that meeting I explain that the hot issues must be allowed
space after the conference. I guess some leader would need a lifetime to
prepare to let go for this, so on occasions we decided not to use OST. Most
of the times the givens allow us to go on using OST anyway, which I am very
happy about.
On the first OS-meeting I experienced the sponsor closed the space by
saying: "Now the management team will look at the results and come back to
you all about how we will proceed." I could feel how people sunk together
after having been very empowered during the closing round. My interpretation
was that she was afraid and unclear of how she would be able to control the
work afterwards. During the whole event she refused to talk to the
facilitator! I know many people have been very disappointed from
participative processes where the space has been closed down afterwards.
Then, as usual there is a BIG HOW! HOW always makes a huge difference. The
work with givens can be fruitful but I also think it can be harmful if done
in a bad way.
I agree with those of you saying that the ultimate is to have no givens, but
I think there are not many leaders around in organizations that are willing
to open everything up. This may be because they have some information that
others don´t have and/or that they don´t trust the employees enough. I don´t
think Sweden is exceptional regarding this situation.
Someone wrote about that the meeting will result in recommendations, in that
case I agree we do not need givens. I mostly use Open Space aiming at action
right on.
Right now I am in the middle of preparing for an OS-meeting in a school, for
parents who all are obliged to support in some way, when putting their kids
there. It seems that one of the givens will be that the pedagogy is not open
for change by the parents initative.
I´ve been trying to write this email for a few days but I was too busy with
other things while more and more was written about the subject. Thanks all
for your sharing.
Kind regards
Thomas Herrmann Phone +46 (0)709-98 97 81
Open Space Consulting Fax +46 (0)300-713 89
Pensévägen 4
434 46 Kungsbacka, Sweden
Email: thomas at openspaceconsulting.com
www.openspaceconsulting.com
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>From Sat Nov 20 23:11:08 2004
Message-Id: <SAT.20.NOV.2004.231108.0200.>
Date: Sat, 20 Nov 2004 23:11:08 +0200
Reply-To: averbuch at post.tau.ac.il
To: OSLIST <OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU>
From: averbuch <averbuch at post.tau.ac.il>
Subject: Re: GOOD WORK FOR 2,000 COLOMBIAN STREET KIDS (long)
In-Reply-To: <005801c4c5f0$e6559d90$0b6691c6 at Traveler>
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Peggy,
this is SO beautiful. no words.
I had sent it to Avner and Hannah and Shosh and /// Shira, my daughter.
you are making a better world.
much love
Tova
Tova Averbuch =D7=98=D7=95=D7=91=D7=94 =
=D7=90=D7=95=D7=A8=D7=91=D7=95=D7=9A
34 Rabinovitz St. =D7=A8=D7=97=D7=95=D7=91 =
=D7=A8=D7=91=D7=99=D7=A0=D7=95=D7=91=D7=99=D7=A5 34 =20
Holon 58672 =D7=97=D7=95=D7=9C=D7=95=D7=9F=20
Israel =20
972-3-5523476=20
averbuch at post.tau.ac.il
-----Original Message-----
From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of Peggy =
S. Holman
Sent: Tuesday, November 09, 2004 2:13 AM
To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Subject: GOOD WORK FOR 2,000 COLOMBIAN STREET KIDS (long)
GOOD WORK FOR 2,000 COLOMBIAN STREET KIDS
=20
Where to begin to tell this story? I hope to channel two of my favorite =
story tellers, Harrison Owen and Chris Corrigan, who always seem to =
capture the vibrant aliveness of the event itself.
=20
THE SET-UP
I was already on my way to Bogota, Colombia, to teach a class at Los =
Andes University on Whole Systems Change. About five weeks before =
leaving, I received an e-mail from Andr=C3=A9s Agudelo , =
aagudelo at tandemadr.com, one of my contacts in Bogota:
=20
> Hi Peggy,
>
> Just a quick note to let you know some good news. I had a meeting with =
an
> italian priest, Javier de Nicolo who has worked in the
> streets of Bogota helping kids who are abandoned by their families, =
and get
> into drugs and prostitution (or the guerrilla) to survive. What he has =
been
> doing is training them in different skills, and he gets them jobs, or =
makes
> team of youngsters to pave the streets of the city, financed by the =
mayors
> office and some private funds. He agreed to make an OST in order to =
motivate
> the kids: they start working with energy, and then fade out.
> What do you think? Would it be interesting for you when you come next
> october?
>
> Best regards,
> Andr=C3=A9s Agudelo
=20
Of course I said yes. The next message, two weeks before the event, =
added one interesting and challenging wrinkle =E2=80=93 this Open Space =
would be for 2,000 people:
=20
> Hi Peggy,
>
> The priest would like to do an OS for two thousand of the =
kids/adolescents,
> including three hundred of the people who work with them, if possible =
oct
> 31st and Nov. 1st. Would this be fine for you?
>=20
> When would be a good time to talk by phone?
>
> Ciao,
> Andr=C3=A9s
I remember thinking, =E2=80=9C2,000 people? Is that for real? =
I=E2=80=99m sure when we dig into the details, it will be a more =
=E2=80=98normal=E2=80=99 size. And if not, it will be fine (I =
hope).=E2=80=9D
=20
We talked the next day. And sure enough, they wanted 2,000 people =
present. The context and questions all sounded straightforward enough. =
I trusted Andr=C3=A9s=E2=80=99 judgment and made the leap. It was a go.
=20
A few days later, 12 days before the event was scheduled was my first =
conversation with the sponsor; actually the sponsor=E2=80=99s right =
hand=E2=80=94Helena. As I later learned, Helena is a remarkable dynamo =
with an extraordinarily competent staff that is used to dealing with =
very large numbers of kids.
=20
I should mention a couple interesting twists to this story. Since we =
were in Bogota, the OS would be in Spanish, a language in which I can =
count to ten and name a few colors. While I had met Andr=C3=A9s during =
my first trip to Colombia during the summer, this would be our first =
work together.
=20
During our conference call, I learned that Helena=E2=80=99s exposure to =
OS consisted of what she had learned through Andr=C3=A9s and one =
50-person self-conducted experiment with some of the adults who work =
with this jobs program. They loved the experience and the results and =
they were completely committed.
=20
I called both Harrison Owen and Michael Pannwitz to gather any =
information from their 2,108 person OS that might be useful. They both =
said essentially the same things:
=20
The dynamics are the same as any other OS=E2=80=A6.be prepared to be =
surprised=E2=80=A6and have fun.
=20
I arranged to fly in a day early to see the site. Andr=C3=A9s was going =
to be out of town, so I was on my own in sorting through the logistics. =
I was still a bit in denial that there might be anything special that I =
needed to consider for an OS this size.
=20
THE SITE
My first impression was of the sheer beauty of the place. I learned =
that Fr. Javier de Nicolo was 75 and has been working with street kids =
for 40 years, helping tens of thousands find a better life. Through the =
years, he has attracted the resources to build about 8 facilities around =
the city to house and educate the young people. The site of the OS was =
primarily for young girls, ages 8-12, many of whom had experienced =
physical and/or sexual abuse. The plan was to take them off campus when =
the OS participants, ages 16-22, mostly male, arrived.
=20
My next impression gave me great reason to question my sanity in saying =
yes. I saw the room planned for the OS. Unlike the US, in Bogota, =
there=E2=80=99s no handy sign posted with the room capacity. I did a =
bit of walking and counting and my best estimate was the main floor =
would hold 750 people sitting on the floor with a tiny circle in the =
center. The stage could accommodate perhaps another couple hundred and =
the balcony, with no inside access for posting sessions might hold =
another couple hundred. Helena seemed completely unfazed by the seeming =
impossibility of putting 2,000 people in a space that, by her own =
admission, had never held more than 1,000. That=E2=80=99s when I took =
the leap and thought to myself, =E2=80=9CI=E2=80=99m working with a =
religious organization. We=E2=80=99re in god=E2=80=99s hands.=E2=80=9D
=20
The courtyard leading to the room was big, square and could easily =
accommodate 2,000. We agreed to prepare both the room and the courtyard =
and would be outside if the weather made that possible. =20
=20
Ah, the weather. We were in the rainy season. Bogota is a lush, green =
place, much like my home town, Seattle. That meant I knew and =
appreciated the price paid to live in such a beautiful, green place. It =
rains a lot. I had looked at weather.com and saw nothing but rain in =
the future.
=20
We talked about tape on the floor to mark aisle ways. We made one =
accommodation for the limited space inside and windiness outside. =
Rather than putting the paper and markers on the ground in the center of =
the circle, lots of volunteers would pass out paper and markers to =
everyone who wanted them. Conveners would come to the center to =
announce their issues. That enabled us to keep the center circle small, =
maximizing sitting space.
=20
They had 40 computers on site and volunteer teachers to support the kids =
with entering their reports. Plus, they had plans to prepare 2,000 =
breakfasts and lunches for the two days.
=20
We talked about the theme. The priest had just gotten some devastating =
news: the jobs they had from public and private sources for the work =
program were in jeopardy because kids were showing up stoned and were =
stealing. The theme took on a new urgency and a decidedly fear-based =
twist: from the best possible job opportunities now and in the future, =
it became saving the jobs they had. I did my best to open the theme to =
be more affirmative, future focused. In the end, saving jobs won. The =
theme:
"Como puedo colaborar YO para que los empleadores nos sigan dando =
trabajo ahora y en el futuro?"
Loosely translated (I think): How can I contribute to employers not =
canceling work for us now and in the future?
The oddest part to me is that I never panicked. Rain seemed inevitable =
and in no way could I picture 2,000 people fitting in the room. The =
theme was the most fear-based I=E2=80=99d ever work with. And I was =
calm. Some part of me thought that was very odd. Most of me just knew =
it would work. Perhaps it was because I was VERY clearly working with =
people who had handled huge crowds before. While they needed my =
expertise on the OS logistics, it was clear the kids and I were all in =
good hands in every other way.=20
=20
I didn=E2=80=99t actually see Andr=C3=A9s until the day before the =
event. I had just finished an intense three-day course and he was =
returning from running an equally consuming multiple day workshop in =
Ecuador. He saw our OS site for the first time that afternoon. He =
thought it could hold 1,500, still not the 2,000 we expected. We were =
both pretty tired. We reviewed a few logistical items that evening but =
didn=E2=80=99t actually agree to how we would work until the next =
morning as we drove to the site. And still I was calm. So was =
Andr=C3=A9s.
