<html><div style='background-color:'><DIV class=RTE>
<P>Dear Peggy:</P>
<P> </P>
<P>I wish I could translate this story into Spanish. Would you authorize me? I'll post it back for all of us who work with "vulnerable populations". It is just too amazing and vivid, I really enjoyed it, and I think Spanish-speaking colleagues will, too.</P>
<P>Greetings,</P>
<P>Johann Bórquez </P>
<P>Chile<BR><BR></P></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>>From: "Peggy S. Holman" <peggy@opencirclecompany.com>
<DIV></DIV>>Reply-To: OSLIST <OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU>
<DIV></DIV>>To: OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
<DIV></DIV>>Subject: GOOD WORK FOR 2,000 COLOMBIAN STREET KIDS (long)
<DIV></DIV>>Date: Mon, 8 Nov 2004 16:13:04 -0800
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
<DIV></DIV>>
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<DIV></DIV>> charset="iso-8859-1"
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<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>GOOD WORK FOR 2,000 COLOMBIAN STREET KIDS
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>=20
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>Where to begin to tell this story? I hope to channel two of my favorite =
<DIV></DIV>>story tellers, Harrison Owen and Chris Corrigan, who always seem to =
<DIV></DIV>>capture the vibrant aliveness of the event itself.
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>=20
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>THE SET-UP
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>I was already on my way to Bogota, Colombia, to teach a class at Los =
<DIV></DIV>>Andes University on Whole Systems Change. About five weeks before =
<DIV></DIV>>leaving, I received an e-mail from Andr=E9s Agudelo , =
<DIV></DIV>>aagudelo@tandemadr.com, one of my contacts in Bogota:
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>=20
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>> > Hi Peggy,
<DIV></DIV>> >
<DIV></DIV>> > Just a quick note to let you know some good news. I had a meeting with =
<DIV></DIV>>an
<DIV></DIV>> > italian priest, Javier de Nicolo who has worked in the
<DIV></DIV>> > streets of Bogota helping kids who are abandoned by their families, =
<DIV></DIV>>and get
<DIV></DIV>> > into drugs and prostitution (or the guerrilla) to survive. What he has =
<DIV></DIV>>been
<DIV></DIV>> > doing is training them in different skills, and he gets them jobs, or =
<DIV></DIV>>makes
<DIV></DIV>> > team of youngsters to pave the streets of the city, financed by the =
<DIV></DIV>>mayors
<DIV></DIV>> > office and some private funds. He agreed to make an OST in order to =
<DIV></DIV>>motivate
<DIV></DIV>> > the kids: they start working with energy, and then fade out.
<DIV></DIV>> > What do you think? Would it be interesting for you when you come next
<DIV></DIV>> > october?
<DIV></DIV>> >
<DIV></DIV>> > Best regards,
<DIV></DIV>> > Andr=E9s Agudelo
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>=20
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>Of course I said yes. The next message, two weeks before the event, =
<DIV></DIV>>added one interesting and challenging wrinkle - this Open Space would be =
<DIV></DIV>>for 2,000 people:
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>=20
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>> > Hi Peggy,
<DIV></DIV>> >
<DIV></DIV>> > The priest would like to do an OS for two thousand of the =
<DIV></DIV>>kids/adolescents,
<DIV></DIV>> > including three hundred of the people who work with them, if possible =
<DIV></DIV>>oct
<DIV></DIV>> > 31st and Nov. 1st. Would this be fine for you?
<DIV></DIV>> >=20
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>> > When would be a good time to talk by phone?
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>> >
<DIV></DIV>> > Ciao,
<DIV></DIV>> > Andr=E9s
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>I remember thinking, "2,000 people? Is that for real? I'm sure when we =
<DIV></DIV>>dig into the details, it will be a more 'normal' size. And if not, it =
<DIV></DIV>>will be fine (I hope)."
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>=20
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>We talked the next day. And sure enough, they wanted 2,000 people =
<DIV></DIV>>present. The context and questions all sounded straightforward enough. =
<DIV></DIV>>I trusted Andr=E9s' judgment and made the leap. It was a go.
