Experience with diverse cultures participating in OST?

[Phelim McDermott]

On 29 Jan 2006, at 17:36, Phelim McDermott wrote:

> This makes me think on one of the issues which came up around our "  
> devoted and disgruntled what are we going to do about theatre?"   
> open space event.
>
> One of the issues was that despite having targeted all sectors of  
> the theatre community there was a very small representation from  
> the Black Theatre Community.....
>
> this prompted one disgruntled person at the end of first day news  
> to say..
>
> "where are the black people here?   It's a case of Whoever turns up  
> is the WHITE people! " although I viewed this as a representation  
> of the landscape of the uk theatre world it was hard not to feel  
> criticised, As we had made a big effort to make sure the invitation  
> went to a wide audience. It also got the debate happening because  
> they weren't there but brought up lots of questions about the next  
> event. Any thoughts anyone?
>
> phelim
> On 29 Jan 2006, at 13:37, Harrison Owen wrote:
>
>> From: ORT MARIA [mailto:ptnrsmrt at mindspring.com]
>> Sent: Saturday, January 28, 2006 6:53 PM
>> To: hhowen at verizon.net
>> Subject: Re: Experience with diverse cultures participating in OST?
>>
>> . . . Make sure the space is open and folks will take care of  
>> themselves.
>>
>> Thank you Harrison. I'm an old hand at facilitation but relatively  
>> new to
>> OST. My intuition told me that would be the case but it's  
>> reassuring to hear
>>
>> it from you.
>> By the way, I was new to the listserv last month when you talked  
>> about OST
>> emerging over a martini. Made me laugh. My former business partner  
>> and I
>> wrote our first "business plan" on a cocktail napkin while drinking
>> martinis. We made a great go of it for 10 years before I was  
>> called to this
>> profession. More important, we're still the best of friends.
>> Maria
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Harrison Owen" <hhowen at verizon.net>
>> To: "'ORT MARIA'" <ptnrsmrt at mindspring.com>
>> Sent: Saturday, January 28, 2006 4:20 PM
>> Subject: RE: Experience with diverse cultures participating in OST?
>>
>>
>> This may seem a little short -- but having worked in a number of  
>> similar
>> environments I suggest that you not worry about the cultural  
>> details. First
>> off, you will never get them right -- but mostly, if you make sure  
>> the space
>> is really open, everything just takes care of it self. The space  
>> is theirs
>> and it is open. If they need to pray, be with, not be with,  
>> certain people
>> -- they will take care of that. Make sure the space is open and  
>> folks will
>> take care of themselves.
>>
>> Harrison
>>
>> Harrison Owen
>> 7808 River Falls Drive
>> Potomac, Maryland 20854
>> Phone 301-365-2093
>> Skype hhowen
>> Open Space Training www.openspaceworld.com
>> Open Space Institute www.openspaceworld.org
>> Personal website www.ho-image.com
>> OSLIST: To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the
>> archives Visit: www.listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of  
>> ORT MARIA
>> Sent: Saturday, January 28, 2006 5:21 PM
>> To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
>> Subject: Experience with diverse cultures participating in OST?
>>
>> Hello OST Listserv Guru's,
>>
>> Happily, I have the opportunity to OS with the Arizona Refugee  
>> Resettlement
>> Program next month. It will be my first opportunity for a 2-day OS  
>> (the
>> other three have been just 1 day events, so I am fairly new at  
>> it). The
>> State Agency is hosting a retreat for 30 representatives from both  
>> state &
>> federally funded Arizona organizations as well as volunteer groups  
>> that
>> serve specific refugee ethnicities or cultures.  Somalis, Sudanese,
>> Bosnians, Muslims and Jews will be participating. All speak and write
>> English fluently.
>>
>> My question: Are there adaptions required to the OS process? In  
>> general, I
>> know that Muslims prefer to separate men and women in meetings  
>> (example: if
>> there are any "juicers/energizer" activities, Muslim women can  
>> hold each
>> others hands, but not a males hand). I'm aware of dietary  
>> restrictions for
>> meals served at the retreat. However, I am ignorant of any  
>> adaptations to
>> the OS process that might be required to make it a welcoming and  
>> appropriate
>>
>> space.
>>
>> Many thanks, Maria Ort
>> Scottsdale, AZ
>>
>>
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>

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