=20
For the opening, we took our cue from Harrison and Michael. I=E2=80=99d =
speak in English, Andr=C3=A9s in Spanish. He wouldn=E2=80=99t do exact =
translation, rather he=E2=80=99d speak the OS rituals in his own way. =
We took it a step further=E2=80=94since the number of English speakers =
was tiny, I would speak one line and he=E2=80=99d add all of the =
specifics in Spanish. (I actually suggested not appearing at all. =
Ultimately, we agreed that while they wouldn=E2=80=99t understand my =
words, there was something important about the presence of this stranger =
coming from another country to work with them.)
=20
DAY ONE
After gloomy, grey skies and constant rain since I=E2=80=99d arrived, =
the day, October 31st, dawned with blues skies and sun shine. As far as =
I was concerned, it was a minor miracle.
=20
We convened in the courtyard, with huge letters put together on the =
sides of the buildings spelling out the law of two feet, the four =
principles, the conference theme. It was spectacular. The priest spoke =
(at length) then turned the microphone over to us. We began. =20
=20
In recent years, I=E2=80=99ve begun asking for a brief silence anytime =
the whole group gathers. At a minimum, it is a chance for people to =
collect their thoughts. More subtlely, there is something very powerful =
about groups, particularly very large groups sitting together in =
silence. We were curious how these young people, with their =
drug-addicted backgrounds and reputation for violence would respond. It =
was AWESOME! Two thousand young people so quiet you could hear a pin =
drop.
=20
We took them through the opening and then it was time to post sessions. =
And I got my only big surprise. EVERYONE stood up and started milling =
around. I wasn=E2=80=99t sure what was happening or whether anyone =
would post anything. And then it began. Andr=C3=A9s was suddenly =
surrounded by kids with topics on their papers. For the next forty =
minutes, he stood, rock solid, holding the microphone as one by one, =
300+ sessions were announced and posted. So much for our neatly taped =
aisle ways! The kids entered the hall to look at the agenda wall. And =
they were on their way.
=20
One theme was named over and over: taking responsibility for their =
actions. The sessions themselves were filled with remarkable =
conversations:
=C2=B7 Is it time to end the =E2=80=9Ccode of silence=E2=80=9D =
and speak out when someone shows up to work stoned?
=C2=B7 How do we handle people who don=E2=80=99t obey the rules =
of the program? Should they be kicked out? Helped back into drug =
rehab?
=20
The kids were deeply engaged. And our challenge was the teachers! They =
were so used to keeping the kids under control, fearful of violence if =
they didn=E2=80=99t, that some were taking over moderating groups! =
Wherever we could, we coached the teachers in real time to participate =
but not take over. We expressed our distress to Helena and ultimately =
agreed that we would meet with the teachers in the morning before we =
opened the space on day 2.
=20
Our concern reached its peak when we heard Helena=E2=80=99s voice over =
the loud-speaker system that reached the entire campus announcing that =
it was time to change sessions. And then she kept talking. Andr=C3=A9s =
went to take the mike from her and returned empty handed. I went out, =
found her talking to a young man, just holding the mike, and I said, =
=E2=80=9CI=E2=80=99ll take that,=E2=80=9D removed it and left. A few =
minutes later, she joined Andr=C3=A9s and me. We talked to her about =
how important it was for the young people to experience taking =
responsibility. She thanked us for the reminder that she was doing =
exactly what she often told the teachers not to do! =20
=20
A few minutes later, our blood pressure was raised again. We heard the =
priest, midday, lecturing over the loud-speaker, telling everyone they =
should go to work. So much for butterflies! I knew it was my =
responsibility to keep the space open for the kids. Andr=C3=A9s, as my =
translator, and I, as someone from completely outside the system, took =
off to find the priest. I took (respectfully) the microphone out of his =
hands as he was about to launch into yet another lecture over the loud =
speaker system. I told him that he was talking to them about =
responsibility but not giving them the chance to practice it. The =
process we were using supports people in taking responsibility for what =
they love, helping them learn to embrace responsibility from within =
themselves rather than it being imposed by others outside themselves. =
He told me he wanted what was best for the kids. I said we wanted the =
same thing. It was a defining moment. He not only took what I said =
very graciously but the next day, he came with a completely different =
attitude and no longer a need to lecture at length! I thanked him for =
his support at lunch on day 2. He said, "Day 1 was the apocalypse. Day =
2, we are in heaven." It is my favorite line from the whole event.
DAY TWO
The clear weather held. We began the day meeting in a circle with the =
teachers. We asked them how they saw things going. Some were quite =
distressed, feeling the young people needed better guidance. Others =
were thrilled with the thoughtfulness and initiative. In the end, we =
encouraged them to listen as much as possible; to assume that even if =
what they saw wasn=E2=80=99t the way they=E2=80=99d approach the work, =
that it was just fine; and if they couldn=E2=80=99t resist intervening, =
that they do it with a question.=20
Another 140 sessions went up in the morning and 40 in the afternoon's =
action
planning OS. The dynamics were much the same as the day before. No =
orderly queuing in aisles, just a mob, respectfully waiting their turn =
to announce their sessions.
The kids were quite amazing. I felt a bit like Mother Therese. =
Whenever I walked through the square, they surrounded me. Mostly, they =
wanted to try their 3 or 4 words of English and ask me questions. On =
the second day, I joined the film crew (yes, we had a professional =
videographer with us) and started asking the kids questions. They told =
me that they definitely want to do more OS. When I asked why, one of =
these hard-core young men (no doubt carrying a knife or a gun somewhere =
in all that baggy clothing) said it gave him a feeling of family.
One young man approached me right after the space opened to tell me that =
he had left early on day one but was committed to staying all day today. =
I wondered if he=E2=80=99d just told me indirectly that he =
wouldn=E2=80=99t leave to get stoned today.
=20
The man who ran the program was thrilled. He told us that he had =
learned so much from this. The kids had told him that the program was =
far too easy on offenders, the rules should be much tougher! His =
solution: he would ask the kids to define the rules and the =
consequences. What an incredible shift!
=20
A teacher found me to say that she had gone into a room where the kids =
were playing cards. Her first impulse was to tell them to get to work. =
Instead, she remembered the suggestion of asking a question. =
=E2=80=9CDid they need anything?=E2=80=9D =E2=80=9CNo,=E2=80=9D they =
replied, =E2=80=9Cwe=E2=80=99re just fine. We=E2=80=99re taking a break =
and will get the work done just fine.=E2=80=9D The teacher left, a bit =
bemused, but satisfied that she=E2=80=99d done the right thing.
=20
As you can imagine, there was incredible support from many, many people =
to pull this off. The kitchen baked 8,000 loaves of bread for day 1. I =
understand that 2,300 lunches were served that day, making the official =
count of 1,800 low. (We may have a new OS record! They're re-counting =
the number registered.) The team working the computers posted reports =
as they came in. The last I saw of the report, it was at least 600 =
pages. None of it would have been possible without my extraordinary =
colleague in this adventure, Andr=C3=A9s Agudelo. While relatively new =
to OS, he has many years as a Gestalt therapist and exudes calm even =
when deluged by several hundred kids surrounding him with sessions to =
announce.=20
=20
AFTERWARDS
I left for home the next morning, the weather gray and drizzly, leaving =
a request for Andr=C3=A9s to let me know what happens. We were quite =
sure that Pandora=E2=80=99s box was wide open and nothing would be the =
same.
=20
Four days after the event, Andr=C3=A9s sent this message:
=20
>Hi Peggy,
>
>I will try to call yoou this weekend. A lot of things have happened, =
but I=E2=80=99d rather talk to you.
>
>Ciao,
>
>Andr=C3=A9s Agudelo
=20
And so it stands=E2=80=A6.
=20
=20
Peggy Holman
November 7, 2004
=20
P.S. Pictures and a video coming soon=E2=80=A6.
