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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">GOOD WORK FOR 2,000 COLOMBIAN
STREET KIDS</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Where to begin to tell this
story?<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I hope to channel two of my
favorite story tellers, Harrison Owen and Chris Corrigan, who always seem to
capture the vibrant aliveness of the event itself.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">THE SET-UP</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">I was already on my way to
<?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
/><st1:City w:st="on">Bogota</st1:City>, <st1:country-region
w:st="on">Colombia</st1:country-region>, to teach a class at <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Los</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Andes</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">University</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> on Whole Systems Change.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>About five weeks before leaving, I
received an e-mail from Andrés Agudelo , <A
href="mailto:aagudelo@tandemadr.com">aagudelo@tandemadr.com</A>, one of my
contacts in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City
w:st="on">Bogota</st1:City></st1:place>:</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">> Hi Peggy,<BR>><BR>>
Just a quick note to let you know some good news. I had a meeting with
an<BR>> italian priest, Javier de Nicolo who has worked in the<BR>>
streets of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City
w:st="on">Bogota</st1:City></st1:place> helping kids who are abandoned by their
families, and get<BR>> into drugs and prostitution (or the guerrilla) to
survive. What he has been<BR>> doing is training them in different skills,
and he gets them jobs, or makes<BR>> team of youngsters to pave the streets
of the city, financed by the mayors<BR>> office and some private funds. He
agreed to make an OST in order to motivate<BR>> the kids: they start working
with energy, and then fade out.<BR>> What do you think? Would it be
interesting for you when you come next<BR>> october?<BR>><BR>> Best
regards,<BR>> Andrés Agudelo</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Of course I said yes.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The next message, two weeks before the
event, added one interesting and challenging wrinkle – this Open Space would be
for 2,000 people:</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">> Hi Peggy,<BR>><BR>>
The priest would like to do an OS for two thousand of the
kids/adolescents,<BR>> including three hundred of the people who work with
them, if possible oct<BR>> 31st and Nov. 1st. Would this be fine for
you?<BR>> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">> When would be a good time to
talk by phone?</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">><BR>> Ciao,<BR>>
Andrés<BR style="mso-special-character: line-break"><BR
style="mso-special-character: line-break"></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">I remember thinking, “2,000
people?<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Is that for real?<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I’m sure when we dig into the details,
it will be a more ‘normal’ size.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>And if not, it will be fine (I hope).”</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">We talked the next day.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>And sure enough, they wanted 2,000
people present.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The context and
questions all sounded straightforward enough.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I trusted Andrés’ judgment and made the
leap.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It was a go.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">A few days later, 12 days before
the event was scheduled was my first conversation with the sponsor; actually the
sponsor’s right hand—<st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Helena</st1:place></st1:City>.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>As I later learned, <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Helena</st1:place></st1:City> is a remarkable dynamo with an
extraordinarily competent staff that is used to dealing with very large numbers
of kids.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">I should mention a couple
interesting twists to this story.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Since we were in <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Bogota</st1:place></st1:City>, the OS would be in Spanish, a language
in which I can count to ten and name a few colors.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>While I had met Andrés during my first
trip to <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Colombia</st1:place></st1:country-region> during the summer, this
would be our first work together.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">During our conference call, I
learned that <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Helena</st1:place></st1:City>’s exposure to OS consisted of what she
had learned through Andrés and one 50-person self-conducted experiment with some
of the adults who work with this jobs program.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>They loved the experience and the
results and they were completely committed.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">I called both Harrison Owen and
Michael Pannwitz to gather any information from their 2,108 person OS that might
be useful.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>They both said
essentially the same things:</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">The dynamics are the same as any
other OS….be prepared to be surprised…and have fun.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">I arranged to fly in a day early
to see the site.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Andrés was going
to be out of town, so I was on my own in sorting through the logistics.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I was still a bit in denial that there
might be anything special that I needed to consider for an OS this size.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">THE SITE</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">My first impression was of the
sheer beauty of the place.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I
learned that Fr. Javier de Nicolo was 75 and has been working with street kids
for 40 years, helping tens of thousands find a better life.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Through the years, he has attracted the
resources to build about 8 facilities around the city to house and educate the
young people.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The site of the OS
was primarily for young girls, ages 8-12, many of whom had experienced physical
and/or sexual abuse.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The plan was
