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<TITLE>RE: The particaption of youth in Open Space</TITLE>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2>Thanks to Michael Herman my virginity was preserved for one additional day! I missed the "Reply All" button by about 2 pixels and the following reply regarding the issue of the participation of youth in Open Space only went to Michael. Hopefully, I get lucky this time! For those of you whose minds are in the gutter, shame on you!</FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2>> With this writing, I am no longer a virgin on this</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> listserv. I'd just like to add to previous comments</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> regarding the participation of youth in Open Space that,</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> as in any network of humans, sometimes it is necessary to</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> encourage the right people to participate. Sometimes they</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> may not think that they have value to add, but with a few</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> kind words from someone who does value their input, they</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> can come out of their shells. Some youth participants may</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> be intimidated by the adults in an environment that is</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> foreign to them. Others won't. But casual encouragement</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> in the marketplace could help a great deal to make the</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> best possible use of all the feet that show up.</FONT>
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<BR>
<P><FONT SIZE=2>Best regards,</FONT>
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<BR>
<P><FONT SIZE=2>Scott Phillips</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>Business Performance Specialist</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>Employee and Organizational Learning</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>NORTEL NETWORKS</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>Tel : ESN 456-1614, External (905) 693-1614</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>Fax : ESN 456-1615, External (905) 693-1615</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>E-Mail : scotphil@nortelnetworks.com</FONT>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2> -----Original Message-----</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>From: Rhett Hudson/Chris Weaver [<A HREF="mailto:rhett&chris@MAIN.NC.US">mailto:rhett&chris@MAIN.NC.US</A>] </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>Sent: Tuesday, May 23, 2000 7:53 AM</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>To: OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>Subject: Re: The particaption of youth in Open Space</FONT>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2>Dear Andrew,</FONT>
</P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2>I have been in three OS events which included a small number of young people</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>among adults, all with themes oriented around adult concerns.</FONT>
</P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2>My experience has been that the young people (in two cases 10 -</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>12-year-olds, in another high-school students) have not convened focus</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>groups, but that focus group members have naturally and authentically sought</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>the young people's input. In every case, the young people have spoken</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>eloquently and from a fresh and important angle in the closing circle.</FONT>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2>I have also asked young people to help me with set-up (taping up signs, etc)</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>as a way of making them feel included right away. I have refrained from</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>spotlighting them in front of the group. As the OS process invites adults</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>to join as they are ready, so does it work naturally with younger folks.</FONT>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2>-Chris Weaver</FONT>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2>----------</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>>From: Andrew Donovan <adonovan@mpx.com.au></FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>>To: OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>>Subject: The particaption of youth in Open Space</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>>Date: Tue, May 23, 2000, 7:28 AM</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>></FONT>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2>> Dear Friends</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>></FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> I have a one day open space this Friday in Canberra (Australia's capital)</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> for our leading adult literacy organisation. The 50 or so people attending</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> are policy makers from various fields. The focus is on literacy and young</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> people. Several young people will be attending (say 2-3).</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>></FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> A member of the leadership team hosting the open space is very concerned</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> that the process/the facilitator ensure that the voice of the young people</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> is heard. While perhaps making some welcoming comments in my introduction,</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> I don't intent to single them out or really do anything further than I</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> would normally in opening the space. But, I am open to the wisdom of the</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> list. I think it's a relevant concern that a group of 40 powerful adults</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> could intimidate 3 young people (their small numbers are a problem in</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> itself), even though that is not their intention.</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>></FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> How would other people respond to these concerns, have you done anything</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> differently to include young people in a largely adult group? Many thanks</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>></FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> warm wishes</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>></FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> andrew</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>></FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>></FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>></FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> Andrew Donovan</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> tel +61 3 9416 3021</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> fax +61 3 9416 2935</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> PO Box 1705</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> Collingwood VIC 3066</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> Australia</FONT>
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