=20
___________________________________
Peggy Holman
The Open Circle Company
15347 SE 49th Place
Bellevue, WA 98006
425-746-6274
www.opencirclecompany.com=20
peggy at opencirclecompany.com=20
* * =
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<DIV><SPAN class=3D781380821-20112004><FONT face=3DArial=20
size=3D2>Peggy,</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D781380821-20112004><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>this =
is=20
SO beautiful. no words.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D781380821-20112004><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>I had =
sent it to=20
Avner and Hannah and Shosh and /// Shira, my =
daughter.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D781380821-20112004><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>you =
are making a=20
better world.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D781380821-20112004><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>much=20
love</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D781380821-20112004><FONT face=3DArial=20
size=3D2>Tova</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=3Dltr align=3Dleft><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Tova=20
Averbuch =
=D7=98=D7=95=D7=91=D7=94=20
=D7=90=D7=95=D7=A8=D7=91=D7=95=D7=9A</FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=3Dltr align=3Dleft><FONT face=3DArial =
size=3D2>34 Rabinovitz St. =20
=D7=A8=D7=97=D7=95=D7=91 =
=D7=A8=D7=91=D7=99=D7=A0=D7=95=D7=91=D7=99=D7=A5 34 =
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=3Dltr align=3Dleft><FONT face=3DArial=20
size=3D2>Holon  =
;=20
58672 &n=
bsp; =20
=D7=97=D7=95=D7=9C=D7=95=D7=9F </FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=3Dltr align=3Dleft><FONT face=3DArial=20
size=3D2>Israel </FONT></D=
IV>
<DIV dir=3Dltr align=3Dleft><FONT face=3DArial=20
size=3D2> &nbs=
p; =20
972-3-5523476 </FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=3Dltr align=3Dleft><FONT face=3DArial=20
size=3D2> <A=20
href=3D"mailto:averbuch at post.tau.ac.il">averbuch at post.tau.ac.il</A></FONT=
></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE style=3D"MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV class=3DOutlookMessageHeader lang=3Den-us dir=3Dltr =
align=3Dleft><FONT=20
face=3DTahoma size=3D2>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B> =
OSLIST=20
[mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] <B>On Behalf Of </B>Peggy S.=20
Holman<BR><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, November 09, 2004 2:13 =
AM<BR><B>To:</B>=20
OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU<BR><B>Subject:</B> GOOD WORK FOR 2,000=20
COLOMBIAN STREET KIDS (long)<BR><BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">GOOD WORK FOR 2,000 =
COLOMBIAN=20
STREET KIDS</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in =
0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Where to begin to =
tell this=20
story?<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I hope to =
channel two of=20
my favorite story tellers, Harrison Owen and Chris Corrigan, who =
always seem=20
to capture the vibrant aliveness of the event itself.</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in =
0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">THE SET-UP</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">I was already on my =
way to=20
<st1:City w:st=3D"on">Bogota</st1:City>, <st1:country-region=20
w:st=3D"on">Colombia</st1:country-region>, to teach a class at =
<st1:place=20
w:st=3D"on"><st1:PlaceName w:st=3D"on">Los</st1:PlaceName> =
<st1:PlaceName=20
w:st=3D"on">Andes</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType=20
w:st=3D"on">University</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> on Whole Systems =
Change.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>About five weeks before =
leaving, I=20
received an e-mail from Andr=C3=A9s Agudelo , <A=20
href=3D"mailto:aagudelo at tandemadr.com">aagudelo at tandemadr.com</A>, one =
of my=20
contacts in <st1:place w:st=3D"on"><st1:City=20
w:st=3D"on">Bogota</st1:City></st1:place>:</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in =
0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">> Hi =
Peggy,<BR>><BR>>=20
Just a quick note to let you know some good news. I had a meeting with =
an<BR>> italian priest, Javier de Nicolo who has worked in =
the<BR>>=20
streets of <st1:place w:st=3D"on"><st1:City=20
w:st=3D"on">Bogota</st1:City></st1:place> helping kids who are =
abandoned by=20
their families, and get<BR>> into drugs and prostitution (or the=20
guerrilla) to survive. What he has been<BR>> doing is training =
them in=20
different skills, and he gets them jobs, or makes<BR>> team of =
youngsters=20
to pave the streets of the city, financed by the mayors<BR>> office =
and=20
some private funds. He agreed to make an OST in order to =
motivate<BR>> the=20
kids: they start working with energy, and then fade out.<BR>> What =
do you=20
think? Would it be interesting for you when you come next<BR>>=20
october?<BR>><BR>> Best regards,<BR>> Andr=C3=A9s Agudelo</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in =
0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Of course I said =
yes.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The next message, two weeks =
before the=20
event, added one interesting and challenging wrinkle =E2=80=93 this =
Open Space would=20
be for 2,000 people:</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in =
0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">> Hi =
Peggy,<BR>><BR>>=20
The priest would like to do an OS for two thousand of the=20
kids/adolescents,<BR>> including three hundred of the people who =
work with=20
them, if possible oct<BR>> 31st and Nov. 1st. Would this be fine =
for=20
you?<BR>> </P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">> When would be =
a good time=20
to talk by phone?</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">><BR>> =
Ciao,<BR>>=20
Andr=C3=A9s<BR style=3D"mso-special-character: line-break"><BR=20
style=3D"mso-special-character: line-break"></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">I remember =
thinking, =E2=80=9C2,000=20
people?<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Is that for =
real?<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I=E2=80=99m sure when we dig =
into the details,=20
it will be a more =E2=80=98normal=E2=80=99 size.<SPAN =
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> =20
</SPAN>And if not, it will be fine (I hope).=E2=80=9D</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in =
0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">We talked the next =
day.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>And sure enough, they wanted =
2,000=20
people present.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The =
context and=20
questions all sounded straightforward enough.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I trusted =
Andr=C3=A9s=E2=80=99 judgment and made=20
the leap.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It was a =
go.</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in =
0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">A few days later, =
12 days=20
before the event was scheduled was my first conversation with the =
sponsor;=20
actually the sponsor=E2=80=99s right hand=E2=80=94<st1:City =
w:st=3D"on"><st1:place=20
w:st=3D"on">Helena</st1:place></st1:City>.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: =
yes"> =20
</SPAN>As I later learned, <st1:City w:st=3D"on"><st1:place=20
w:st=3D"on">Helena</st1:place></st1:City> is a remarkable dynamo with =
an=20
extraordinarily competent staff that is used to dealing with very =
large=20
numbers of kids.</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in =
0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">I should mention a =
couple=20
interesting twists to this story.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: =
yes"> =20
</SPAN>Since we were in <st1:City w:st=3D"on"><st1:place=20
w:st=3D"on">Bogota</st1:place></st1:City>, the OS would be in Spanish, =
a=20
language in which I can count to ten and name a few colors.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>While I had met Andr=C3=A9s =
during my first=20
trip to <st1:country-region w:st=3D"on"><st1:place=20
w:st=3D"on">Colombia</st1:place></st1:country-region> during the =
summer, this=20
would be our first work together.</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in =
0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">During our =
conference call, I=20
learned that <st1:City w:st=3D"on"><st1:place=20
w:st=3D"on">Helena</st1:place></st1:City>=E2=80=99s exposure to OS =
consisted of what she=20
had learned through Andr=C3=A9s and one 50-person self-conducted =
experiment with=20
some of the adults who work with this jobs program.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>They loved the experience =
and the=20
results and they were completely committed.</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in =
0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">I called both =
Harrison Owen and=20
Michael Pannwitz to gather any information from their 2,108 person OS =
that=20
might be useful.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>They =
both said=20
essentially the same things:</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in =
0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">The dynamics are =
the same as=20
any other OS=E2=80=A6.be prepared to be surprised=E2=80=A6and have =
fun.</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in =
0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">I arranged to fly =
in a day=20
early to see the site.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> =
</SPAN>Andr=C3=A9s was=20
going to be out of town, so I was on my own in sorting through the=20
logistics.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I was still =
a bit in=20
denial that there might be anything special that I needed to consider =
for an=20
OS this size.</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in =
0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">THE SITE</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">My first impression =
was of the=20
sheer beauty of the place.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> =
</SPAN>I=20
learned that Fr. Javier de Nicolo was 75 and has been working with =
street kids=20
for 40 years, helping tens of thousands find a better life.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Through the years, he has =
attracted=20
the resources to build about 8 facilities around the city to house and =
educate=20
the young people.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The =
site of the=20
OS was primarily for young girls, ages 8-12, many of whom had =
experienced=20
physical and/or sexual abuse.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> =
</SPAN>The=20
plan was to take them off campus when the OS participants, ages 16-22, =
mostly=20
male, arrived.</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in =
0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">My next impression =
gave me=20
great reason to question my sanity in saying yes.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I saw the room planned for =
the=20
OS.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Unlike the=20
<st1:country-region w:st=3D"on">US</st1:country-region>, in <st1:City=20
w:st=3D"on"><st1:place w:st=3D"on">Bogota</st1:place></st1:City>, =
there=E2=80=99s no handy=20
sign posted with the room capacity.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: =
yes"> =20
</SPAN>I did a bit of walking and counting and my best estimate was =
the main=20
floor would hold 750 people sitting on the floor with a tiny circle in =
the=20
center.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The stage could =
accommodate perhaps another couple hundred and the balcony, with no =
inside=20
access for posting sessions might hold another couple hundred.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><st1:City =
w:st=3D"on"><st1:place=20
w:st=3D"on">Helena</st1:place></st1:City> seemed completely unfazed by =
the=20
seeming impossibility of putting 2,000 people in a space that, by her =
own=20
admission, had never held more than 1,000.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>That=E2=80=99s when I took =
the leap and=20
thought to myself, =E2=80=9CI=E2=80=99m working with a religious =
organization.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We=E2=80=99re in =
god=E2=80=99s hands.=E2=80=9D</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in =
0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">The courtyard =
leading to the=20
room was big, square and could easily accommodate 2,000.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We agreed to prepare both =
the room and=20
the courtyard and would be outside if the weather made that =
possible.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in =
0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Ah, the =
weather.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We were in the rainy =
season.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><st1:City =
w:st=3D"on"><st1:place=20
w:st=3D"on">Bogota</st1:place></st1:City> is a lush, green place, much =
like my=20
home town, Seattle.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> =
</SPAN>That meant I=20
knew and appreciated the price paid to live in such a beautiful, green =
place.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It rains a =
lot.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I had looked at weather.com =
and saw=20
nothing but rain in the future.</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in =
0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">We talked about =
tape on the=20
floor to mark aisle ways.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> =
</SPAN>We made=20
one accommodation for the limited space inside and windiness =
outside.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Rather than putting the =
paper and=20
markers on the ground in the center of the circle, lots of volunteers =
would=20
pass out paper and markers to everyone who wanted them.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Conveners would come to the =
center to=20
announce their issues.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> =
</SPAN>That=20
enabled us to keep the center circle small, maximizing sitting =
space.</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in =
0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">They had 40 =
computers on site=20
and volunteer teachers to support the kids with entering their =
reports.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Plus, they had plans to =
prepare 2,000=20
breakfasts and lunches for the two days.</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in =
0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">We talked about the =
theme.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The priest had just gotten =
some=20
devastating news: the jobs they had from public and private sources =
for the=20
work program were in jeopardy because kids were showing up stoned and =
were=20
stealing.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The theme =
took on a new=20
urgency and a decidedly fear-based twist: from the best possible job=20
opportunities now and in the future, it became saving the jobs they =
had.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I did my best to open the =
theme to be=20
more affirmative, future focused.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: =
yes"> =20
</SPAN>In the end, saving jobs won.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: =
yes"> =20
</SPAN>The theme:</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">"<st1:place =
w:st=3D"on"><st1:City=20
w:st=3D"on">Como</st1:City></st1:place> puedo colaborar YO para que =
los=20
empleadores nos sigan dando trabajo ahora y en el futuro?"</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><BR>Loosely =
translated (I=20
think): How can I contribute to employers not canceling work for us =
now and in=20
the future?<BR style=3D"mso-special-character: line-break"><BR=20
style=3D"mso-special-character: line-break"></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">The oddest part to =
me is that I=20
never panicked.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Rain =
seemed=20
inevitable and in no way could I picture 2,000 people fitting in the=20
room.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The theme was the =
most=20
fear-based I=E2=80=99d ever work with.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: =
yes"> =20
</SPAN>And I was calm.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> =
</SPAN>Some part=20
of me thought that was very odd.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: =
yes"> =20
</SPAN>Most of me just knew it would work.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Perhaps it was because I was =
VERY=20
clearly working with people who had handled huge crowds before.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>While they needed my =
expertise on the=20
OS logistics, it was clear the kids and I were all in good hands in =
every=20
other way. </P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in =
0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> I =
didn=E2=80=99t actually see=20
Andr=C3=A9s until the day before the event.<SPAN =
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> =20
</SPAN>I had just finished an intense three-day course and he was =
returning=20
from running an equally consuming multiple day workshop in =
<st1:country-region=20
w:st=3D"on"><st1:place =
w:st=3D"on">Ecuador</st1:place></st1:country-region>.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He saw our OS site for the =
first time=20
that afternoon.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He =
thought it=20
could hold 1,500, still not the 2,000 we expected.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We were both pretty =
tired.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We reviewed a few logistical =
items=20
that evening but didn=E2=80=99t actually agree to how we would work =
until the next=20
morning as we drove to the site.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: =
yes"> =20
</SPAN>And still I was calm.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> =
</SPAN>So=20
was Andr=C3=A9s.</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in =
0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">For the opening, we =
took our=20
cue from Harrison and Michael.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> =
</SPAN>I=E2=80=99d speak in English, Andr=C3=A9s in Spanish.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He wouldn=E2=80=99t do exact =
