OS with and for elderly, mental health consumers and others [long]

Michael M Pannwitz mmpanne at boscop.org
Mon Mar 10 00:28:35 PDT 2008 

Dear Lisa,
the event you probably refer to (Abenteuer alt werden - und das in 
fremder Heimat) gathered some 93 aged participants from all the 
countries that workers came from in the late fifties when there was a 
labor shortage in Germany (Jugoslavia, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Turkey, 
Italy...). They are now settled in Germany, have children and 
grandchildren...in a community that is not set up or prepared yet to 
deal with this rapidly growing group...beginning with simple things such 
as halal food in nursing homes, physicians or nursing personnel that can 
communicate in the language or culture of their clients...
Well, it worked grand.
But, this being true of all os events I have been involved in, a 
planning session with a cross-section of who is expected at the event 12 
weeks before the event works very well...this group always becomes much 
more than just a planning group, they play an important role in 
spreading the word, inviting others and explaining a bit about what the 
gathering will be like.
....
One of the great os stories about an os with seriously handicapped 
people is told by Birgitt Williams...havent seen her on this list for a 
while...I have to do a little hunting around, perhaps someone else has 
her account.

Greetings from Berlin
mmp

Lisa Heft wrote:
> Hello, dear colleagues -
> 
>  
> 
> I have a client who is interested in hearing about the use of OS with and
> for:
> 
>  
> 
> Elderly persons
> 
> Mental health consumers
> 
> People with different physical abilities and disabilities
> 
> Intergenerational work
> 
> ..in conferences or in community, business or organizational meetings.
> 
>  
> 
> We are planning something together and he wishes a few stories in hand so he
> can explain this to people who don't 'get it' like he does.  He TOTally gets
> it and is excited for what we are about to do.  A bit of support on how OS
> has been used in somewhat similar circumstances to his will be a great help
> as he approaches his planning committee.
> 
>  
> 
> Thanks to everyone for sending a few words about OS events you have been
> part of with participants such as this - feel free to send to me directly or
> post on the list.
> 
> 
> Below are stories I have already collected.  John, were you able to do that
> OS you mention below?  And Michael P, I looked on
> http://www.openspaceworldscape.org <http://www.openspaceworldscape.org/>   -
> but the one listing I saw is an event you did, written up in German.  Alas,
> I do not speak German. If you can share a few words about it that would be
> great.  Perhaps some of you who have done similar work in Canada can also
> share some of your stories, as Larry mentions below.
> 
> 
> Thanks, everyone - here are more stories below...
> 
>  
> 
>  
> 
> Kerry Napuk, Scotland
> 
>  
> 
> We facilitated an event with 102 mental health users from all parts of
> Scotland.  In two rounds of issues and actions on finding a collective voice
> during day one, they convened 30 sessions with 90 actions.  On day two on
> making their voice heard, service users created 14 project teams, including
> plans to form a new national organisation.  The opening circle was pulsating
> with energy and set the scene for a very memorable event. There were many
> stories of personal courage, participants who came to Dundee having not left
> their houses in more than two years and not having been away overnight or on
> a train alone for more years than they could recall. Even though
> participants were all users of mental health services and were coping with
> various medical illnesses, they stuck into the work with great gusto and
> humour.  It was a magnificent conference of individual learning and sharing,
> as well as collective consciousness.
> 
>  
> 
> Larry Peterson, Canada
> 
>  
> 
> A number of us in Canada have facilitated OS events with "consumer/survivors
> of the mental health system" - the term they have chosen here.  A variety of
> very successful events over the past years sometimes with folks with some
> difficult physical issues as well.  It is delightful experience such events.
> 
>  
> 
> John, USA and Haiti
> 
>  
> 
> I'm talking with leadership at an elderly care community. The president
> really believes in the power of dialogue. They have about 1,500 people in
> their community which include several hundred staff and care-givers and
> nearly 1,000 elderly persons. Some of the elderly own their homes which are
> part of the community and do not need daily care. Others live in a special
> place where they have constant care. Leadership's challenge is to foster a
> cultural change in their community from one of medical care to one of
> overall social care. They want to engage everyone in conversations about
> this and are considering organizing one or a couple of day-long open space
> events during this summer.
> 
>  
> 
> Harrison Owen, USA
> 
>  
> 
> Never did anything with elder care communities -- but something pretty
> close. About 8 years ago, the Northwest Regional Advisor Council for the
> AARP (American Association of Retired People) decided they needed to focus
> their mission, purpose, and program. Open Space was the chosen vehicle. The
> council consisted of some 150 people with an average age of 70+ (actually
> more on the plus side.) Space opened, and everything happened as usual, but
> I was a little worried about the reports. We were using computers, and for
> many of the people involved, a computer was a new and different thing. Most
> could type, but a computer....???? Anyhow the reports started to come in,
> and I passed by the Newsroom. There a wonderful lady, obviously in her early
> 80s, confronted the machine, surrounded by mounds of flip chart paper. Not
> only was this her first time out, but she happened to have posted *THE*
> issue, and many people had lots to say. I wondered, and passed on my way.
> Sometime later I came back just to check. She was obviously making progress,
> but in a way that pained me. Using a large magnifying glass to see the
> screen, she punched in her report, one finger at a time.
> 
>  
> 
> I watched for a moment, and then did what I never would do ordinarily. I
> came up to her and offered to help. She didn't quite hear me at first, but
> when she did -- her response was surprising. She turned on me like a mother
> guarding her children and said, "No young man. I will type my own report!" I
> tipped my hat and went on my way. ... 
> 
>  
> 
> __________
> 
>  
> 
> Thanks, all,
> 
>  
> 
> Lisa
> 
> ___________________________
> 
> L i s a   H e f t
> 
> Consultant, Facilitator, Educator
> 
> O p e n i n g  S p a c e
> 
>  <mailto:lisaheft at openingspace.net> lisaheft at openingspace.net
> 
>  <http://www.openingspace.net> www.openingspace.net 
> 
>  
> 
> 
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