1500+ Hospital OS in Chile

Mon Nov 8 16:26:47 PST 2004

Johann,

To echo some of Chris' comments, what is the theme?  If it's practical
outcomes you want, I'd strongly recommend 2 days.  There is a researched
effect, called the Zeigarnik Effect (a conversation about this years ago on
this list called it "bounce"; I've put a couple messages about that below),
that demonstrated the importance of people sleeping on complex subjects.
Humans do a lot of processing overnight when a subject remains open-ended.
It made a HUGE difference in the OS I just completed with street kids in
Colombia.

That said, I would agree with Harrison's comment on don't do verbal reports.
Post the notes on the walls, copy and pass them out, let them review the
proceedings themselves.

And I would also stay away from voting.  There is a growing strategy for
taking action used by more and more of us doing OS.  It is based, not
surprisingly, in the essence of Open Space: taking responsibility for what
you love.  Rather than setting priorities with votes, re-open the space for
acting on what they've been discussing.  People who convene sessions define
the areas to be pursued.  People vote with their feet, attending the
sessions on the actions they wish to support.

Best of success to you,.
Peggy

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jay Vogt" <JayWV at aol.com>
To: <OSLIST at listserv.idbsu.edu>
Sent: Sunday, December 13, 1998 8:12 PM
Subject: Day 2 Bounce

> Greetings:
> I have observed a delightful phenomenon in my last two open space events
> and I
> wonder how commonly it occurs for the rest of you.  One of these was my
> reason
> for not being in Monterrey (sort of a good excuse.)
>
> Both were two day events.
> Both were with intact organizations of about 30 folks or so.
> One's theme was to create a vision and plan for an organization, while the
> other's was to implement a vision given by leadership and the marketplace.
> Both leaders were supportive, although many participants were sceptical,
> feeling they had more work to do than time to do it in.
>
> Here's what I observed:
> On day one, both groups wrestled directly with tough issues, and for many
> it
> was slow going, but at least they felt they were talking about the right
> things.  In one group, a free-floating discussion on mission lasted
> through
> four rounds until they thought they had it right.  The day ended with
> folks
> feeling excited about the process, and their connections, but very aware
> of
> how long it had all taken, and how much was left to be done.
>
> This energy appeared to cook overnight in a big way, in both cases,
> judging by
> what happened next.
>
> On day two of both events, I sensed people came in charged up to tear
> through
> the remaining issues in a BIG WAY.  The energy and excitement to get at
> things
> was palpable, and intoxicating, in both cases, at least to me.  As
> facilitator, I briefly helped frame the tension between what folks had
> come to
> do, and what they had actually done.  What happened next surprised
> everyone:
> people tore up the tracks.  Tons of work got done in no time flat -
> particularly in the morning.  In one case the group was actually able to
> finish ahead of schedule, and adjourn early.
>
> For me it was an experience of the eternal surprise of open space, and of
> the
> elasticity of the NOW.
>
> I saw that the anxiety that fuels day one can give way to a passion to
> make
> things happen that, in these cases, fueled day two.  The frustrations of
> talking about the right things, but not making enough progress on them, on
> day
> one seemed to fuel rapid progress on day two.  Of course there was a ton
> of
> alignment by then,too, fueling this speedy work.
>
> How common is a day two BOUNCE of surprisingly rapid productivity, in your
> experiences?
>
> Thanks for your thoughts, Jay Vogt

----- Original Message -----
From: "Buzz Blick" <buzz at NWLINK.COM>
To: <OSLIST at listserv.idbsu.edu>
Sent: Monday, December 14, 1998 1:43 PM
Subject: Re: Day 2 Bounce

> Hi Everyone,  I love the term Day-Two Bounce too :-)  It is so much more
> interesting and descriptive and fun than the scientific name of the
> Zeigarnik Effect.
>
> In case readers are not familiar with the term, there is a very nice,
> short,
> description in Emery and Purser's book, The Search Conference, (p.180).
> It
> says "The idea here is to create a Zeigarnik Effect (Marrow, 1969;
> Zeigarnik, 1927).  According to this theory, the excitement generated
> during
> the (previous session) will be sustained, pending completion of the
> unfinished task in the morning.  The Zeigarnik effect occurs when
> intensive
> work on a task is interrupted, leading to a heightened motivation to
> complete unfinished business.  Even giving notice that there will be a
> recap
> of the earlier work done first thing in the morning is sufficient for
> producing the Zeigarnik effect."
>
> I try to remind myself of this effect whenever I am tempted to try
> "wrapping
> things up" too completely at the end of a day, when we have more days to
> go.
> It works better to leave some task unfinished, and pick it up the next
> day.
> There will be better products and much more energy.   I think that Marvin
> Weisbord calls this the need for "soak time".  Whatever, it seems to work.
>
> Thanks for the new term for the result...the Day-Two Bounce.
>
> Buzz