to take them off campus when the OS participants, ages 16-22, mostly male,
arrived.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">My next impression gave me great
reason to question my sanity in saying yes.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I saw the room planned for the OS.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Unlike the <st1:country-region
w:st="on">US</st1:country-region>, in <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Bogota</st1:place></st1:City>, there’s no handy sign posted with the
room capacity.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I did a bit of
walking and counting and my best estimate was the main floor would hold 750
people sitting on the floor with a tiny circle in the center.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The stage could accommodate perhaps
another couple hundred and the balcony, with no inside access for posting
sessions might hold another couple hundred.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Helena</st1:place></st1:City> seemed completely unfazed by the seeming
impossibility of putting 2,000 people in a space that, by her own admission, had
never held more than 1,000.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>That’s
when I took the leap and thought to myself, “I’m working with a religious
organization.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We’re in god’s
hands.”</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">The courtyard leading to the room
was big, square and could easily accommodate 2,000.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We agreed to prepare both the room and
the courtyard and would be outside if the weather made that possible.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Ah, the weather.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We were in the rainy season.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Bogota</st1:place></st1:City> is a lush, green place, much like my
home town, Seattle.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>That meant I
knew and appreciated the price paid to live in such a beautiful, green
place.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It rains a lot.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I had looked at weather.com and saw
nothing but rain in the future.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">We talked about tape on the floor
to mark aisle ways.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We made one
accommodation for the limited space inside and windiness outside.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Rather than putting the paper and
markers on the ground in the center of the circle, lots of volunteers would pass
out paper and markers to everyone who wanted them.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Conveners would come to the center to
announce their issues.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>That enabled
us to keep the center circle small, maximizing sitting space.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">They had 40 computers on site and
volunteer teachers to support the kids with entering their reports.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Plus, they had plans to prepare 2,000
breakfasts and lunches for the two days.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">We talked about the theme.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The priest had just gotten some
devastating news: the jobs they had from public and private sources for the work
program were in jeopardy because kids were showing up stoned and were
stealing.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The theme took on a new
urgency and a decidedly fear-based twist: from the best possible job
opportunities now and in the future, it became saving the jobs they had.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I did my best to open the theme to be
more affirmative, future focused.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>In the end, saving jobs won.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>The theme:</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">"<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City
w:st="on">Como</st1:City></st1:place> puedo colaborar YO para que los
empleadores nos sigan dando trabajo ahora y en el futuro?"</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><BR>Loosely translated (I think):
How can I contribute to employers not canceling work for us now and in the
future?<BR style="mso-special-character: line-break"><BR
style="mso-special-character: line-break"></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">The oddest part to me is that I
never panicked.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Rain seemed
inevitable and in no way could I picture 2,000 people fitting in the room.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The theme was the most fear-based I’d
ever work with.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>And I was
calm.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Some part of me thought that
was very odd.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Most of me just knew
it would work.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Perhaps it was
because I was VERY clearly working with people who had handled huge crowds
before.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>While they needed my
expertise on the OS logistics, it was clear the kids and I were all in good
hands in every other way. </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> I didn’t actually see
Andrés until the day before the event.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>I had just finished an intense three-day course and he was returning from
running an equally consuming multiple day workshop in <st1:country-region
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Ecuador</st1:place></st1:country-region>.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He saw our OS site for the first time
that afternoon.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He thought it could
hold 1,500, still not the 2,000 we expected.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We were both pretty tired.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We reviewed a few logistical items that
evening but didn’t actually agree to how we would work until the next morning as
we drove to the site.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>And still I
was calm.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>So was Andrés.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">For the opening, we took our cue
from Harrison and Michael.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I’d
speak in English, Andrés in Spanish.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>He wouldn’t do exact translation, rather he’d speak the OS rituals in his
own way.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We took it a step
further—since the number of English speakers was tiny, I would speak one line
