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<TITLE>Re: [OSLIST] open space once again plays in Peoria</TITLE>
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Dave,<BR>
<BR>
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful story, timely for me and full of nuggets of wisdom for facilitators. Thank you for posting it.<BR>
<BR>
Chris<BR>
<BR>
----------<BR>
From: "(David Koehler)" <Nsdmk@aol.com><BR>
To: OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU<BR>
Subject: [OSLIST] open space once again plays in Peoria<BR>
Date: Fri, Feb 2, 2001, 5:55 PM<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<BLOCKQUOTE><FONT SIZE="2">Dear Friends: <BR>
<BR>
We just concluded two nights of open space for neighborhoods in Peoria, <BR>
Illinois USA. We had over 75 people representing a geographic (within the <BR>
city) and ethnic/cultural diversity. If I had a dollar for each time I heard <BR>
the word "spirit" used in the closing circle, I would be quite rich. I'll <BR>
try to hit the high points. <BR>
<BR>
Some learning's: <BR>
<BR>
1. It worked well to take the responsibility off my shoulders and put it on <BR>
the participants in the opening. What I said is, "I feel no pressure on <BR>
whether or not this is a good or successful event. That's your (the group's) <BR>
responsibility. So this is fun for me." In the evening news on the second <BR>
night I re-enforced this when I was asked, "Now what are you going to do with <BR>
all this information?" My response was "Nothing, ...what are you going to do <BR>
is the question." The response from the group was "Ah," with some applause. <BR>
<BR>
2. After the first session, people were standing around talking and not <BR>
going directly into their next sessions. Four people came up to me (all at <BR>
once and together) and demanded that I make people go to their groups. <BR>
"Nope" was my reply. (Actually folks were taking an OS coffee break, and I <BR>
wasn't about to interfere.) I mentioned to the delegation of four that <BR>
people were doing some important networking and that I predicted in five <BR>
minutes or so people would begin to regroup. And that's exactly what <BR>
happened. (Then I had to spend some time cleansing the "cockiness" feeling <BR>
from my system.) <BR>
<BR>
3. As luck would have it, as we began the closing circle, (I was holding a <BR>
beautiful carved wooden walking stick that one of the participants had <BR>
offered when I had asked the night before if someone would like to provide <BR>
the talking stick), a Native American woman came up and inquired about the <BR>
stick and began to tell me about how it was used in her culture. I <BR>
immediately ask her if she would share it with the group. She did. I had <BR>
tears in my eyes when she was done. She walked around the circle and spoke <BR>
of the true meaning of the circle and how we were all equals. She talked <BR>
about how the elders would enter the circle from the East and would hold the <BR>
talking stick and speak. It was a very powerful and spirit filled moment and <BR>
set the tone for an incredibly deep and rich closing. <BR>
<BR>
4. Real convergence took place on a couple of issues. It happened <BR>
naturally, which I think is the best way. While the first evening had been <BR>
chaotic and frantic, the second evening was reflective and serious in mature <BR>
kind of way. After the event was over, several people indicated that they <BR>
are planning to open space on some very specific issues that grew out of the <BR>
discussion. I think one was on the need for green space and parks in the <BR>
inner city neighborhoods. <BR>
<BR>
A final thought... <BR>
<BR>
In the closing circle, a conversation took place, through the various <BR>
comments, in which some of the younger people talked to the older veterans of <BR>
neighborhood activism. They expressed their respect for their years of <BR>
persistence, in some cases 30 or 40 years of involvement in battling <BR>
slumlords and druggies, etc., and they thanked them for their wisdom and <BR>
their stamina. The older members of the group praised the younger people and <BR>
thanked them for their intensity and their energy and the hope they provided. <BR>
It was a real moment of magic. Spirit touched soul. I felt I had been on <BR>
the journey that T. S. Elliot talks about, in returning to the place that we <BR>
began, and seeing it for the first time. <BR>
<BR>
Thanks, <BR>
Dave Koehler <BR>
<BR>
<BR>
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