----- Original Message -----
From: "Johann BORQUEZ" <zekrov at HOTMAIL.COM>
To: <OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU>
Sent: Monday, November 08, 2004 8:15 AM
Subject: [OSLIST] 1500+ Hospital OS in Chile

> Hi,
>
> I have been requested to facilitate an Open Space meeting for more than
> 1500 hospital workers. The hospital is about to begin its normalization
> process (they have to design the hospital for the next 20 years, a $10M
> investment), and I have a headache about the proceedings presentation
> process: my experience shows that 1 session is convened every 10 - 15
> attendants; with 1500 people it means 100 sessions - 3 minutes per group
> makes 300 minutes: 5 hours! I doubt that somebody will be able to listen
> for 5 hours and still be concentrated enough to meaningfully vote at the
> end. How do I do that? My guesses are:
> 1. Divide the 1500 in three 500-people groups, work with each in a
> separate day, and leave the door open for people to come all three days,
> if someone feels like that. It makes little sense to me, because the point
> of OST is to get the whole system in a room.
> 2. Don't prioritize the issues the same day of the Open Space meeting: let
> people raise concerns, identify leaders and networks around them, register
> the proceedings and share them for a week or two through other channels
> (Bulletin Boards, e-BBS, email, printed form, etc.). After that, make
> people vote -convene a special "voting session" in a big space where
> everybody can see the proceedings, and vote.
> 3. ??
>
> Any ideas?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Johann Bórquez Bohn
> Chilean OST Practitioner
>
> *
> *
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>From  Mon Nov  8 19:39:19 2004
Message-Id: <MON.8.NOV.2004.193919.0500.>
Date: Mon, 8 Nov 2004 19:39:19 -0500
Reply-To: Audrey at facilitatingforchange.com
To: OSLIST <OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU>
From: Audrey Coward <Audrey at facilitatingforchange.com>
Organization: Coward & Associates Consulting
Subject: Re: GOOD WORK FOR 2,000 COLOMBIAN STREET KIDS (long)
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=20
Hi Peggy,
What a wonderful story. Thank you.
Audrey
=20

=20

=20

=20

  <file://C:\Documents and Settings\Audrey\Application
Data\Microsoft\Signatures\logo.gif>=20

Facilitating Individual and Organizational Change=20
2281F Lakeshore Blvd. W, Toronto, ON M8V 1A6=20
416-259-6215=20
 <http://www.facilitatingforchange.com/> www.facilitatingforchange.com=20

-----Original Message-----
From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of Peggy
S. Holman
Sent: Monday, November 08, 2004 7:13 PM
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=E9s 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=E9s Agudelo

=20

Of course I said yes.  The next message, two weeks before the event,
added one interesting and challenging wrinkle =96 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=E9s

I remember thinking, =932,000 people?  Is that for real?  I=92m sure =
when we
dig into the details, it will be a more =91normal=92 size.  And if not, =
it
will be fine (I hope).=94

=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=E9s=92 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=92s right =
hand=97Helena.
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=E9s 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=92s exposure to OS
consisted of what she had learned through Andr=E9s 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=85.be prepared to be
surprised=85and have fun.

=20

I arranged to fly in a day early to see the site.  Andr=E9s 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=92s 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=92s when I took the leap and thought to
myself, =93I=92m working with a religious organization.  We=92re in =
god=92s
hands.=94

=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=92d 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=92t actually see Andr=E9s 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=92t 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=E9s.

=20

For the opening, we took our cue from Harrison and Michael.  I=92d speak
in English, Andr=E9s in Spanish.  He wouldn=92t do exact translation, =
rather
he=92d speak the OS rituals in his own way.  We took it a step
further=97since the number of English speakers was tiny, I would speak =
one
line and he=92d add all of the specifics in Spanish.  (I actually
suggested not appearing at all.  Ultimately, we agreed that while they
wouldn=92t 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=92d 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=92ve 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=92t sure what was happening or whether anyone would post
anything.  And then it began.  Andr=E9s 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:

=B7        Is it time to end the =93code of silence=94 and speak out =
when
someone shows up to work stoned?