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>=20
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>A few days later, 12 days before the event was scheduled was my first =
<DIV></DIV>>conversation with the sponsor; actually the sponsor's right hand-Helena. =
<DIV></DIV>> As I later learned, Helena is a remarkable dynamo with an =
<DIV></DIV>>extraordinarily competent staff that is used to dealing with very large =
<DIV></DIV>>numbers of kids.
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>=20
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>I should mention a couple interesting twists to this story. Since we =
<DIV></DIV>>were in Bogota, the OS would be in Spanish, a language in which I can =
<DIV></DIV>>count to ten and name a few colors. While I had met Andr=E9s during my =
<DIV></DIV>>first trip to Colombia during the summer, this would be our first work =
<DIV></DIV>>together.
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>=20
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>During our conference call, I learned that Helena's exposure to OS =
<DIV></DIV>>consisted of what she had learned through Andr=E9s and one 50-person =
<DIV></DIV>>self-conducted experiment with some of the adults who work with this =
<DIV></DIV>>jobs program. They loved the experience and the results and they were =
<DIV></DIV>>completely committed.
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>=20
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>I called both Harrison Owen and Michael Pannwitz to gather any =
<DIV></DIV>>information from their 2,108 person OS that might be useful. They both =
<DIV></DIV>>said essentially the same things:
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>=20
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>The dynamics are the same as any other OS..be prepared to be =
<DIV></DIV>>surprised.and have fun.
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>=20
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>I arranged to fly in a day early to see the site. Andr=E9s was going to =
<DIV></DIV>>be out of town, so I was on my own in sorting through the logistics. I =
<DIV></DIV>>was still a bit in denial that there might be anything special that I =
<DIV></DIV>>needed to consider for an OS this size.
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>=20
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>THE SITE
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>My first impression was of the sheer beauty of the place. I learned =
<DIV></DIV>>that Fr. Javier de Nicolo was 75 and has been working with street kids =
<DIV></DIV>>for 40 years, helping tens of thousands find a better life. Through the =
<DIV></DIV>>years, he has attracted the resources to build about 8 facilities around =
<DIV></DIV>>the city to house and educate the young people. The site of the OS was =
<DIV></DIV>>primarily for young girls, ages 8-12, many of whom had experienced =
<DIV></DIV>>physical and/or sexual abuse. The plan was to take them off campus when =
<DIV></DIV>>the OS participants, ages 16-22, mostly male, arrived.
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>=20
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>My next impression gave me great reason to question my sanity in saying =
<DIV></DIV>>yes. I saw the room planned for the OS. Unlike the US, in Bogota, =
<DIV></DIV>>there's no handy sign posted with the room capacity. I did a bit of =
<DIV></DIV>>walking and counting and my best estimate was the main floor would hold =
<DIV></DIV>>750 people sitting on the floor with a tiny circle in the center. The =
<DIV></DIV>>stage could accommodate perhaps another couple hundred and the balcony, =
<DIV></DIV>>with no inside access for posting sessions might hold another couple =
<DIV></DIV>>hundred. Helena seemed completely unfazed by the seeming impossibility =
<DIV></DIV>>of putting 2,000 people in a space that, by her own admission, had never =
<DIV></DIV>>held more than 1,000. That's when I took the leap and thought to =
<DIV></DIV>>myself, "I'm working with a religious organization. We're in god's =
<DIV></DIV>>hands."
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>=20
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>The courtyard leading to the room was big, square and could easily =
<DIV></DIV>>accommodate 2,000. We agreed to prepare both the room and the courtyard =
<DIV></DIV>>and would be outside if the weather made that possible. =20
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>=20
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>Ah, the weather. We were in the rainy season. Bogota is a lush, green =
<DIV></DIV>>place, much like my home town, Seattle. That meant I knew and =
<DIV></DIV>>appreciated the price paid to live in such a beautiful, green place. It =
<DIV></DIV>>rains a lot. I had looked at weather.com and saw nothing but rain in =
<DIV></DIV>>the future.
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>=20
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>We talked about tape on the floor to mark aisle ways. We made one =
<DIV></DIV>>accommodation for the limited space inside and windiness outside. =
<DIV></DIV>>Rather than putting the paper and markers on the ground in the center of =
<DIV></DIV>>the circle, lots of volunteers would pass out paper and markers to =
<DIV></DIV>>everyone who wanted them. Conveners would come to the center to =
<DIV></DIV>>announce their issues. That enabled us to keep the center circle small, =
<DIV></DIV>>maximizing sitting space.
