[OSList] Open Space in Charlottesville
Michael Herman via OSList
oslist at lists.openspacetech.org
Thu Aug 31 07:17:21 PDT 2017
the thing i like about the original principles and law is that they are
essentially descriptive, rather than prescriptive "ground rules." the law,
for instance, doesn't say one must use their two feet, it says "you and
only you know when you are learning and contributing as much as you can."
this isn't a ground rule, it's more like a law of nature, defy it at your
own risk. the moving about with two feet is just describing what happens
when people notice and act on the reality of the natural law.
the other thing i notice, lucas, is that you're attempting to promise
safety. that's a tall order. made taller by simultaneously saying that
ALL ideas are welcome. the combination of inviting everyone to learn and
contribute as much as they can, on the one hand, and be prepared to be
surprised, on the other, should be enough. if you promise "safe" space,
then as soon as anyone feels bad the hosts/facilitators are seen as
responsible. what you want is for everyone to be responsible for
everyone's safety. when the event finishes and everyone is still okay,
THAT is something the group (not the facilitator) has done for itself,
perhaps even the MOST important thing. the principles and law accomplish
that pretty well.
--
Michael Herman
Michael Herman Associates
312-280-7838 (mobile)
http://MichaelHerman.com
http://OpenSpaceWorld.org
On Thu, Aug 31, 2017 at 4:30 AM, Harrison Owen via OSList <
oslist at lists.openspacetech.org> wrote:
> The only suggestion I would make is not to take any questions. May seem
> rude, but the fact of the matter is that everything will be clear upon
> departure, and the sooner you get to take off the better. One side
> note—Personal prejudice, I’m sure—The original “5 Principles” and One Law
> quickly do the job, and my preference is always to quickly get out of the
> way and let the people do their job. Good Luck!
>
>
>
> Harrison
>
>
>
> Winter Address
>
> 7808 River Falls Dr.
>
> Potomac, MD 20854
>
> 301-365-2093 <(301)%20365-2093>
>
>
>
> Summer Address
>
> 189 Beaucauire Ave
>
> Camden, ME 04843
>
> 207 763-3261 <(207)%20763-3261>
>
>
>
> Websites
>
> www.openspaceworld.com
>
> www.ho-image.com
>
>
>
> *From:* OSList [mailto:oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org] *On Behalf
> Of *Lucas Cioffi via OSList
> *Sent:* Tuesday, August 29, 2017 6:29 PM
> *To:* World wide Open Space Technology email list
> *Subject:* Re: [OSList] Open Space in Charlottesville
>
>
>
> Hello Harrison, thanks so much for the prompt reply. Below is the draft
> script for the event. I wrote it down since I'm out of practice. I won't
> read it word for word; it's just a guide. You'll see the rules and the law
> are not referred to directly, since I think the crowd will understand it
> better if we explain it like this.
>
>
>
> Of course I may be very wrong about that. I'm just doing what seems best
> in my judgement. I'm 100% open to any and all suggestions!
>
>
>
> Lucas
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> 8:30am: Opening
>
>
>
> [JESSICA]
>
> Welcome, everyone. My name is Jessica G. And my name is Lucas C. All of
> us are gathered here to think together, and we are here to work together.
> If this goes well, it could be the start of something big.
>
>
>
> Charlottesville’s name has been tarnished. We have a window of
> opportunity for a second act. That window is closing.
>
>
>
> If there’s one community that can think outside the box and is not
> intimidated by obstacles, it’s the tech community. But we need vision, we
> need passion, and we need to be grounded in what’s practical, so that’s why
> we invited the leaders of ten local civic and activist groups from across
> the political spectrum.
>
>
>
> [LUCAS]
>
> This is a participant-driven event, and it will be what we all make of
> it. Our job as facilitators is to help you be at your best and then to get
> out of the way
>
>
>
> Some ground rules for all of us to keep in mind:
>
> · Everyone is welcome here, and we mean everyone.
>
> · All ideas are welcome here, and we mean all ideas.