and he’d add all of the specifics in Spanish.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>(I actually suggested not appearing at
all.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Ultimately, we agreed that
while they wouldn’t understand my words, there was something important about the
presence of this stranger coming from another country to work with them.)</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">DAY ONE</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">After gloomy, grey skies and
constant rain since I’d arrived, the day, October 31<SUP>st</SUP>, dawned with
blues skies and sun shine.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>As far
as I was concerned, it was a minor miracle.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">We convened in the courtyard,
with huge letters put together on the sides of the buildings spelling out the
law of two feet, the four principles, the conference theme.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It was spectacular.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The priest spoke (at length) then turned
the microphone over to us.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We
began.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">In recent years, I’ve begun
asking for a brief silence anytime the whole group gathers.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>At a minimum, it is a chance for people
to collect their thoughts.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>More
subtlely, there is something very powerful about groups, particularly very large
groups sitting together in silence.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>We were curious how these young people, with their drug-addicted
backgrounds and reputation for violence would respond.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It was AWESOME!<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Two thousand young people so quiet you
could hear a pin drop.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">We took them through the opening
and then it was time to post sessions.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>And I got my only big surprise.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>EVERYONE stood up and started milling around.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I wasn’t sure what was happening or
whether anyone would post anything.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>And then it began.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Andrés
was suddenly surrounded by kids with topics on their papers.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>For the next forty minutes, he stood,
rock solid, holding the microphone as one by one, 300+ sessions were announced
and posted.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>So much for our neatly
taped aisle ways!<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The kids entered
the hall to look at the agenda wall.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>And they were on their way.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">One theme was named over and
over: taking responsibility for their actions.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The sessions themselves were filled with
remarkable conversations:</P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .25in"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol"><SPAN
style="mso-list: Ignore">·<SPAN
style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">
</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN dir=ltr>Is it time to end the “code of silence” and
speak out when someone shows up to work stoned?</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .25in"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol"><SPAN
style="mso-list: Ignore">·<SPAN
style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">
</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN dir=ltr>How do we handle people who don’t obey the
rules of the program?<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Should they
be kicked out?<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Helped back into
drug rehab?</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">The kids were deeply engaged.
<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>And our challenge was the
teachers!<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>They were so used to
keeping the kids under control, fearful of violence if they didn’t, that some
were taking over moderating groups!<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Wherever we could, we coached the teachers in real time to participate
but not take over.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We expressed our
distress to <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Helena</st1:place></st1:City> and ultimately agreed that we would meet
with the teachers in the morning before we opened the space on day 2.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Our concern reached its peak when
we heard <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Helena</st1:place></st1:City>’s voice over the loud-speaker system
that reached the entire campus announcing that it was time to change
sessions.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>And then she kept
talking.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Andrés went to take the
mike from her and returned empty handed.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>I went out, found her talking to a young man, just holding the mike, and
I said, “I’ll take that,” removed it and left.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>A few minutes later, she joined Andrés
and me.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We talked to her about how
important it was for the young people to experience taking responsibility.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>She thanked us for the reminder that she
was doing exactly what she often told the teachers not to do!<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">A few minutes later, our blood
pressure was raised again.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We heard
the priest, midday, lecturing over the loud-speaker, telling everyone they
should go to work.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>So much for
butterflies!<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I knew it was my
responsibility to keep the space open for the kids.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Andrés, as my translator, and I, as
someone from completely outside the system, took off to find the priest.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I took (respectfully) the microphone out
of his hands as he was about to launch into yet another lecture over the loud
speaker system. I told him that he was talking to them about
responsibility but not giving them the chance to practice it. The process
we were using supports people in taking responsibility for what they love,
helping them learn to embrace responsibility from within themselves rather than