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>=20
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>They had 40 computers on site and volunteer teachers to support the kids =
<DIV></DIV>>with entering their reports. Plus, they had plans to prepare 2,000 =
<DIV></DIV>>breakfasts and lunches for the two days.
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>=20
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>We talked about the theme. The priest had just gotten some devastating =
<DIV></DIV>>news: the jobs they had from public and private sources for the work =
<DIV></DIV>>program were in jeopardy because kids were showing up stoned and were =
<DIV></DIV>>stealing. The theme took on a new urgency and a decidedly fear-based =
<DIV></DIV>>twist: from the best possible job opportunities now and in the future, =
<DIV></DIV>>it became saving the jobs they had. I did my best to open the theme to =
<DIV></DIV>>be more affirmative, future focused. In the end, saving jobs won. The =
<DIV></DIV>>theme:
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>"Como puedo colaborar YO para que los empleadores nos sigan dando =
<DIV></DIV>>trabajo ahora y en el futuro?"
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>Loosely translated (I think): How can I contribute to employers not =
<DIV></DIV>>canceling work for us now and in the future?
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>The oddest part to me is that I never panicked. Rain seemed inevitable =
<DIV></DIV>>and in no way could I picture 2,000 people fitting in the room. The =
<DIV></DIV>>theme was the most fear-based I'd ever work with. And I was calm. Some =
<DIV></DIV>>part of me thought that was very odd. Most of me just knew it would =
<DIV></DIV>>work. Perhaps it was because I was VERY clearly working with people who =
<DIV></DIV>>had handled huge crowds before. While they needed my expertise on the =
<DIV></DIV>>OS logistics, it was clear the kids and I were all in good hands in =
<DIV></DIV>>every other way.=20
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>=20
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>> I didn't actually see Andr=E9s until the day before the event. I had =
<DIV></DIV>>just finished an intense three-day course and he was returning from =
<DIV></DIV>>running an equally consuming multiple day workshop in Ecuador. He saw =
<DIV></DIV>>our OS site for the first time that afternoon. He thought it could hold =
<DIV></DIV>>1,500, still not the 2,000 we expected. We were both pretty tired. We =
<DIV></DIV>>reviewed a few logistical items that evening but didn't actually agree =
<DIV></DIV>>to how we would work until the next morning as we drove to the site. =
<DIV></DIV>>And still I was calm. So was Andr=E9s.
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>=20
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>For the opening, we took our cue from Harrison and Michael. I'd speak =
<DIV></DIV>>in English, Andr=E9s in Spanish. He wouldn't do exact translation, =
<DIV></DIV>>rather he'd speak the OS rituals in his own way. We took it a step =
<DIV></DIV>>further-since the number of English speakers was tiny, I would speak one =
<DIV></DIV>>line and he'd add all of the specifics in Spanish. (I actually =
<DIV></DIV>>suggested not appearing at all. Ultimately, we agreed that while they =
<DIV></DIV>>wouldn't understand my words, there was something important about the =
<DIV></DIV>>presence of this stranger coming from another country to work with =
<DIV></DIV>>them.)
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>=20
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>DAY ONE
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>After gloomy, grey skies and constant rain since I'd arrived, the day, =
<DIV></DIV>>October 31st, dawned with blues skies and sun shine. As far as I was =
<DIV></DIV>>concerned, it was a minor miracle.
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>=20
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>We convened in the courtyard, with huge letters put together on the =
<DIV></DIV>>sides of the buildings spelling out the law of two feet, the four =
<DIV></DIV>>principles, the conference theme. It was spectacular. The priest spoke =
<DIV></DIV>>(at length) then turned the microphone over to us. We began. =20
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>=20
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>In recent years, I've begun asking for a brief silence anytime the whole =
<DIV></DIV>>group gathers. At a minimum, it is a chance for people to collect their =
<DIV></DIV>>thoughts. More subtlely, there is something very powerful about groups, =
<DIV></DIV>>particularly very large groups sitting together in silence. We were =
<DIV></DIV>>curious how these young people, with their drug-addicted backgrounds and =
<DIV></DIV>>reputation for violence would respond. It was AWESOME! Two thousand =
<DIV></DIV>>young people so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>=20
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>We took them through the opening and then it was time to post sessions. =
<DIV></DIV>>And I got my only big surprise. EVERYONE stood up and started milling =
<DIV></DIV>>around. I wasn't sure what was happening or whether anyone would post =
<DIV></DIV>>anything. And then it began. Andr=E9s was suddenly surrounded by kids =
<DIV></DIV>>with topics on their papers. For the next forty minutes, he stood, rock =
<DIV></DIV>>solid, holding the microphone as one by one, 300+ sessions were =
<DIV></DIV>>announced and posted. So much for our neatly taped aisle ways! The =
<DIV></DIV>>kids entered the hall to look at the agenda wall. And they were on =
<DIV></DIV>>their way.