translation,=20
rather he=E2=80=99d speak the OS rituals in his own way.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We took it a step =
further=E2=80=94since the=20
number of English speakers was tiny, I would speak one line and =
he=E2=80=99d add all=20
of the specifics in Spanish.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> =
</SPAN>(I=20
actually suggested not appearing at all.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: =
yes"> =20
</SPAN>Ultimately, we agreed that while they wouldn=E2=80=99t =
understand my words,=20
there was something important about the presence of this stranger =
coming from=20
another country to work with them.)</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in =
0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">DAY ONE</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">After gloomy, grey =
skies and=20
constant rain since I=E2=80=99d arrived, the day, October =
31<SUP>st</SUP>, dawned with=20
blues skies and sun shine.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> =
</SPAN>As far=20
as I was concerned, it was a minor miracle.</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in =
0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">We convened in the =
courtyard,=20
with huge letters put together on the sides of the buildings spelling =
out the=20
law of two feet, the four principles, the conference theme.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It was spectacular.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The priest spoke (at length) =
then=20
turned the microphone over to us.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: =
yes"> =20
</SPAN>We began.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> =
</SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in =
0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">In recent years, =
I=E2=80=99ve begun=20
asking for a brief silence anytime the whole group gathers.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>At a minimum, it is a chance =
for=20
people to collect their thoughts.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: =
yes"> =20
</SPAN>More subtlely, there is something very powerful about groups,=20
particularly very large groups sitting together in silence.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We were curious how these =
young=20
people, with their drug-addicted backgrounds and reputation for =
violence would=20
respond.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It was =
AWESOME!<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Two thousand young people so =
quiet you=20
could hear a pin drop.</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in =
0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">We took them =
through the=20
opening and then it was time to post sessions.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>And I got my only big =
surprise.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>EVERYONE stood up and =
started milling=20
around.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I =
wasn=E2=80=99t sure what was=20
happening or whether anyone would post anything.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>And then it began.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Andr=C3=A9s was suddenly =
surrounded by kids=20
with topics on their papers.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> =
</SPAN>For=20
the next forty minutes, he stood, rock solid, holding the microphone =
as one by=20
one, 300+ sessions were announced and posted.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>So much for our neatly taped =
aisle=20
ways!<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The kids entered =
the hall=20
to look at the agenda wall.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> =
</SPAN>And=20
they were on their way.</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in =
0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">One theme was named =
over and=20
over: taking responsibility for their actions.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The sessions themselves were =
filled=20
with remarkable conversations:</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal=20
style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; mso-list: =
l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .25in"><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; =
mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol"><SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-list: Ignore">=C2=B7<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT: 7pt 'Times New =
Roman'"> =20
</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN dir=3Dltr>Is it time to end the =
=E2=80=9Ccode of silence=E2=80=9D and=20
speak out when someone shows up to work stoned?</SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal=20
style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; mso-list: =
l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .25in"><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; =
mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol"><SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-list: Ignore">=C2=B7<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT: 7pt 'Times New =
Roman'"> =20
</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN dir=3Dltr>How do we handle people who =
don=E2=80=99t obey the=20
rules of the program?<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> =
</SPAN>Should they=20
be kicked out?<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Helped =
back into=20
drug rehab?</SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in =
0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">The kids were =
deeply engaged.=20
<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>And our challenge was =
the=20
teachers!<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>They were so =
used to=20
keeping the kids under control, fearful of violence if they =
didn=E2=80=99t, that some=20
were taking over moderating groups!<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: =
yes"> =20
</SPAN>Wherever we could, we coached the teachers in real time to =
participate=20
but not take over.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We =
expressed=20
our distress to <st1:City w:st=3D"on"><st1:place=20
w:st=3D"on">Helena</st1:place></st1:City> and ultimately agreed that =
we would=20
meet with the teachers in the morning before we opened the space on =
day 2.</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in =
0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Our concern reached =
its peak=20
when we heard <st1:City w:st=3D"on"><st1:place=20
w:st=3D"on">Helena</st1:place></st1:City>=E2=80=99s voice over the =
loud-speaker system=20
that reached the entire campus announcing that it was time to change=20
sessions.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>And then she =
kept=20
talking.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Andr=C3=A9s =
went to take the=20
mike from her and returned empty handed.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: =
yes"> =20
</SPAN>I went out, found her talking to a young man, just holding the =
mike,=20
and I said, =E2=80=9CI=E2=80=99ll take that,=E2=80=9D removed it and =
left.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>A few minutes later, she =
joined Andr=C3=A9s=20
and me.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We talked to =
her about=20
how important it was for the young people to experience taking=20
responsibility.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>She =
thanked us=20
for the reminder that she was doing exactly what she often told the =
teachers=20
not to do!<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in =
0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">A few minutes =
later, our blood=20
pressure was raised again.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> =
</SPAN>We=20
heard the priest, midday, lecturing over the loud-speaker, telling =
everyone=20
they should go to work.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> =
</SPAN>So much=20
for butterflies!<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I knew =
it was my=20
responsibility to keep the space open for the kids.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Andr=C3=A9s, as my =
translator, and I, as=20
someone from completely outside the system, took off to find the =
priest.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I took (respectfully) the =
microphone=20
out of his hands as he was about to launch into yet another lecture =
over the=20
loud speaker system. I told him that he was talking to them =
about=20
responsibility but not giving them the chance to practice it. =
The=20
process we were using supports people in taking responsibility for =
what they=20
love, helping them learn to embrace responsibility from within =
themselves=20
rather than it being imposed by others outside themselves.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He told me he wanted what =
was best for=20
the kids.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I said we =
wanted the=20
same thing.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It was a =
defining=20
moment.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He not only =
took what I=20
said very graciously but the next day, he came with a completely =
different=20
attitude and no longer a need to lecture at length!<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I thanked him for his =
support at lunch=20
on day 2. He said, "Day 1 was the apocalypse. Day 2, we =
are in=20
heaven."<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It is my =
favorite line=20
from the whole event.<BR style=3D"mso-special-character: =
line-break"><BR=20
style=3D"mso-special-character: line-break"></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">DAY TWO</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">The clear weather =
held.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We began the day meeting in =
a circle=20
with the teachers.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We =
asked them=20
how they saw things going.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> =
</SPAN>Some=20
were quite distressed, feeling the young people needed better =
guidance.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Others were thrilled with =
the=20
thoughtfulness and initiative.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> =
</SPAN>In=20
the end, we encouraged them to listen as much as possible; to assume =
that even=20
if what they saw wasn=E2=80=99t the way they=E2=80=99d approach the =
work, that it was just=20
fine; and if they couldn=E2=80=99t resist intervening, that they do it =
with a=20
question. </P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><BR>Another 140 =
sessions went=20
up in the morning and 40 in the afternoon's action<BR>planning =
OS.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The dynamics were much the =
same as the=20
day before.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>No orderly =
queuing in=20
aisles, just a mob, respectfully waiting their turn to announce their=20
sessions.<BR><BR>The kids were quite amazing. I felt a bit like =
Mother=20
Therese. Whenever I walked through the square, they surrounded =
me.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Mostly, they wanted to try =
their 3 or=20
4 words of English and ask me questions. On the second day, I =
joined the=20
film crew (yes, we had a professional videographer with us) and =
started asking=20
the kids questions. They told me that they definitely want to do =
more=20
OS. When I asked why, one of these hard-core young men (no doubt =
carrying a knife or a gun somewhere in all that baggy clothing) said =
it gave=20
him a feeling of family.<BR style=3D"mso-special-character: =
line-break"><BR=20
style=3D"mso-special-character: line-break"></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">One young man =
approached me=20
right after the space opened to tell me that he had left early on day =
one but=20
was committed to staying all day today.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: =
yes"> =20
</SPAN>I wondered if he=E2=80=99d just told me indirectly that he =
wouldn=E2=80=99t leave to=20
get stoned today.</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in =
0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">The man who ran the =
program was=20
thrilled.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He told us =
that he had=20
learned so much from this.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> =
</SPAN>The=20
kids had told him that the program was far too easy on offenders, the =
rules=20
should be much tougher!<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> =
</SPAN>His=20
solution: he would ask the kids to define the rules and the =
consequences.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>What an incredible =
shift!</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in =
0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">A teacher found me =
to say that=20
she had gone into a room where the kids were playing cards.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Her first impulse was to =
tell them to=20
get to work. Instead, she remembered the suggestion of asking a =
question.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>=E2=80=9CDid they need =
anything?=E2=80=9D<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>=E2=80=9CNo,=E2=80=9D they =
replied, =E2=80=9Cwe=E2=80=99re just=20
fine.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We=E2=80=99re =
taking a break and=20
will get the work done just fine.=E2=80=9D<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: =
yes"> =20
</SPAN>The teacher left, a bit bemused, but satisfied that =
she=E2=80=99d done the=20
right thing.<BR style=3D"mso-special-character: line-break"><BR=20
style=3D"mso-special-character: line-break"></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in =
0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">As you can imagine, =
there was=20
incredible support from many, many people to pull this off. The =
kitchen=20
baked 8,000 loaves of bread for day 1. I understand that 2,300 =
lunches=20
were served that day, making the official count of 1,800 low.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>(We may have a new OS =
record! =20
They're re-counting the number registered.) The team working the =
computers posted reports as they came in.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The last I saw of the =
report, it was=20
at least 600 pages.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> =
</SPAN>None of it=20
would have been possible without my extraordinary colleague in this =
adventure,=20
Andr=C3=A9s Agudelo. While relatively new to OS, he has many =
years as a=20
Gestalt therapist and exudes calm even when deluged by several hundred =
kids=20
surrounding him with sessions to announce. <BR=20
style=3D"mso-special-character: line-break"><BR=20
style=3D"mso-special-character: line-break"></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in =
0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">AFTERWARDS</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">I left for home the =
next=20
morning, the weather gray and drizzly, leaving a request for =
Andr=C3=A9s to let me=20
know what happens.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We =
were quite=20
sure that Pandora=E2=80=99s box was wide open and nothing would be the =
same.</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in =
0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Four days after the =
event,=20
Andr=C3=A9s sent this message:</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in =
0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">>Hi =
Peggy,<BR>><BR>>I=20
will try to call yoou this weekend. A lot of things have happened, but =
I=E2=80=99d=20
rather talk to you.<BR>><BR>>Ciao,<BR>><BR>>Andr=C3=A9s=20
Agudelo<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: =
Verdana"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">And so it =
stands=E2=80=A6.</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in =
0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in =
0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Peggy Holman</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">November 7, =
2004</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in =
0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">P.S.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Pictures and a video coming =
soon=E2=80=A6.</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in =
0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial =
size=3D2>___________________________________<BR>Peggy=20
Holman<BR>The Open Circle Company<BR>15347 SE 49th Place<BR>Bellevue, =
WA =20
98006<BR>425-746-6274<BR><A=20
=
href=3D"http://www.opencirclecompany.com">www.opencirclecompany.com</A> =
<BR><A=20
=
href=3D"mailto:peggy at opencirclecompany.com">peggy at opencirclecompany.com</=
A>=20
</FONT></DIV>* * =
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=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=20
OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU ------------------------------ To =
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unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of=20
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http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html To learn about=20
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------=_NextPart_000_0008_01C4CF56.37D80EA0--
>From Sat Nov 20 23:12:55 2004
Message-Id: <SAT.20.NOV.2004.231255.0200.>
Date: Sat, 20 Nov 2004 23:12:55 +0200
Reply-To: averbuch at post.tau.ac.il
To: OSLIST <OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU>
From: averbuch <averbuch at post.tau.ac.il>
Subject: Re: GOOD WORK FOR 2,000 COLOMBIAN STREET KIDS (long)
In-Reply-To: <005801c4c5f0$e6559d90$0b6691c6 at Traveler>
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worng botton :)
Tova
=20
=20
Tova Averbuch =D7=98=D7=95=D7=91=D7=94 =
=D7=90=D7=95=D7=A8=D7=91=D7=95=D7=9A
34 Rabinovitz St. =D7=A8=D7=97=D7=95=D7=91 =
=D7=A8=D7=91=D7=99=D7=A0=D7=95=D7=91=D7=99=D7=A5 34 =20
Holon 58672 =D7=97=D7=95=D7=9C=D7=95=D7=9F=20
Israel =20
972-3-5523476=20
averbuch at post.tau.ac.il
-----Original Message-----
From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of Peggy =
S. Holman
Sent: Tuesday, November 09, 2004 2:13 AM
To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Subject: GOOD WORK FOR 2,000 COLOMBIAN STREET KIDS (long)
GOOD WORK FOR 2,000 COLOMBIAN STREET KIDS
=20
Where to begin to tell this story? I hope to channel two of my favorite =
story tellers, Harrison Owen and Chris Corrigan, who always seem to =
capture the vibrant aliveness of the event itself.