>
> · This is a safe space for all of us to express any idea, even
> ones which are tough to hear, as long as you are coming from a place of
> respect.
>
> · And on the flip side, if you hear something that triggers you,
> first please assume that the other person is coming from a place of respect.
>
> · Think about who is not in the room and speak for them if you
> can. We don’t represent all of Charlottesville, so it’s important to think
> about who isn’t present so that we find solutions that work for the most
> people.
>
>
>
> Think big. What can we do as a tech community and as a city that makes a
> splash nationally? Can you think of a solution that breaks out of the
> left-right paradigm, or a solution that helps us find commonality rather
> than getting tripped up over a long and complicated racial past? Can you
> find solutions that appeal to both the center and the fringes?
>
>
>
> Here’s how this event will happen. You see over there an open agenda
> wall. Across the top, you see six spaces: the four corners of this room,
> Conference Room 1, and Conference Room 2. Going down the left side, you
> see three rounds of discussion. Each round lasts 40 minutes with a
> 5-minute break in between. There will be a 15-minute closing session at
> the end.
>
>
>
> If you want remote participants to be able to join your session, then
> please schedule your session in one of the conference rooms.
>
>
>
> In a moment, each of us will have the opportunity to post a session
> topic. You’ll walk to the center of the circle, pick up a piece of paper
> and a marker. Write the discussion topic and your name. Announce it, and
> then post it on the agenda wall. Sessions should be conversational rather
> than presentations or monologues. All you have to do have are some great
> questions, and the answers will come through the discussion.
>
>
>
> Let’s give everyone a moment to think about what sessions they want to
> hold before we get started.
>
>
>
> (pause for a minute)
>
>
>
> Ok, when you’re ready, please go ahead and write down your session topic
> and then announce it.
>
>
>
> (people start announcing and posting their topics on the wall)
>
>
>
> Now we’ll start the breakout sessions. This is your event, so you won’t
> see us dropping by to remind you of how much time is left or the need to
> wrap up. If your conversation is running long, please take it to the cafe
> area, out of respect for the people who are participating in the next
> session in that space.
>
>
>
> Open space has the law of two feet, which means that if find a
> conversation isn’t going the way you expected, you are highly encouraged to
> pick up and move to another conversation where you can contribute more.
> Don’t take it personally if people drop out of your session.
>
>
>
> You can feel free to hop between sessions, and you can feel free to just
> hang out by yourself in the hallway or even take a walk with someone
> outside.
>
>
>
> Whenever possible, please take good notes for those who could not attend.
> We expect that many people across the community will want to organize
> around your ideas and help you implement them.
>
>
>
> Are there any questions?
>
> (pause)
>
>
>
> Ok, the session topics are posted. Let’s make today count.
>
>
>
> 9:00am: Breakout Round 1
>
>
>
> 9:45am: Breakout Round 2
>
>
>
> 10:30am: Breakout Round 3
>
>
>
> 11:15am: Closing
>
>
>
> [Jessica]
>
> Welcome back.
>
> (pause)
>
> What thoughts would you like to share with everyone?
>
>
>
>
> Lucas Cioffi
>
> Founder, QiqoChat.com
>
> Charlottesville, VA
>
> Mobile: 917-528-1831 <(917)%20528-1831>
>
>
>
> On Mon, Aug 28, 2017 at 7:02 PM, Harrison Owen <hhowen at verizon.net> wrote:
>
> Sounds wonderful . But what is this “openspacish” event? Just do it. And
> if you need some help try Kai down in Harrisonburg. Used to be the Mayor –
> and had done lots of OS – by the book. Works.And he shows up on the list.
>
>
>
> ho
>
>
>
> Winter Address
>
> 7808 River Falls Dr.