=B7        How do we handle people who don=92t 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=92t, 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=92s 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=E9s 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, =93I=92ll =
take
that,=94 removed it and left.  A few minutes later, she joined Andr=E9s =
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=E9s, 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=92t the way they=92d approach the work, that it was =
just
fine; and if they couldn=92t 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=92d just told me indirectly that he wouldn=92t 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.  =93Did =
they
need anything?=94  =93No,=94 they replied, =93we=92re just fine.  =
We=92re taking a
break and will get the work done just fine.=94  The teacher left, a bit
bemused, but satisfied that she=92d 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=E9s 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=E9s to let me know what happens.  We were quite sure
that Pandora=92s box was wide open and nothing would be the same.

=20

Four days after the event, Andr=E9s sent this message:

=20

>Hi Peggy,
>
>I will try to call yoou this weekend. A lot of things have happened,
but I=92d rather talk to you.
>
>Ciao,
>
>Andr=E9s Agudelo

=20

And so it stands=85.

=20

=20

Peggy Holman

November 7, 2004

=20

P.S.  Pictures and a video coming soon=85.

=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> </DIV>
<DIV>Hi=20
Peggy,</DIV>
<DIV>What a=20
wonderful story. Thank you.</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff =

size=3D2>Audrey</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
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<P><I><FONT face=3D"Courier New" color=3D#008000>Facilitating Individual =
and=20
Organizational Change</FONT></I> <BR><FONT face=3D"Courier New"=20
color=3D#008000>2281F Lakeshore Blvd. W, Toronto, ON  M8V =
1A6</FONT>=20
<BR><FONT face=3D"Courier New" color=3D#008000>416-259-6215</FONT> =
<BR><A=20
href=3D"http://www.facilitatingforchange.com/"><U><FONT=20
face=3D"Franklin Gothic Medium"=20
color=3D#008000>www.facilitatingforchange.com</FONT></U></A> </P>
<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> Monday, November 08, 2004 7:13 PM<BR><B>To:</B> =

OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU Subject: GOOD WORK FOR 2,000=20
 COLOMBIAN STREET KIDS (long) </DIV>
 <DIV>
 GOOD WORK FOR 2,000 =
COLOMBIAN=20
 STREET KIDS
 <o:p> </o:p>
 Where to begin to =
tell this=20
 story?  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.
 <o:p> </o:p>
 THE SET-UP
 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">  About five weeks before =
leaving, I=20
 received an e-mail from Andr=E9s 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>:
 <o:p> </o:p>
 > Hi =
Peggy, > >=20
 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 >=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 > into drugs and prostitution (or the=20
 guerrilla) to survive. What he has been > doing is training =
them in=20
 different skills, and he gets them jobs, or makes > team of =
youngsters=20
 to pave the streets of the city, financed by the mayors > office =
and=20
 some private funds. He agreed to make an OST in order to =
motivate > the=20
 kids: they start working with energy, and then fade out. > What =
do you=20
 think? Would it be interesting for you when you come next >=20
 october? > > Best regards, > Andr=E9s Agudelo
 <o:p> </o:p>
 Of course I said =
yes.<SPAN=20
 style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  The next message, two weeks =
before the=20
 event, added one interesting and challenging wrinkle – this Open =
Space would=20
 be for 2,000 people:
 <o:p> </o:p>
 > Hi =
Peggy, > >=20
 The priest would like to do an OS for two thousand of the=20
 kids/adolescents, > including three hundred of the people who =
work with=20
 them, if possible oct > 31st and Nov. 1st. Would this be fine =
for=20
 you? > 
 > When would be =
a good time=20
 to talk by phone?
 > > =
Ciao, >=20
 Andr=E9s <BR=20
 style=3D"mso-special-character: line-break">
 I remember =
thinking, “2,000=20
 people?  Is that for =
real?<SPAN=20
 style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  I’m sure when we dig =
into the details,=20
 it will be a more ‘normal’ size. =20
 And if not, it will be fine (I hope).”
 <o:p> </o:p>
 We talked the next =
day.<SPAN=20
 style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  And sure enough, they wanted =
2,000=20
 people present.  The =
context and=20
 questions all sounded straightforward enough.<SPAN=20
 style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  I trusted Andr=E9s’ =
judgment and made=20
 the leap.  It was a =
go.
 <o:p> </o:p>
 A few days later, =
12 days=20
 before the event was scheduled was my first conversation with the =
sponsor;=20
 actually the sponsor’s right hand—<st1:City =
w:st=3D"on"><st1:place=20
 w:st=3D"on">Helena</st1:place></st1:City>. =20
 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.
 <o:p> </o:p>
 I should mention a =
couple=20
 interesting twists to this story. =20
 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">  While I had met Andr=E9s =
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.
 <o:p> </o:p>
 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>’s exposure to OS =
consisted of what she=20
 had learned through Andr=E9s 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">  They loved the experience =
and the=20
 results and they were completely committed.
 <o:p> </o:p>
 I called both =
Harrison Owen and=20
 Michael Pannwitz to gather any information from their 2,108 person OS =
that=20
 might be useful.  They =
both said=20
 essentially the same things:
 <o:p> </o:p>
 The dynamics are =
the same as=20
 any other OS….be prepared to be surprised…and have =
fun.
 <o:p> </o:p>
 I arranged to fly =
in a day=20
 early to see the site.  =
Andr=E9s was=20
 going to be out of town, so I was on my own in sorting through the=20
 logistics.  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.
 <o:p> </o:p>
 THE SITE
 My first impression =
was of the=20
 sheer beauty of the place.  =
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">  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.  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.  =
The=20
 plan was to take them off campus when the OS participants, ages 16-22, =
mostly=20
 male, arrived.
 <o:p> </o:p>
 My next impression =
gave me=20
 great reason to question my sanity in saying yes.<SPAN=20
 style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  I saw the room planned for =
the=20
 OS.  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’s no handy=20
 sign posted with the room capacity. =20
 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.  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’s when I took the =
leap and=20
  thought to myself, “I’m working with a religious =
organization.<SPAN=20
  style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  </SPAN>We’re in god’s =
hands.”</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.  It rains a =
lot.<SPAN=20
 style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  I had looked at weather.com =
and saw=20
 nothing but rain in the future.
 <o:p> </o:p>
 We talked about =
tape on the=20
 floor to mark aisle ways.  =
We made=20
 one accommodation for the limited space inside and windiness =
outside.<SPAN=20
 style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  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">  Conveners would come to the =
center to=20
 announce their issues.  =
That=20
 enabled us to keep the center circle small, maximizing sitting =
space.
 <o:p> </o:p>
 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">  Plus, they had plans to =
prepare 2,000=20
 breakfasts and lunches for the two days.
 <o:p> </o:p>
 We talked about the =
theme.<SPAN=20
 style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  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.  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">  I did my best to open the =
theme to be=20
 more affirmative, future focused. =20
 In the end, saving jobs won. =20
 The theme:
 "<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?"
 Loosely =
translated (I=20
 think): How can I contribute to employers not canceling work for us =
now and in=20
 the future? <BR=20
 style=3D"mso-special-character: line-break">
 The oddest part to =
me is that I=20
 never panicked.  Rain =
seemed=20
 inevitable and in no way could I picture 2,000 people fitting in the=20
 room.  The theme was the =
most=20
 fear-based I’d ever work with. =20
 And I was calm.  =
Some part=20
 of me thought that was very odd. =20
 Most of me just knew it would work.<SPAN=20
 style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  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">  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. 
 <o:p> </o:p>
  I =
didn’t actually see=20
 Andr=E9s until the day before the event. =20
 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">  He saw our OS site for the =
first time=20
 that afternoon.  He =
thought it=20
 could hold 1,500, still not the 2,000 we expected.<SPAN=20
 style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  We were both pretty =
tired.<SPAN=20
 style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  We reviewed a few logistical =
items=20
 that evening but didn’t actually agree to how we would work =
until the next=20
 morning as we drove to the site. =20
 And still I was calm.  =
So=20
 was Andr=E9s.
 <o:p> </o:p>
 For the opening, we =
took our=20
 cue from Harrison and Michael.  =