it being imposed by others outside themselves.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He told me he wanted what was best for
the kids.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I said we wanted the same
thing.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It was a defining
moment.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He not only took what I
said very graciously but the next day, he came with a completely different
attitude and no longer a need to lecture at length!<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I thanked him for his support at lunch
on day 2. He said, "Day 1 was the apocalypse. Day 2, we are in
heaven."<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It is my favorite line
from the whole event.<BR style="mso-special-character: line-break"><BR
style="mso-special-character: line-break"></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">DAY TWO</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">The clear weather held.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We began the day meeting in a circle
with the teachers.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We asked them
how they saw things going.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Some
were quite distressed, feeling the young people needed better guidance.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Others were thrilled with the
thoughtfulness and initiative.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>In
the end, we encouraged them to listen as much as possible; to assume that even
if what they saw wasn’t the way they’d approach the work, that it was just fine;
and if they couldn’t resist intervening, that they do it with a question. </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><BR>Another 140 sessions went up
in the morning and 40 in the afternoon's action<BR>planning OS.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The dynamics were much the same as the
day before.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>No orderly queuing in
aisles, just a mob, respectfully waiting their turn to announce their
sessions.<BR><BR>The kids were quite amazing. I felt a bit like Mother
Therese. Whenever I walked through the square, they surrounded me.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Mostly, they wanted to try their 3 or 4
words of English and ask me questions. On the second day, I joined the
film crew (yes, we had a professional videographer with us) and started asking
the kids questions. They told me that they definitely want to do more
OS. When I asked why, one of these hard-core young men (no doubt carrying
a knife or a gun somewhere in all that baggy clothing) said it gave him a
feeling of family.<BR style="mso-special-character: line-break"><BR
style="mso-special-character: line-break"></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">One young man approached me right
after the space opened to tell me that he had left early on day one but was
committed to staying all day today.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>I wondered if he’d just told me indirectly that he wouldn’t leave to get
stoned today.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">The man who ran the program was
thrilled.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He told us that he had
learned so much from this.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The kids
had told him that the program was far too easy on offenders, the rules should be
much tougher!<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>His solution: he
would ask the kids to define the rules and the consequences.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>What an incredible shift!</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">A teacher found me to say that
she had gone into a room where the kids were playing cards.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Her first impulse was to tell them to
get to work. Instead, she remembered the suggestion of asking a question.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>“Did they need anything?”<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>“No,” they replied, “we’re just
fine.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We’re taking a break and will
get the work done just fine.”<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The
teacher left, a bit bemused, but satisfied that she’d done the right thing.<BR
style="mso-special-character: line-break"><BR
style="mso-special-character: line-break"></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">As you can imagine, there was
incredible support from many, many people to pull this off. The kitchen
baked 8,000 loaves of bread for day 1. I understand that 2,300 lunches
were served that day, making the official count of 1,800 low.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>(We may have a new OS record!
They're re-counting the number registered.) The team working the computers
posted reports as they came in.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The
last I saw of the report, it was at least 600 pages.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>None of it would have been possible
without my extraordinary colleague in this adventure, Andrés Agudelo.
While relatively new to OS, he has many years as a Gestalt therapist and exudes
calm even when deluged by several hundred kids surrounding him with sessions to
announce. <BR style="mso-special-character: line-break"><BR
style="mso-special-character: line-break"></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">AFTERWARDS</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">I left for home the next morning,
the weather gray and drizzly, leaving a request for Andrés to let me know what
happens.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We were quite sure that
Pandora’s box was wide open and nothing would be the same.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Four days after the event, Andrés
sent this message:</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">>Hi Peggy,<BR>><BR>>I will
try to call yoou this weekend. A lot of things have happened, but I’d rather
talk to you.<BR>><BR>>Ciao,<BR>><BR>>Andrés
Agudelo<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">And so it stands….</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Peggy Holman</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">November 7, 2004</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">P.S.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Pictures and a video coming soon….</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>___________________________________<BR>Peggy
Holman<BR>The Open Circle Company<BR>15347 SE 49th Place<BR>Bellevue, WA
98006<BR>425-746-6274<BR><A
href="http://www.opencirclecompany.com">www.opencirclecompany.com</A> <BR><A
href="mailto:peggy@opencirclecompany.com">peggy@opencirclecompany.com</A>
</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>
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