=20
THE SET-UP
I was already on my way to Bogota, Colombia, to teach a class at Los =
Andes University on Whole Systems Change. About five weeks before =
leaving, I received an e-mail from Andr=C3=A9s Agudelo , =
aagudelo at tandemadr.com, one of my contacts in Bogota:
=20
> Hi Peggy,
>
> Just a quick note to let you know some good news. I had a meeting with =
an
> italian priest, Javier de Nicolo who has worked in the
> streets of Bogota helping kids who are abandoned by their families, =
and get
> into drugs and prostitution (or the guerrilla) to survive. What he has =
been
> doing is training them in different skills, and he gets them jobs, or =
makes
> team of youngsters to pave the streets of the city, financed by the =
mayors
> office and some private funds. He agreed to make an OST in order to =
motivate
> the kids: they start working with energy, and then fade out.
> What do you think? Would it be interesting for you when you come next
> october?
>
> Best regards,
> Andr=C3=A9s Agudelo
=20
Of course I said yes. The next message, two weeks before the event, =
added one interesting and challenging wrinkle =E2=80=93 this Open Space =
would be for 2,000 people:
=20
> Hi Peggy,
>
> The priest would like to do an OS for two thousand of the =
kids/adolescents,
> including three hundred of the people who work with them, if possible =
oct
> 31st and Nov. 1st. Would this be fine for you?
>=20
> When would be a good time to talk by phone?
>
> Ciao,
> Andr=C3=A9s
I remember thinking, =E2=80=9C2,000 people? Is that for real? =
I=E2=80=99m sure when we dig into the details, it will be a more =
=E2=80=98normal=E2=80=99 size. And if not, it will be fine (I =
hope).=E2=80=9D
=20
We talked the next day. And sure enough, they wanted 2,000 people =
present. The context and questions all sounded straightforward enough. =
I trusted Andr=C3=A9s=E2=80=99 judgment and made the leap. It was a go.
=20
A few days later, 12 days before the event was scheduled was my first =
conversation with the sponsor; actually the sponsor=E2=80=99s right =
hand=E2=80=94Helena. As I later learned, Helena is a remarkable dynamo =
with an extraordinarily competent staff that is used to dealing with =
very large numbers of kids.
=20
I should mention a couple interesting twists to this story. Since we =
were in Bogota, the OS would be in Spanish, a language in which I can =
count to ten and name a few colors. While I had met Andr=C3=A9s during =
my first trip to Colombia during the summer, this would be our first =
work together.
=20
During our conference call, I learned that Helena=E2=80=99s exposure to =
OS consisted of what she had learned through Andr=C3=A9s and one =
50-person self-conducted experiment with some of the adults who work =
with this jobs program. They loved the experience and the results and =
they were completely committed.
=20
I called both Harrison Owen and Michael Pannwitz to gather any =
information from their 2,108 person OS that might be useful. They both =
said essentially the same things:
=20
The dynamics are the same as any other OS=E2=80=A6.be prepared to be =
surprised=E2=80=A6and have fun.
=20
I arranged to fly in a day early to see the site. Andr=C3=A9s was going =
to be out of town, so I was on my own in sorting through the logistics. =
I was still a bit in denial that there might be anything special that I =
needed to consider for an OS this size.
=20
THE SITE
My first impression was of the sheer beauty of the place. I learned =
that Fr. Javier de Nicolo was 75 and has been working with street kids =
for 40 years, helping tens of thousands find a better life. Through the =
years, he has attracted the resources to build about 8 facilities around =
the city to house and educate the young people. The site of the OS was =
primarily for young girls, ages 8-12, many of whom had experienced =
physical and/or sexual abuse. The plan was to take them off campus when =
the OS participants, ages 16-22, mostly male, arrived.
=20
My next impression gave me great reason to question my sanity in saying =
yes. I saw the room planned for the OS. Unlike the US, in Bogota, =
there=E2=80=99s no handy sign posted with the room capacity. I did a =
bit of walking and counting and my best estimate was the main floor =
would hold 750 people sitting on the floor with a tiny circle in the =
center. The stage could accommodate perhaps another couple hundred and =
the balcony, with no inside access for posting sessions might hold =
another couple hundred. Helena seemed completely unfazed by the seeming =
impossibility of putting 2,000 people in a space that, by her own =
admission, had never held more than 1,000. That=E2=80=99s when I took =
the leap and thought to myself, =E2=80=9CI=E2=80=99m working with a =
religious organization. We=E2=80=99re in god=E2=80=99s hands.=E2=80=9D
=20
The courtyard leading to the room was big, square and could easily =
accommodate 2,000. We agreed to prepare both the room and the courtyard =
and would be outside if the weather made that possible. =20
=20
Ah, the weather. We were in the rainy season. Bogota is a lush, green =
place, much like my home town, Seattle. That meant I knew and =
appreciated the price paid to live in such a beautiful, green place. It =
rains a lot. I had looked at weather.com and saw nothing but rain in =
the future.
=20
We talked about tape on the floor to mark aisle ways. We made one =
accommodation for the limited space inside and windiness outside. =
Rather than putting the paper and markers on the ground in the center of =
the circle, lots of volunteers would pass out paper and markers to =
everyone who wanted them. Conveners would come to the center to =
announce their issues. That enabled us to keep the center circle small, =
maximizing sitting space.
=20
They had 40 computers on site and volunteer teachers to support the kids =
with entering their reports. Plus, they had plans to prepare 2,000 =
breakfasts and lunches for the two days.
=20
We talked about the theme. The priest had just gotten some devastating =
news: the jobs they had from public and private sources for the work =
program were in jeopardy because kids were showing up stoned and were =
stealing. The theme took on a new urgency and a decidedly fear-based =
twist: from the best possible job opportunities now and in the future, =
it became saving the jobs they had. I did my best to open the theme to =
be more affirmative, future focused. In the end, saving jobs won. The =
theme:
"Como puedo colaborar YO para que los empleadores nos sigan dando =
trabajo ahora y en el futuro?"
Loosely translated (I think): How can I contribute to employers not =
canceling work for us now and in the future?
The oddest part to me is that I never panicked. Rain seemed inevitable =
and in no way could I picture 2,000 people fitting in the room. The =
theme was the most fear-based I=E2=80=99d ever work with. And I was =
calm. Some part of me thought that was very odd. Most of me just knew =
it would work. Perhaps it was because I was VERY clearly working with =
people who had handled huge crowds before. While they needed my =
expertise on the OS logistics, it was clear the kids and I were all in =
good hands in every other way.=20
=20
I didn=E2=80=99t actually see Andr=C3=A9s until the day before the =
event. I had just finished an intense three-day course and he was =
returning from running an equally consuming multiple day workshop in =
Ecuador. He saw our OS site for the first time that afternoon. He =
thought it could hold 1,500, still not the 2,000 we expected. We were =
both pretty tired. We reviewed a few logistical items that evening but =
didn=E2=80=99t actually agree to how we would work until the next =
morning as we drove to the site. And still I was calm. So was =
Andr=C3=A9s.
=20
For the opening, we took our cue from Harrison and Michael. I=E2=80=99d =
speak in English, Andr=C3=A9s in Spanish. He wouldn=E2=80=99t do exact =
translation, rather he=E2=80=99d speak the OS rituals in his own way. =
We took it a step further=E2=80=94since the number of English speakers =
was tiny, I would speak one line and he=E2=80=99d add all of the =
specifics in Spanish. (I actually suggested not appearing at all. =
Ultimately, we agreed that while they wouldn=E2=80=99t understand my =
words, there was something important about the presence of this stranger =
coming from another country to work with them.)
=20
DAY ONE
After gloomy, grey skies and constant rain since I=E2=80=99d arrived, =
the day, October 31st, dawned with blues skies and sun shine. As far as =
I was concerned, it was a minor miracle.
