[OSList] Request for Government-sponsored Open Space stories!

[Harrison Owen]

Tricia – “Proof” will never be forthcoming. Reason is simple. Every Open Space is unique. What happens in one place is not a firm indication that “it” can/will happen again. So whenever anybody says they want “proof” – my answer is that it can’t happen, won’t happen, and if it did they would never believe it anyhow. In this case... what happened in Harrisonburg happened in Harrisonburg. Pittsburg, of course is unique!   So what else is new? However, maybe a conversation Mayor to Mayor might help? Kai Degner (who did all of that) is no longer Mayor of Harrisonburg, I believe. But he is still there, a good person, and probably would respond positively to an email Kai.Degner at gmail.com . I know him. He knows me. Good luck.

 

Harrison

 

Harrison Owen

7808 River Falls Dr.

Potomac, MD 20854

USA

 

189 Beaucaire Ave. (summer)

Camden, Maine 04843

 

Phone 301-365-2093

(summer)  207-763-3261

 

www.openspaceworld.com 

www.ho-image.com (Personal Website)

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From: oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org [mailto:oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org] On Behalf Of Tricia Chirumbole
Sent: Friday, February 14, 2014 10:35 AM
To: World wide Open Space Technology email list
Subject: [OSList] Request for Government-sponsored Open Space stories!

 

Hi all!

 

This is part 2 of a request for fodder for my discussions with the new mayor of Pittsburgh, PA re: Open Space inspired civic engagement initiatives. They watched the video of the Harrisonburg, VA mayoral Open Space summits and said they were, "very cool", but apparently wanted more "proof".

 

The scoop: Good news so far! I was in the Mayor's office last week and learned that they are very sincere about wanting to develop a civic engagement platform, and they even said lovely things like they don't want it to be top-down and they want participation in actual community development - not just feedback/town halls. 

 

They also mentioned early on that they could use "something like this" for internal work - citing low morale from the last mayor who left in scandal and the fact that some of the people have probably worked there for 30 years and never been asked their thoughts on anything. 

 

Request: They are interested in more examples of governments sponsoring this type of citizen-directed and designed civic engagement. 

 

Three specific questions: 1) How do we make sure people feel safe?; 2) How do we ensure that there are no repercussions for people sharing openly? (in reference to an internal Open Space); and 3) How do we get a diversity of people to participate? 

 

I gave responses to all of these that I think made sense, but any references, videos, examples of government external or internal open space work  would be MUCH appreciated! I think any level of government in any country would do. 

 

 

Thanks so much for reading this lengthy epistle!  May you share and feel the love today and always :) 




Tricia Chirumbole

Open Space Facilitator, Certified Scrum Master

Mojo Collaborative

www.mojocollaborative.com

 

571-232-0942

skype: tricia.chirumbole

twitter: @themojozone

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