>
> Potomac, MD 20854
>
> 301-365-2093 <(301)%20365-2093>
>
>
>
> Summer Address
>
> 189 Beaucauire Ave
>
> Camden, ME 04843
>
> 207 763-3261 <(207)%20763-3261>
>
>
>
> Websites
>
> www.openspaceworld.com
>
> www.ho-image.com
>
>
>
> *From:* OSList [mailto:oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org] *On Behalf
> Of *Lucas Cioffi via OSList
> *Sent:* Monday, August 28, 2017 4:42 PM
> *To:* World wide Open Space Technology email list
> *Subject:* [OSList] Open Space in Charlottesville
>
>
>
> Hi All, I sent this out to the NCDD listserv moments ago and thought I
> need to share it with the wonderful folks here on OS-LIST too.
>
>
>
> You may have seen the violence in Charlottesville two weeks ago when
> alt-right protesters and Black Lives Matter & Antifa counter-protesters
> clashed. One alt-right sympathizer committed a terrorist attack by
> violently plowing his car into a crowd of counter-protesters, killing one
> and injuring 19.
>
>
>
> The community is still stunned and no one knows what to do, so what should
> we do? We should open some space. I'm putting together a 3-hour open
> space-ish event on Thursday for the Cville tech community (and inviting
> local leaders of civic and activist groups) so we can figure out what we as
> technologists have to offer. If this goes well, we'll hold a larger open
> space for all of Cville.
>
>
>
> If that goes well, maybe I can work with some of you to hold some
> simultaneous open spaces across the country one day this Autumn. I'll also
> try opening some space with Zoom & QiqoChat (for the breakouts). If/when
> that happens, I'll be sure to reach out here so that we can plan this in
> the open.
>
>
>
> I look forward to seeing what else comes of all this...
>
>
> Lucas Cioffi
>
> Founder, QiqoChat.com
>
> Charlottesville, VA
>
> Mobile: 917-528-1831 <(917)%20528-1831>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: *Lucas Cioffi* <lucas at qiqochat.com>
> Date: Mon, Aug 28, 2017 at 4:34 PM
> Subject: Hi from Charlottesville (Round 2)
> To: "NCDD-DISCUSSION at LISTS.NCDD.ORG" <NCDD-DISCUSSION at lists.ncdd.org>
>
> Thank you so much for the tremendous discussion on this listserv over the
> past sixteen days! I've learned so much from the resources and ideas you
> have all shared.
>
>
>
> *UPDATES*
>
> The work to respond to the violence of August 12th is just beginning.
> Last night the Department of Justice's Community Relations Service
> <https://www.justice.gov/crs/about-crs> (created as part of the 1964
> Civil Rights Act) held their first public town meeting here. I posted
> rough notes below so you can get a sense of what people were talking
> about. It was supposed to last 2 hours, but went 3.5 hours. The meeting
> was in a high school auditorium and there were about 500 people present.
> Everyone had a chance at the microphone. There were no time limits. There
> were 10 news crews present.
>
>
>
> Big themes that I heard:
>
> - Cville's black community is very upset about August 12th but also
> about the lack of economic opportunity & affordable housing, and pervasive
> racism
> - many people are outraged by the police security plan on August 12th
> - many people feel the community is still not safe for them
> - several people mentioning that they want to take action into their
> own hands if City Council doesn't act (alluding to violence, including the
> one guy who said he was the one who threatened the mayor at the last City
> Council meeting)
> - two people did get in a 5-min shouting match over the general idea
> of taking down monuments
> - there is a big lack of trust in government at all levels, from the
> city (& police) to the DOJ and the President
>
> *NEXT STEPS*
>
> As a member of Cville's tech community, the first step I'm taking is
> co-organizing a 3-hour "open space" this Thursday. The target audience is
> our local tech community plus leaders of local civic and activist groups.
> If this succeeds, we'll help convene a bigger one open which will be open
> to everyone in Charlottesville.
>
>
>
> I've also heard from 10 local citizens and half dozen members of this
> listserv who want to volunteer for any local dialogue initiative that we
> may plan. I'm sincerely thankful for those of you who have reached out.
> For those that cannot make it to Cville, I think we will also plan online
> dialogue using Zoom video chat (breakout rooms made possible by QiqoChat)
> during which time any NCDD member can host a breakout room and use any
> dialogue technique they want; the audience will be people across the
> country. We'll have an open planning process if/when that happens, so you
> will hear about it on this listserv.