=20
We convened in the courtyard, with huge letters put together on the =
sides of the buildings spelling out the law of two feet, the four =
principles, the conference theme. It was spectacular. The priest spoke =
(at length) then turned the microphone over to us. We began. =20
=20
In recent years, I=E2=80=99ve begun asking for a brief silence anytime =
the whole group gathers. At a minimum, it is a chance for people to =
collect their thoughts. More subtlely, there is something very powerful =
about groups, particularly very large groups sitting together in =
silence. We were curious how these young people, with their =
drug-addicted backgrounds and reputation for violence would respond. It =
was AWESOME! Two thousand young people so quiet you could hear a pin =
drop.
=20
We took them through the opening and then it was time to post sessions. =
And I got my only big surprise. EVERYONE stood up and started milling =
around. I wasn=E2=80=99t sure what was happening or whether anyone =
would post anything. And then it began. Andr=C3=A9s was suddenly =
surrounded by kids with topics on their papers. For the next forty =
minutes, he stood, rock solid, holding the microphone as one by one, =
300+ sessions were announced and posted. So much for our neatly taped =
aisle ways! The kids entered the hall to look at the agenda wall. And =
they were on their way.
=20
One theme was named over and over: taking responsibility for their =
actions. The sessions themselves were filled with remarkable =
conversations:
=C2=B7 Is it time to end the =E2=80=9Ccode of silence=E2=80=9D =
and speak out when someone shows up to work stoned?
=C2=B7 How do we handle people who don=E2=80=99t obey the rules =
of the program? Should they be kicked out? Helped back into drug =
rehab?
=20
The kids were deeply engaged. And our challenge was the teachers! They =
were so used to keeping the kids under control, fearful of violence if =
they didn=E2=80=99t, that some were taking over moderating groups! =
Wherever we could, we coached the teachers in real time to participate =
but not take over. We expressed our distress to Helena and ultimately =
agreed that we would meet with the teachers in the morning before we =
opened the space on day 2.
=20
Our concern reached its peak when we heard Helena=E2=80=99s voice over =
the loud-speaker system that reached the entire campus announcing that =
it was time to change sessions. And then she kept talking. Andr=C3=A9s =
went to take the mike from her and returned empty handed. I went out, =
found her talking to a young man, just holding the mike, and I said, =
=E2=80=9CI=E2=80=99ll take that,=E2=80=9D removed it and left. A few =
minutes later, she joined Andr=C3=A9s and me. We talked to her about =
how important it was for the young people to experience taking =
responsibility. She thanked us for the reminder that she was doing =
exactly what she often told the teachers not to do! =20
=20
A few minutes later, our blood pressure was raised again. We heard the =
priest, midday, lecturing over the loud-speaker, telling everyone they =
should go to work. So much for butterflies! I knew it was my =
responsibility to keep the space open for the kids. Andr=C3=A9s, as my =
translator, and I, as someone from completely outside the system, took =
off to find the priest. I took (respectfully) the microphone out of his =
hands as he was about to launch into yet another lecture over the loud =
speaker system. I told him that he was talking to them about =
responsibility but not giving them the chance to practice it. The =
process we were using supports people in taking responsibility for what =
they love, helping them learn to embrace responsibility from within =
themselves rather than it being imposed by others outside themselves. =
He told me he wanted what was best for the kids. I said we wanted the =
same thing. It was a defining moment. He not only took what I said =
very graciously but the next day, he came with a completely different =
attitude and no longer a need to lecture at length! I thanked him for =
his support at lunch on day 2. He said, "Day 1 was the apocalypse. Day =
2, we are in heaven." It is my favorite line from the whole event.
DAY TWO
The clear weather held. We began the day meeting in a circle with the =
teachers. We asked them how they saw things going. Some were quite =
distressed, feeling the young people needed better guidance. Others =
were thrilled with the thoughtfulness and initiative. In the end, we =
encouraged them to listen as much as possible; to assume that even if =
what they saw wasn=E2=80=99t the way they=E2=80=99d approach the work, =
that it was just fine; and if they couldn=E2=80=99t resist intervening, =
that they do it with a question.=20
Another 140 sessions went up in the morning and 40 in the afternoon's =
action
planning OS. The dynamics were much the same as the day before. No =
orderly queuing in aisles, just a mob, respectfully waiting their turn =
to announce their sessions.
The kids were quite amazing. I felt a bit like Mother Therese. =
Whenever I walked through the square, they surrounded me. Mostly, they =
wanted to try their 3 or 4 words of English and ask me questions. On =
the second day, I joined the film crew (yes, we had a professional =
videographer with us) and started asking the kids questions. They told =
me that they definitely want to do more OS. When I asked why, one of =
these hard-core young men (no doubt carrying a knife or a gun somewhere =
in all that baggy clothing) said it gave him a feeling of family.
One young man approached me right after the space opened to tell me that =
he had left early on day one but was committed to staying all day today. =
I wondered if he=E2=80=99d just told me indirectly that he =
wouldn=E2=80=99t leave to get stoned today.
=20
The man who ran the program was thrilled. He told us that he had =
learned so much from this. The kids had told him that the program was =
far too easy on offenders, the rules should be much tougher! His =
solution: he would ask the kids to define the rules and the =
consequences. What an incredible shift!
=20
A teacher found me to say that she had gone into a room where the kids =
were playing cards. Her first impulse was to tell them to get to work. =
Instead, she remembered the suggestion of asking a question. =
=E2=80=9CDid they need anything?=E2=80=9D =E2=80=9CNo,=E2=80=9D they =
replied, =E2=80=9Cwe=E2=80=99re just fine. We=E2=80=99re taking a break =
and will get the work done just fine.=E2=80=9D The teacher left, a bit =
bemused, but satisfied that she=E2=80=99d done the right thing.
=20
As you can imagine, there was incredible support from many, many people =
to pull this off. The kitchen baked 8,000 loaves of bread for day 1. I =
understand that 2,300 lunches were served that day, making the official =
count of 1,800 low. (We may have a new OS record! They're re-counting =
the number registered.) The team working the computers posted reports =
as they came in. The last I saw of the report, it was at least 600 =
pages. None of it would have been possible without my extraordinary =
colleague in this adventure, Andr=C3=A9s Agudelo. While relatively new =
to OS, he has many years as a Gestalt therapist and exudes calm even =
when deluged by several hundred kids surrounding him with sessions to =
announce.=20
=20
AFTERWARDS
I left for home the next morning, the weather gray and drizzly, leaving =
a request for Andr=C3=A9s to let me know what happens. We were quite =
sure that Pandora=E2=80=99s box was wide open and nothing would be the =
same.
=20
Four days after the event, Andr=C3=A9s sent this message:
=20
>Hi Peggy,
>
>I will try to call yoou this weekend. A lot of things have happened, =
but I=E2=80=99d rather talk to you.
>
>Ciao,
>
>Andr=C3=A9s Agudelo
=20
And so it stands=E2=80=A6.
=20
=20
Peggy Holman
November 7, 2004
=20
P.S. Pictures and a video coming soon=E2=80=A6.
=20
___________________________________
Peggy Holman
The Open Circle Company
15347 SE 49th Place
Bellevue, WA 98006
425-746-6274
www.opencirclecompany.com=20
peggy at opencirclecompany.com=20
* * =
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<DIV><SPAN class=3D034301221-20112004><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff =
size=3D2>worng=20
botton :)</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D034301221-20112004><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff =
size=3D2>Tova</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV dir=3Dltr align=3Dleft><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Tova=20
Averbuch =
=D7=98=D7=95=D7=91=D7=94=20
=D7=90=D7=95=D7=A8=D7=91=D7=95=D7=9A</FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=3Dltr align=3Dleft><FONT face=3DArial =
size=3D2>34 Rabinovitz St. =20
=D7=A8=D7=97=D7=95=D7=91 =
=D7=A8=D7=91=D7=99=D7=A0=D7=95=D7=91=D7=99=D7=A5 34 =
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=3Dltr align=3Dleft><FONT face=3DArial=20
size=3D2>Holon  =
;=20
58672 &n=
bsp; =20
=D7=97=D7=95=D7=9C=D7=95=D7=9F </FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=3Dltr align=3Dleft><FONT face=3DArial=20
size=3D2>Israel </FONT></D=
IV>
<DIV dir=3Dltr align=3Dleft><FONT face=3DArial=20
size=3D2> &nbs=
p; =20
972-3-5523476 </FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=3Dltr align=3Dleft><FONT face=3DArial=20
size=3D2> <A=20
href=3D"mailto:averbuch at post.tau.ac.il">averbuch at post.tau.ac.il</A></FONT=
></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE style=3D"MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV class=3DOutlookMessageHeader lang=3Den-us dir=3Dltr =
align=3Dleft><FONT=20
face=3DTahoma size=3D2>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B> =
OSLIST=20
[mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] <B>On Behalf Of </B>Peggy S.=20
Holman<BR><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, November 09, 2004 2:13 =
AM<BR><B>To:</B>=20
OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU<BR><B>Subject:</B> GOOD WORK FOR 2,000=20
COLOMBIAN STREET KIDS (long)<BR><BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">GOOD WORK FOR 2,000 =
COLOMBIAN=20
STREET KIDS</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in =
0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Where to begin to =
tell this=20
story?<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I hope to =
channel two of=20
my favorite story tellers, Harrison Owen and Chris Corrigan, who =
always seem=20
to capture the vibrant aliveness of the event itself.</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in =
0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">THE SET-UP</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">I was already on my =
way to=20
<st1:City w:st=3D"on">Bogota</st1:City>, <st1:country-region=20
w:st=3D"on">Colombia</st1:country-region>, to teach a class at =
<st1:place=20
w:st=3D"on"><st1:PlaceName w:st=3D"on">Los</st1:PlaceName> =
<st1:PlaceName=20
w:st=3D"on">Andes</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType=20
w:st=3D"on">University</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> on Whole Systems =
Change.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>About five weeks before =
leaving, I=20
received an e-mail from Andr=C3=A9s Agudelo , <A=20
href=3D"mailto:aagudelo at tandemadr.com">aagudelo at tandemadr.com</A>, one =
of my=20
contacts in <st1:place w:st=3D"on"><st1:City=20
w:st=3D"on">Bogota</st1:City></st1:place>:</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in =
0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">> Hi =
Peggy,<BR>><BR>>=20
Just a quick note to let you know some good news. I had a meeting with =
an<BR>> italian priest, Javier de Nicolo who has worked in =
the<BR>>=20
streets of <st1:place w:st=3D"on"><st1:City=20
w:st=3D"on">Bogota</st1:City></st1:place> helping kids who are =
abandoned by=20
their families, and get<BR>> into drugs and prostitution (or the=20
guerrilla) to survive. What he has been<BR>> doing is training =
them in=20
different skills, and he gets them jobs, or makes<BR>> team of =
youngsters=20
to pave the streets of the city, financed by the mayors<BR>> office =
and=20
some private funds. He agreed to make an OST in order to =
motivate<BR>> the=20
kids: they start working with energy, and then fade out.<BR>> What =
do you=20
think? Would it be interesting for you when you come next<BR>>=20
october?<BR>><BR>> Best regards,<BR>> Andr=C3=A9s Agudelo</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in =
0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Of course I said =
yes.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The next message, two weeks =
before the=20
event, added one interesting and challenging wrinkle =E2=80=93 this =
Open Space would=20
be for 2,000 people:</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in =
0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">> Hi =
Peggy,<BR>><BR>>=20
The priest would like to do an OS for two thousand of the=20
kids/adolescents,<BR>> including three hundred of the people who =
work with=20
them, if possible oct<BR>> 31st and Nov. 1st. Would this be fine =
for=20
you?<BR>> </P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">> When would be =
a good time=20
to talk by phone?</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">><BR>> =
Ciao,<BR>>=20
Andr=C3=A9s<BR style=3D"mso-special-character: line-break"><BR=20
style=3D"mso-special-character: line-break"></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">I remember =
thinking, =E2=80=9C2,000=20
people?<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Is that for =
real?<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I=E2=80=99m sure when we dig =
into the details,=20
it will be a more =E2=80=98normal=E2=80=99 size.<SPAN =
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> =20
</SPAN>And if not, it will be fine (I hope).=E2=80=9D</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in =
0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">We talked the next =
day.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>And sure enough, they wanted =
2,000=20
people present.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The =
context and=20
questions all sounded straightforward enough.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I trusted =
Andr=C3=A9s=E2=80=99 judgment and made=20
the leap.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It was a =
go.</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in =
0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">A few days later, =