I’d speak in English, Andr=E9s in Spanish.<SPAN=20
 style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  He wouldn’t do exact =
translation,=20
 rather he’d speak the OS rituals in his own way.<SPAN=20
 style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  We took it a step =
further—since the=20
 number of English speakers was tiny, I would speak one line and =
he’d add all=20
 of the specifics in Spanish.  =
(I=20
 actually suggested not appearing at all. =20
 Ultimately, we agreed that while they wouldn’t understand =
my words,=20
 there was something important about the presence of this stranger =
coming from=20
 another country to work with them.)
 <o:p> </o:p>
 DAY ONE
 After gloomy, grey =
skies and=20
 constant rain since I’d arrived, the day, October =
31st, dawned with=20
 blues skies and sun shine.  =
As far=20
 as I was concerned, it was a minor miracle.
 <o:p> </o:p>
 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">  It was spectacular.<SPAN=20
 style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  The priest spoke (at length) =
then=20
 turned the microphone over to us. =20
 We began.   =

 <o:p> </o:p>
 In recent years, =
I’ve begun=20
 asking for a brief silence anytime the whole group gathers.<SPAN=20
 style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  At a minimum, it is a chance =
for=20
 people to collect their thoughts. =20
 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">  We were curious how these =
young=20
 people, with their drug-addicted backgrounds and reputation for =
violence would=20
 respond.  It was =
AWESOME!<SPAN=20
 style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  Two thousand young people so =
quiet you=20
 could hear a pin drop.
 <o:p> </o:p>
 We took them =
through the=20
 opening and then it was time to post sessions.<SPAN=20
 style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  And I got my only big =
surprise.<SPAN=20
 style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  EVERYONE stood up and =
started milling=20
 around.  I wasn’t =
sure what was=20
 happening or whether anyone would post anything.<SPAN=20
 style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  And then it began.<SPAN=20
 style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  Andr=E9s was suddenly =
surrounded by kids=20
 with topics on their papers.  =
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">  So much for our neatly taped =
aisle=20
 ways!  The kids entered =
the hall=20
 to look at the agenda wall.  =
And=20
 they were on their way.
 <o:p> </o:p>
 One theme was named =
over and=20
 over: taking responsibility for their actions.<SPAN=20
 style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  The sessions themselves were =
filled=20
 with remarkable conversations:
 <SPAN=20
 style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; =
mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol"><SPAN=20
 style=3D"mso-list: Ignore">=B7<SPAN=20
 style=3D"FONT: 7pt 'Times New =
Roman'">       =20
 Is it time to end the “code =
of silence” and=20
 speak out when someone shows up to work stoned?
 <SPAN=20
 style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; =
mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol"><SPAN=20
 style=3D"mso-list: Ignore">=B7<SPAN=20
 style=3D"FONT: 7pt 'Times New =
Roman'">       =20
 How do we handle people who =
don’t obey the=20
 rules of the program?  =
Should they=20
 be kicked out?  Helped =
back into=20
 drug rehab?
 <o:p> </o:p>
 The kids were =
deeply engaged.=20
  And our challenge was =
the=20
 teachers!  They were so =
used to=20
 keeping the kids under control, fearful of violence if they =
didn’t, that some=20
 were taking over moderating groups! =20
 Wherever we could, we coached the teachers in real time to =
participate=20
 but not take over.  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.
 <o:p> </o:p>
 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>’s voice over the =
loud-speaker system=20
 that reached the entire campus announcing that it was time to change=20
 sessions.  And then she =
kept=20
 talking.  Andr=E9s went =
to take the=20
 mike from her and returned empty handed. =20
 I went out, found her talking to a young man, just holding the =
mike,=20
 and I said, “I’ll take that,” removed it and =
left.<SPAN=20
 style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  A few minutes later, she =
joined Andr=E9s=20
 and me.  We talked to =
her about=20
 how important it was for the young people to experience taking=20
 responsibility.  She =
thanked us=20
 for the reminder that she was doing exactly what she often told the =
teachers=20
 not to do!  
 <o:p> </o:p>
 A few minutes =
later, our blood=20
 pressure was raised again.  =
We=20
 heard the priest, midday, lecturing over the loud-speaker, telling =
everyone=20
 they should go to work.  =
So much=20
 for butterflies!  I knew =
it was my=20
 responsibility to keep the space open for the kids.<SPAN=20
 style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  Andr=E9s, 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">  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">  He told me he wanted what =
was best for=20
 the kids.  I said we =
wanted the=20
 same thing.  It was a =
defining=20
 moment.  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">  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."  It is my =
favorite line=20
 from the whole event. <BR=20
 style=3D"mso-special-character: line-break">
 DAY TWO
 The clear weather =
held.<SPAN=20
 style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  We began the day meeting in =
a circle=20
 with the teachers.  We =
asked them=20
 how they saw things going.  =
Some=20
 were quite distressed, feeling the young people needed better =
guidance.<SPAN=20
 style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  Others were thrilled with =
the=20
 thoughtfulness and initiative.  =
In=20
 the end, we encouraged them to listen as much as possible; to assume =
that even=20
 if what they saw wasn’t the way they’d approach the work, =
that it was just=20
 fine; and if they couldn’t resist intervening, that they do it =
with a=20
 question. 
 Another 140 =
sessions went=20
 up in the morning and 40 in the afternoon's action planning =
OS.<SPAN=20
 style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  The dynamics were much the =
same as the=20
 day before.  No orderly =
queuing in=20
 aisles, just a mob, respectfully waiting their turn to announce their=20
 sessions. 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">  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=20
 style=3D"mso-special-character: line-break">
 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. =20
 I wondered if he’d just told me indirectly that he =
wouldn’t leave to=20
 get stoned today.
 <o:p> </o:p>
 The man who ran the =
program was=20
 thrilled.  He told us =
that he had=20
 learned so much from this.  =
The=20
 kids had told him that the program was far too easy on offenders, the =
rules=20
 should be much tougher!  =
His=20
 solution: he would ask the kids to define the rules and the =
consequences.<SPAN=20
 style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  What an incredible =
shift!
 <o:p> </o:p>
 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">  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">  “Did they need =
anything?”<SPAN=20
 style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  “No,” they =
replied, “we’re just=20
 fine.  We’re =
taking a break and=20
 will get the work done just fine.” =20
 The teacher left, a bit bemused, but satisfied that she’d =
done the=20
 right thing. <BR=20
 style=3D"mso-special-character: line-break">
 <o:p> </o:p>
 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">  (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=E9s 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=E9s =
to let me=20
  know what happens.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  </SPAN>We =
were quite=20
  sure that Pandora’s 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=E9s 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’d=20
  rather talk to you.<BR>><BR>>Ciao,<BR>><BR>>Andr=E9s=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….</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….</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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>From  Mon Nov  8 17:03:08 2004
Message-Id: <MON.8.NOV.2004.170308.0800.>
Date: Mon, 8 Nov 2004 17:03:08 -0800
Reply-To: chris at chriscorrigan.com
To: OSLIST <OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU>
From: Chris Corrigan <chris.corrigan at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: GOOD WORK FOR 2,000 COLOMBIAN STREET KIDS (long)
In-Reply-To: <005801c4c5f0$e6559d90$0b6691c6 at Traveler>
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Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