>
>
>
> I'll know more after the local tech community convenes on Thursday.
>
>
> Lucas Cioffi
>
> Charlottesville, VA
>
> Mobile: 917-528-1831 <(917)%20528-1831>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> -------
>
>
>
> INTRODUCTION BY DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
>
> - Department of Justice Community Relations Service
> - Three phases: recovery, dialogue, moving forward
> - Acknowledge what has happened
> - Many questions have been asked and are under investigation.
> - We need to educate ourselves to preven tthis from reoccurring.
> - We've had dialogue about who we are in the past.
> - Let's be patient.
> - We all have to be able to listen.
> - DOJ CRS created as part of the 1964 Civil Rights Act:
> https://www.justice.gov/crs/about-crs
> <https://www.justice.gov/crs/about-crs>
> - Tonight we will collect concerns, identify common themes, and create
> resolution.
> - Here are the ground rules: respect, one person at a time, etc
>
>
>
> COMMUNITY CONCERNS
>
> - lack of trust in Trump & Attorney General Jeff Sessions
> - police were reactive instead fo proactive
> - lack of leadership from City Council
> - we need better gun control in parks
> - we need to learn how to get these statues down
> - we need all voices heard; the political right should be a part of
> the meeting not a target of this meeting
> - the county is part of the Cville community
> - we need faith in rule of law
> - police failed to protect our people
> - wishing there was a way to remove privilege
> - http://solidaritycville.com/Demands/ has 10 demands:
> - 1. Revoke the permit for the August 12 “Unite the Right March on
> Charlottesville” and grant a permit for the Carnival de Resistance.
> - 2. Remove the Lee and Jackson statues, now.
> - 3. Fulfill the “Positive Vision of Resident Directed Redevelopment”
> from the Charlottesville Public Housing Association of Residents.
> - 4. Drop the charges against Veronica Fitzhugh.
> - 5. Apologize publicly for negligence in Sage Smith’s disappearance,
> and commit to an expansion of the investigation.
> - 6. Cease the targeting of Black families by social services to send
> children into foster care.
> - 7. End JADE (Jefferson Area Drug Enforcement militarized police
> unit).
> - 8. End money bail, and release people being held without bond before
> their trial.
> - 9. Stop discriminatory stop-and-frisk.
> - need affordable housing
> - police need to apologize
> - discriminatory foster care poliies
> - militarization of police
> - stop & frisk
> - remove monuments
> - resist white supremacy
> - sage smith's family
> - too few minority faces here
> - want understanding
> - call this a terrorist attack
> - systemic ideal of race
> - the DOJ note-taker miswrote on the screen what someone said and
> instead wrote "extend white privilege"
> - it's a shame that there are no Congressional staff here listening
> - why were there no barricades on 4th street?
> - lack of trust in government
> - gun control
> - this meeting is a waste of time, because we're staring from zero
> instead of the work that was already done at the Jefferson School a few
> days after
> - Jefferson School had a better, more engaging meeting
> - City Councilmembers have received death threats and that is
> unacceptable
> - black women want to feel safe
> - white nationalists mapped out the black neighborhoods according to
> online evidence
> - if more blacks were present at the rally, the alt-right would have
> opened fire
> - how do we protect ourselves
> - there should be no open carry law in Cville, there's a state level
> rule (Dillon's Rule) that prevents us from making our own laws unless
> specifically granted permission by the VA legislature
> - white supremacists are still in town
> - we are lucky that there was no massacre; we got very lucky
> - tired of calls for unity
> - feel abandoned by federal government
> - DOJ is taking away resources from liberal causes (voter ID laws,
> LGBT rights, etc)
> - I don't want unity with local wingnuts who have a rifle and a
> menacing look on their face
> - ask for resignations of city council and city manager
> - "Attorney General is a monument to white supremacy"
> - drop a bomb in Afghanistan and you're dropping it in Cville too,
> because a refugee is affected
> - free political prisoners
> - investigation of police body cameras
> - tear gas on Cville residents
> - power to the people (w/ black power fist)
> - "they are trying to bury us; we are seeds"
> - prosecute community leaders for failing to protect
> - charge Richard Spencer
> - call a terrorist a terrorist
> - When will Kessler get charged?