12 days=20
before the event was scheduled was my first conversation with the =
sponsor;=20
actually the sponsor=E2=80=99s right hand=E2=80=94<st1:City =
w:st=3D"on"><st1:place=20
w:st=3D"on">Helena</st1:place></st1:City>.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: =
yes"> =20
</SPAN>As I later learned, <st1:City w:st=3D"on"><st1:place=20
w:st=3D"on">Helena</st1:place></st1:City> is a remarkable dynamo with =
an=20
extraordinarily competent staff that is used to dealing with very =
large=20
numbers of kids.</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in =
0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">I should mention a =
couple=20
interesting twists to this story.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: =
yes"> =20
</SPAN>Since we were in <st1:City w:st=3D"on"><st1:place=20
w:st=3D"on">Bogota</st1:place></st1:City>, the OS would be in Spanish, =
a=20
language in which I can count to ten and name a few colors.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>While I had met Andr=C3=A9s =
during my first=20
trip to <st1:country-region w:st=3D"on"><st1:place=20
w:st=3D"on">Colombia</st1:place></st1:country-region> during the =
summer, this=20
would be our first work together.</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in =
0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">During our =
conference call, I=20
learned that <st1:City w:st=3D"on"><st1:place=20
w:st=3D"on">Helena</st1:place></st1:City>=E2=80=99s exposure to OS =
consisted of what she=20
had learned through Andr=C3=A9s and one 50-person self-conducted =
experiment with=20
some of the adults who work with this jobs program.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>They loved the experience =
and the=20
results and they were completely committed.</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in =
0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">I called both =
Harrison Owen and=20
Michael Pannwitz to gather any information from their 2,108 person OS =
that=20
might be useful.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>They =
both said=20
essentially the same things:</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in =
0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">The dynamics are =
the same as=20
any other OS=E2=80=A6.be prepared to be surprised=E2=80=A6and have =
fun.</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in =
0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">I arranged to fly =
in a day=20
early to see the site.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> =
</SPAN>Andr=C3=A9s was=20
going to be out of town, so I was on my own in sorting through the=20
logistics.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I was still =
a bit in=20
denial that there might be anything special that I needed to consider =
for an=20
OS this size.</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in =
0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">THE SITE</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">My first impression =
was of the=20
sheer beauty of the place.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> =
</SPAN>I=20
learned that Fr. Javier de Nicolo was 75 and has been working with =
street kids=20
for 40 years, helping tens of thousands find a better life.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Through the years, he has =
attracted=20
the resources to build about 8 facilities around the city to house and =
educate=20
the young people.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The =
site of the=20
OS was primarily for young girls, ages 8-12, many of whom had =
experienced=20
physical and/or sexual abuse.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> =
</SPAN>The=20
plan was to take them off campus when the OS participants, ages 16-22, =
mostly=20
male, arrived.</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in =
0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">My next impression =
gave me=20
great reason to question my sanity in saying yes.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I saw the room planned for =
the=20
OS.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Unlike the=20
<st1:country-region w:st=3D"on">US</st1:country-region>, in <st1:City=20
w:st=3D"on"><st1:place w:st=3D"on">Bogota</st1:place></st1:City>, =
there=E2=80=99s no handy=20
sign posted with the room capacity.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: =
yes"> =20
</SPAN>I did a bit of walking and counting and my best estimate was =
the main=20
floor would hold 750 people sitting on the floor with a tiny circle in =
the=20
center.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The stage could =
accommodate perhaps another couple hundred and the balcony, with no =
inside=20
access for posting sessions might hold another couple hundred.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><st1:City =
w:st=3D"on"><st1:place=20
w:st=3D"on">Helena</st1:place></st1:City> seemed completely unfazed by =
the=20
seeming impossibility of putting 2,000 people in a space that, by her =
own=20
admission, had never held more than 1,000.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>That=E2=80=99s when I took =
the leap and=20
thought to myself, =E2=80=9CI=E2=80=99m working with a religious =
organization.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We=E2=80=99re in =
god=E2=80=99s hands.=E2=80=9D</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in =
0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">The courtyard =
leading to the=20
room was big, square and could easily accommodate 2,000.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We agreed to prepare both =
the room and=20
the courtyard and would be outside if the weather made that =
possible.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in =
0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Ah, the =
weather.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We were in the rainy =
season.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><st1:City =
w:st=3D"on"><st1:place=20
w:st=3D"on">Bogota</st1:place></st1:City> is a lush, green place, much =
like my=20
home town, Seattle.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> =
</SPAN>That meant I=20
knew and appreciated the price paid to live in such a beautiful, green =
place.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It rains a =
lot.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I had looked at weather.com =
and saw=20
nothing but rain in the future.</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in =
0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">We talked about =
tape on the=20
floor to mark aisle ways.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> =
</SPAN>We made=20
one accommodation for the limited space inside and windiness =
outside.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Rather than putting the =
paper and=20
markers on the ground in the center of the circle, lots of volunteers =
would=20
pass out paper and markers to everyone who wanted them.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Conveners would come to the =
center to=20
announce their issues.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> =
</SPAN>That=20
enabled us to keep the center circle small, maximizing sitting =
space.</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in =
0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">They had 40 =
computers on site=20
and volunteer teachers to support the kids with entering their =
reports.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Plus, they had plans to =
prepare 2,000=20
breakfasts and lunches for the two days.</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in =
0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">We talked about the =
theme.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The priest had just gotten =
some=20
devastating news: the jobs they had from public and private sources =
for the=20
work program were in jeopardy because kids were showing up stoned and =
were=20
stealing.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The theme =
took on a new=20
urgency and a decidedly fear-based twist: from the best possible job=20
opportunities now and in the future, it became saving the jobs they =
had.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I did my best to open the =
theme to be=20
more affirmative, future focused.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: =
yes"> =20
</SPAN>In the end, saving jobs won.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: =
yes"> =20
</SPAN>The theme:</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">"<st1:place =
w:st=3D"on"><st1:City=20
w:st=3D"on">Como</st1:City></st1:place> puedo colaborar YO para que =
los=20
empleadores nos sigan dando trabajo ahora y en el futuro?"</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><BR>Loosely =
translated (I=20
think): How can I contribute to employers not canceling work for us =
now and in=20
the future?<BR style=3D"mso-special-character: line-break"><BR=20
style=3D"mso-special-character: line-break"></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">The oddest part to =
me is that I=20
never panicked.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Rain =
seemed=20
inevitable and in no way could I picture 2,000 people fitting in the=20
room.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The theme was the =
most=20
fear-based I=E2=80=99d ever work with.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: =
yes"> =20
</SPAN>And I was calm.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> =
</SPAN>Some part=20
of me thought that was very odd.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: =
yes"> =20
</SPAN>Most of me just knew it would work.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Perhaps it was because I was =
VERY=20
clearly working with people who had handled huge crowds before.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>While they needed my =
expertise on the=20
OS logistics, it was clear the kids and I were all in good hands in =
every=20
other way. </P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in =
0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> I =
didn=E2=80=99t actually see=20
Andr=C3=A9s until the day before the event.<SPAN =
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> =20
</SPAN>I had just finished an intense three-day course and he was =
returning=20
from running an equally consuming multiple day workshop in =
<st1:country-region=20
w:st=3D"on"><st1:place =
w:st=3D"on">Ecuador</st1:place></st1:country-region>.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He saw our OS site for the =
first time=20
that afternoon.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He =
thought it=20
could hold 1,500, still not the 2,000 we expected.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We were both pretty =
tired.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We reviewed a few logistical =
items=20
that evening but didn=E2=80=99t actually agree to how we would work =
until the next=20
morning as we drove to the site.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: =
yes"> =20
</SPAN>And still I was calm.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> =
</SPAN>So=20
was Andr=C3=A9s.</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in =
0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">For the opening, we =
took our=20
cue from Harrison and Michael.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> =
</SPAN>I=E2=80=99d speak in English, Andr=C3=A9s in Spanish.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He wouldn=E2=80=99t do exact =
translation,=20
rather he=E2=80=99d speak the OS rituals in his own way.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We took it a step =
further=E2=80=94since the=20
number of English speakers was tiny, I would speak one line and =
he=E2=80=99d add all=20
of the specifics in Spanish.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> =
</SPAN>(I=20
actually suggested not appearing at all.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: =
yes"> =20
</SPAN>Ultimately, we agreed that while they wouldn=E2=80=99t =
understand my words,=20
there was something important about the presence of this stranger =
coming from=20
another country to work with them.)</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in =
0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">DAY ONE</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">After gloomy, grey =
skies and=20
constant rain since I=E2=80=99d arrived, the day, October =
31<SUP>st</SUP>, dawned with=20
blues skies and sun shine.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> =
</SPAN>As far=20
as I was concerned, it was a minor miracle.</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in =
0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">We convened in the =
courtyard,=20
with huge letters put together on the sides of the buildings spelling =
out the=20
law of two feet, the four principles, the conference theme.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It was spectacular.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The priest spoke (at length) =
then=20
turned the microphone over to us.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: =
yes"> =20
</SPAN>We began.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> =
</SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in =
0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">In recent years, =
I=E2=80=99ve begun=20
asking for a brief silence anytime the whole group gathers.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>At a minimum, it is a chance =
for=20
people to collect their thoughts.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: =
yes"> =20
</SPAN>More subtlely, there is something very powerful about groups,=20
particularly very large groups sitting together in silence.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We were curious how these =
young=20
people, with their drug-addicted backgrounds and reputation for =
violence would=20
respond.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It was =
AWESOME!<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Two thousand young people so =
quiet you=20
could hear a pin drop.</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in =
0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">We took them =
