conference/speaker OS Stories/Summaries

Mon Feb 5 12:29:51 PST 2007

Hello,

I've compiled and created stories of Open Space used in conjunction  
with conferences
and speakers. Below is what I've compiled:

In Asheville, NC, a loose community that was coming together around  
the 2004 election and a desire for change gathered to hear a speech  
by Col. Robert Bowman. Out of a 3-hour, 70-person Open Space  
following the speech the Kindness Campaign -  
www.thekindnesscampaign.org was created and has been sustained to the  
present.
- Maureen McCarthy and Zelle Nelson

Over the course of 2 ½ days in Denver 230 of the most innovative  
planners, developers, tool providers, civic leaders, artists and  
others from over 30 states and 3 countries were brought together to  
share learning, build networks and seed innovation in place. 3  
keynotes inspired and provoked while a day of programmed sessions saw  
presentations and discussion facilitated by 60 leaders in the field.  
The second half of the conference was held in Open Space where lines  
stretched out the hall as participants proposed session topics,  
collaboratively built an agenda, and moderated over 60 intensive,  
small-group discussions, the results of which were captured as a  
living transcript using an online wiki.
- Chris Corrigan

200 highly-motivated professional financial planners joined for 4  
days (2 days of presentations and training), 1 1/2 days in Open Space  
for their annual conference to discuss best practices in their own  
businesses. These professionals connected so deeply that in the  
closing circle on the last day there was not a single dry eye as they  
shared their experiences. The impact and flow of information accessed  
at this conference was unprecedented in the 15 year history of this  
particular conference.
- Maureen McCarthy and Zelle Nelson

The school district of Fairbanks, Alaska (covering an area the size  
of the entire state of Connecticut) held a 2-day, 250-person  
conference on 'Becoming a Peacemaker.' Half the participants were  
students in the middle and high schools (ages 13-18) and all  
participants had some experience with mediation and conflict  
resolution. The kids did exceptionally well in Open Space and one  
high school student led a series of four breakout sessions to create  
an entire suicide prevention program that for the middle school  
students. The statewide suicide prevention hotline was up and running  
within weeks of the conference.
- Michael Herman

In Kiev in October with 90 people from over 20 countries in Europe.  
It was at a 7 day conference, the first 4 days we setting the goals,  
looking at reality, and community building. The next 2 days were open  
space, and the final day was action planning continuing in an OST style.
- Bhavesh Patel

35 youth from the City of Vancouver gathered on a Friday, to meet one  
another, build community and reflect on their experience in a 2-month  
process designed to learn about, discuss and report violations of the  
UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. 55 people, including two  
Members of the Provincial Legislative Assembly and other  
representatives of government and organizations, gathered with the  
youth Saturday morning to view their performance piece that expressed  
a summary of what the project had learned and participate in a short  
and intense Open Space. Topics raised included what to do to help  
youth live independently and in safe conditions, stopping police  
harassment of Aboriginal and Latino youth by working with the police,  
and educating youth and adults on rights. To have provincial  
politicians sitting in the room with street youth, working together  
to move forward the learnings from the project was a powerful  
experience.
- Chris Corrigan

After three OST events with a group focused on Legal Education for  
Aboriginal Families in Vancouver, Canada with 45, 45, and 32  
attending; with 11, 15, and 13 topics being discussed), there has  
been a shift in awareness because of the process. The community has  
discovered it's resources, has realized that it has itself to look to  
for the future. It has shared deep experiences. This little community  
has begun to lay down a foundation for itself. It has become something.
- Chris Corrigan

For 4 days 80 drilling and technology engineers from bp (British  
Petroleum) representing 15 different countries joined together to  
share best practices and to focus on the future of their company and  
industry. The schedule included various presentations followed by  
Open Space, for the first 3 days and ended on the 4th day with 9  
different teams heading up 12 different initiatives to be carried out  
in the coming year.
- Maureen McCarthy and Zelle Nelson

In 2000, 300 business leaders from around the world were gathered  
together by Fast Company Magazine and met for 3 days of inspiring  
speeches and Open Space focused on building a community of  
professionals. Countless partnerships, connections and projects were  
launched and supported by this amazing conference.
- Maureen McCarthy and Zelle Nelson

Many thanks to everyone who contributed their wonderful stories!

with grace and love,

Zelle

Zelle Nelson
Know Place Like Home/Engaging the Soul at Work/State of Grace Document

www.knowplacelikehome.com
www.engagingthesoulatwork.com
www.stateofgracedocument.com

zelle at knowplacelikehome.com

work/home: (001) 828.693.0802
mobile: (001) 847.951.7030

Isle of Skye
2021 Greenville Hwy
Flat Rock, NC 28731
USA

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