> - minorities are silenced through a summer of hate
> - no justice
> - police should have stop and frisked Nazis
> - our low income community has a gate to keep people in; not the way
> it should be
> - want harsh punishments of the alt-right
> - there is no affordable housing
> - there is too much racial profiling and unreasonable search
> - there needs to be recreation at low income housing areas; YMCA not
> affordable
> - no activities for black people
> - there should be free speech for the people who disrubpted the
> council meeting
> - there was a generation of blacks taught to not speak up
> - thank you to the white community for coming out in support of the
> black community
> - there were movies which all happened near here (Birth of a Nation,
> Loving, Hidden Figures); Hollywood must have known that something big was
> going to happen
> - we need to make our history more accessible
> - "each one, teach one"
> - lack of police presence at minority events
> - we're having to police ourselves
> - what is the role of Civlle police?
> - our history is that our city chose to close schools instead of
> desegregate
> - our history is Vinegar Hill
> - they want to kill back men, especially if they have knowledge
> - someone should pay my doctor bills for getting tear-gassed
> - judge has blood on his hands
> - "if you don't get it, we will shut it down"
> - leadership should resign
> - we should all vote differently
> - "What has voting done for us in the past?"- person yelled out
> - this meeting is a farce; we need truth
> - where are police when the shroud is removed from the statue last
> night?
> - Mayor should resign
> - (speaker says he was the one that threatened the Mayor at the last
> city council meeting)
> - give equal rights to blacks
> - if you can't do it, we will
> - police plan was publicly "arrest people when fights break out" but
> that didn't happen
> - don't allow hate speech; follow Europe's example of no Nazi symbols
> - our divided country is week
> - many of the Nazis are young, impressionable people
> - alt-right leaders are saying they are taking the country back
> - be careful of what the government tells you, they told us the police
> got pepper-sprayed at the KKK rally (the reason they used tear gas) but
> they're not saying that anymore
> - Trump = terrorist
> - investigate Trump
> - ISIS would not get a permit
> - deny the next permit
> - we need honesty and accountability
> - we need to elect better people
> - what if we had this meeting on July 9th instead? this meeting is
> too little & too late
> - This will play out in Richmond bigger if not solved
> - people shouldn't come in from out of town to battle on our streets
> - we need more black people at our meeting; we need a different venue
> - police faced the community not the KKK
> - media showed up at UVA torch rally long before police; shameful on
> police
> - no police presence at black churches and many other places
> - need a different process other than this meeting; Jefferson School
> meeting was much better
> - mental health professionals are volunteering to help Cville
> residents; there should be official support of such a program
> - many people are terrorized
> - get rid of monuments
> - change happens within ourselves
> - don't wait for the City's investigations to conclude; that's giving
> away power
> - drop charges on Veronica
> - need a different system than the Cville City Council & City Manager
> structure; our city is too big for that to work now
> - there is police harassment
> - there has been racism for a long time
> - no affordable housing
> - we black residents don't care about the statues
> - when speech turns violent, it's not protected; there were clear
> threats
> - Me: this way this race-based violence is escalating is following a
> similar pattern with what I saw civil war in Iraq
> - Me: anyone interested in building bridges, please share your email
> address
> - the juvenile justice system is broken
> - school to prison pipeline
> - "when someone is incarcerated their family does time too"
> - my boys are back from prison but mentally still locked up
> - we need new economics to build wealth
> - no good jobs
> - need a mindshift change in city council
> - there have never been two black city council members at any given
> time
> - UVA should be held accountable for the tiki torch rally
> - all investigators should be independent
> - we need a community security plan (ie sound fire station alarms if
> there's an attack)
>
>
>
>
>
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