through the=20
opening and then it was time to post sessions.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>And I got my only big =
surprise.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>EVERYONE stood up and =
started milling=20
around.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I =
wasn=E2=80=99t sure what was=20
happening or whether anyone would post anything.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>And then it began.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Andr=C3=A9s was suddenly =
surrounded by kids=20
with topics on their papers.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> =
</SPAN>For=20
the next forty minutes, he stood, rock solid, holding the microphone =
as one by=20
one, 300+ sessions were announced and posted.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>So much for our neatly taped =
aisle=20
ways!<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The kids entered =
the hall=20
to look at the agenda wall.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> =
</SPAN>And=20
they were on their way.</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in =
0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">One theme was named =
over and=20
over: taking responsibility for their actions.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The sessions themselves were =
filled=20
with remarkable conversations:</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal=20
style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; mso-list: =
l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .25in"><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; =
mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol"><SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-list: Ignore">=C2=B7<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT: 7pt 'Times New =
Roman'"> =20
</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN dir=3Dltr>Is it time to end the =
=E2=80=9Ccode of silence=E2=80=9D and=20
speak out when someone shows up to work stoned?</SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal=20
style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; mso-list: =
l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .25in"><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; =
mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol"><SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-list: Ignore">=C2=B7<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT: 7pt 'Times New =
Roman'"> =20
</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN dir=3Dltr>How do we handle people who =
don=E2=80=99t obey the=20
rules of the program?<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> =
</SPAN>Should they=20
be kicked out?<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Helped =
back into=20
drug rehab?</SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in =
0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">The kids were =
deeply engaged.=20
<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>And our challenge was =
the=20
teachers!<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>They were so =
used to=20
keeping the kids under control, fearful of violence if they =
didn=E2=80=99t, that some=20
were taking over moderating groups!<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: =
yes"> =20
</SPAN>Wherever we could, we coached the teachers in real time to =
participate=20
but not take over.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We =
expressed=20
our distress to <st1:City w:st=3D"on"><st1:place=20
w:st=3D"on">Helena</st1:place></st1:City> and ultimately agreed that =
we would=20
meet with the teachers in the morning before we opened the space on =
day 2.</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in =
0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Our concern reached =
its peak=20
when we heard <st1:City w:st=3D"on"><st1:place=20
w:st=3D"on">Helena</st1:place></st1:City>=E2=80=99s voice over the =
loud-speaker system=20
that reached the entire campus announcing that it was time to change=20
sessions.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>And then she =
kept=20
talking.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Andr=C3=A9s =
went to take the=20
mike from her and returned empty handed.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: =
yes"> =20
</SPAN>I went out, found her talking to a young man, just holding the =
mike,=20
and I said, =E2=80=9CI=E2=80=99ll take that,=E2=80=9D removed it and =
left.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>A few minutes later, she =
joined Andr=C3=A9s=20
and me.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We talked to =
her about=20
how important it was for the young people to experience taking=20
responsibility.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>She =
thanked us=20
for the reminder that she was doing exactly what she often told the =
teachers=20
not to do!<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in =
0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">A few minutes =
later, our blood=20
pressure was raised again.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> =
</SPAN>We=20
heard the priest, midday, lecturing over the loud-speaker, telling =
everyone=20
they should go to work.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> =
</SPAN>So much=20
for butterflies!<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I knew =
it was my=20
responsibility to keep the space open for the kids.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Andr=C3=A9s, as my =
translator, and I, as=20
someone from completely outside the system, took off to find the =
priest.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I took (respectfully) the =
microphone=20
out of his hands as he was about to launch into yet another lecture =
over the=20
loud speaker system. I told him that he was talking to them =
about=20
responsibility but not giving them the chance to practice it. =
The=20
process we were using supports people in taking responsibility for =
what they=20
love, helping them learn to embrace responsibility from within =
themselves=20
rather than it being imposed by others outside themselves.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He told me he wanted what =
was best for=20
the kids.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I said we =
wanted the=20
same thing.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It was a =
defining=20
moment.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He not only =
took what I=20
said very graciously but the next day, he came with a completely =
different=20
attitude and no longer a need to lecture at length!<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I thanked him for his =
support at lunch=20
on day 2. He said, "Day 1 was the apocalypse. Day 2, we =
are in=20
heaven."<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It is my =
favorite line=20
from the whole event.<BR style=3D"mso-special-character: =
line-break"><BR=20
style=3D"mso-special-character: line-break"></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">DAY TWO</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">The clear weather =
held.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We began the day meeting in =
a circle=20
with the teachers.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We =
asked them=20
how they saw things going.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> =
</SPAN>Some=20
were quite distressed, feeling the young people needed better =
guidance.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Others were thrilled with =
the=20
thoughtfulness and initiative.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> =
</SPAN>In=20
the end, we encouraged them to listen as much as possible; to assume =
that even=20
if what they saw wasn=E2=80=99t the way they=E2=80=99d approach the =
work, that it was just=20
fine; and if they couldn=E2=80=99t resist intervening, that they do it =
with a=20
question. </P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><BR>Another 140 =
sessions went=20
up in the morning and 40 in the afternoon's action<BR>planning =
OS.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The dynamics were much the =
same as the=20
day before.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>No orderly =
queuing in=20
aisles, just a mob, respectfully waiting their turn to announce their=20
sessions.<BR><BR>The kids were quite amazing. I felt a bit like =
Mother=20
Therese. Whenever I walked through the square, they surrounded =
me.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Mostly, they wanted to try =
their 3 or=20
4 words of English and ask me questions. On the second day, I =
joined the=20
film crew (yes, we had a professional videographer with us) and =
started asking=20
the kids questions. They told me that they definitely want to do =
more=20
OS. When I asked why, one of these hard-core young men (no doubt =
carrying a knife or a gun somewhere in all that baggy clothing) said =
it gave=20
him a feeling of family.<BR style=3D"mso-special-character: =
line-break"><BR=20
style=3D"mso-special-character: line-break"></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">One young man =
approached me=20
right after the space opened to tell me that he had left early on day =
one but=20
was committed to staying all day today.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: =
yes"> =20
</SPAN>I wondered if he=E2=80=99d just told me indirectly that he =
wouldn=E2=80=99t leave to=20
get stoned today.</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in =
0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">The man who ran the =
program was=20
thrilled.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He told us =
that he had=20
learned so much from this.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> =
</SPAN>The=20
kids had told him that the program was far too easy on offenders, the =
rules=20
should be much tougher!<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> =
</SPAN>His=20
solution: he would ask the kids to define the rules and the =
consequences.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>What an incredible =
shift!</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in =
0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">A teacher found me =
to say that=20
she had gone into a room where the kids were playing cards.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Her first impulse was to =
tell them to=20
get to work. Instead, she remembered the suggestion of asking a =
question.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>=E2=80=9CDid they need =
anything?=E2=80=9D<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>=E2=80=9CNo,=E2=80=9D they =
replied, =E2=80=9Cwe=E2=80=99re just=20
fine.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We=E2=80=99re =
taking a break and=20
will get the work done just fine.=E2=80=9D<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: =
yes"> =20
</SPAN>The teacher left, a bit bemused, but satisfied that =
she=E2=80=99d done the=20
right thing.<BR style=3D"mso-special-character: line-break"><BR=20
style=3D"mso-special-character: line-break"></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in =
0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">As you can imagine, =
there was=20
incredible support from many, many people to pull this off. The =
kitchen=20
baked 8,000 loaves of bread for day 1. I understand that 2,300 =
lunches=20
were served that day, making the official count of 1,800 low.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>(We may have a new OS =
record! =20
They're re-counting the number registered.) The team working the =
computers posted reports as they came in.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The last I saw of the =
report, it was=20
at least 600 pages.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> =
</SPAN>None of it=20
would have been possible without my extraordinary colleague in this =
adventure,=20
Andr=C3=A9s Agudelo. While relatively new to OS, he has many =
years as a=20
Gestalt therapist and exudes calm even when deluged by several hundred =
kids=20
surrounding him with sessions to announce. <BR=20
style=3D"mso-special-character: line-break"><BR=20
style=3D"mso-special-character: line-break"></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in =
0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">AFTERWARDS</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">I left for home the =
next=20
morning, the weather gray and drizzly, leaving a request for =
Andr=C3=A9s to let me=20
know what happens.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We =
were quite=20
sure that Pandora=E2=80=99s box was wide open and nothing would be the =
same.</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in =
0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Four days after the =
event,=20
Andr=C3=A9s sent this message:</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in =
0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">>Hi =
Peggy,<BR>><BR>>I=20
will try to call yoou this weekend. A lot of things have happened, but =
I=E2=80=99d=20
rather talk to you.<BR>><BR>>Ciao,<BR>><BR>>Andr=C3=A9s=20
Agudelo<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: =
Verdana"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">And so it =
stands=E2=80=A6.</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in =
0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in =
0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Peggy Holman</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">November 7, =
2004</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in =
0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">P.S.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Pictures and a video coming =
soon=E2=80=A6.</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in =
0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial =
size=3D2>___________________________________<BR>Peggy=20
Holman<BR>The Open Circle Company<BR>15347 SE 49th Place<BR>Bellevue, =
WA =20
98006<BR>425-746-6274<BR><A=20
=
href=3D"http://www.opencirclecompany.com">www.opencirclecompany.com</A> =
<BR><A=20
=
href=3D"mailto:peggy at opencirclecompany.com">peggy at opencirclecompany.com</=
A>=20
</FONT></DIV>* * =
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