[OSList] Open Space in Prison

[Chris Kloth]

This week I have been doing some work with Adam Foss and his  
Prosecutor Impact program in Columbus, Ohio. USA. (See link below)

As part of this two week program we took 40+ prosecutors to Marion  
Correctional Institution for the day. Most had never been in a prison.  
Without going into the details, a group of 12 inmates organized a day  
of activities to provide the prosecutors to explore what it might mean  
to re-imagine the roles of prosecutors on the criminal justice system  
in the US and in Ohio.

We entered a very large chapel in the prison and discovered a very  
large circle of chairs. Imagine my surprise when Wayne, a lifer, said  
that while he had been inside he had learned about a process called  
Open Space Technology and entered into a brief review of the  
Principles and the Law! He sent markers around the circle, explaining  
that they were serving as both a talking sticks and ways to identify  
topics... an approach that accommodated the security concerns  
reflected in prison policies.

Purists might raise a number of questions about how the process was  
planned and executed, but if the essence is opening space for people  
to organize themselves to have several rounds of dialogue within the  
Principles and the Laws... I call it an amazing success. If inmates  
and prosecutors crying and embracing as part of the closing circle...  
I call it an amazing success.

Before we left I asked Wayne how he learned about OST. He said he  
found this "old green book" in the prison library!

I have been blessed to have experienced and convened many OST  
experiences that left me feeling deeply touched, but I suspect this  
session will always live deep  in my heart as one of the most profound!


https://www.ted.com/talks/adam_foss_a_prosecutor_s_vision_for_a_better_justice_system/discussion


-- 
Shalom,

Chris Kloth
ChangeWorks of the Heartland
254 South Merkle Road
Bexley, OH 43209-1801
ph 614-239-1336
fax 614-237-2347
www.got2change.com

Think globally. Act locally.





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