Wow Peggy.

My experience with kids, youth and young folks is that no amount of
chaos or mess deters them in Open Space.  They find their way to
posting sessions and connecting to the discussions they want to be
involved in.

You mention that the theme was fear-based, but what struck me was how
focused it was on individual action, contribution and responsibility.
I'm willing to be that in inviting people to reflect on the ways in
which they could personally deal with the forces around them you
calmed their fear.  A theme like "How can I contribute to employers
not canceling work for us now and in the future?" says that the answer
is within me, and so it's a matter of focusing and bringing forth
action from a place I deeply care about and own.  Knowing that one
owns one's liberation is a powerful and empowering moment.  Your
constant interventions, and those of your team, served to support that
space in being open, in which that dawning sense of empowerment was
invited to emerge.

As for the comment that day one was the apocalypse and day two was
heaven, well, that holds the record for a day two "bounce!"

It's a great story, and I'm left with an overall sense of awe at your
group, as I always am.  It's a rare and astonishing  moment when
hundreds of young people find their power in Open Space.  Events like
this truly change many single lives all at once.  Andres needs to
become a master storyteller because the story these kids are writing
is set to unfold over a generation.

Congrats Peggy and thanks for sharing this.

Chris

--
-------------------------
CHRIS CORRIGAN
Consultation - Facilitation
Open Space Technology

Weblog: http://www.chriscorrigan.com/parkinglot
Site: http://www.chriscorrigan.com

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