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>=20
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>One theme was named over and over: taking responsibility for their =
<DIV></DIV>>actions. The sessions themselves were filled with remarkable =
<DIV></DIV>>conversations:
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>=B7 Is it time to end the "code of silence" and speak out when =
<DIV></DIV>>someone shows up to work stoned?
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>=B7 How do we handle people who don't obey the rules of the =
<DIV></DIV>>program? Should they be kicked out? Helped back into drug rehab?
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>=20
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>The kids were deeply engaged. And our challenge was the teachers! They =
<DIV></DIV>>were so used to keeping the kids under control, fearful of violence if =
<DIV></DIV>>they didn't, that some were taking over moderating groups! Wherever we =
<DIV></DIV>>could, we coached the teachers in real time to participate but not take =
<DIV></DIV>>over. We expressed our distress to Helena and ultimately agreed that we =
<DIV></DIV>>would meet with the teachers in the morning before we opened the space =
<DIV></DIV>>on day 2.
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>=20
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>Our concern reached its peak when we heard Helena's voice over the =
<DIV></DIV>>loud-speaker system that reached the entire campus announcing that it =
<DIV></DIV>>was time to change sessions. And then she kept talking. Andr=E9s went =
<DIV></DIV>>to take the mike from her and returned empty handed. I went out, found =
<DIV></DIV>>her talking to a young man, just holding the mike, and I said, "I'll =
<DIV></DIV>>take that," removed it and left. A few minutes later, she joined =
<DIV></DIV>>Andr=E9s and me. We talked to her about how important it was for the =
<DIV></DIV>>young people to experience taking responsibility. She thanked us for =
<DIV></DIV>>the reminder that she was doing exactly what she often told the teachers =
<DIV></DIV>>not to do! =20
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>=20
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>A few minutes later, our blood pressure was raised again. We heard the =
<DIV></DIV>>priest, midday, lecturing over the loud-speaker, telling everyone they =
<DIV></DIV>>should go to work. So much for butterflies! I knew it was my =
<DIV></DIV>>responsibility to keep the space open for the kids. Andr=E9s, as my =
<DIV></DIV>>translator, and I, as someone from completely outside the system, took =
<DIV></DIV>>off to find the priest. I took (respectfully) the microphone out of his =
<DIV></DIV>>hands as he was about to launch into yet another lecture over the loud =
<DIV></DIV>>speaker system. I told him that he was talking to them about =
<DIV></DIV>>responsibility but not giving them the chance to practice it. The =
<DIV></DIV>>process we were using supports people in taking responsibility for what =
<DIV></DIV>>they love, helping them learn to embrace responsibility from within =
<DIV></DIV>>themselves rather than it being imposed by others outside themselves. =
<DIV></DIV>>He told me he wanted what was best for the kids. I said we wanted the =
<DIV></DIV>>same thing. It was a defining moment. He not only took what I said =
<DIV></DIV>>very graciously but the next day, he came with a completely different =
<DIV></DIV>>attitude and no longer a need to lecture at length! I thanked him for =
<DIV></DIV>>his support at lunch on day 2. He said, "Day 1 was the apocalypse. Day =
<DIV></DIV>>2, we are in heaven." It is my favorite line from the whole event.
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>DAY TWO
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>The clear weather held. We began the day meeting in a circle with the =
<DIV></DIV>>teachers. We asked them how they saw things going. Some were quite =
<DIV></DIV>>distressed, feeling the young people needed better guidance. Others =
<DIV></DIV>>were thrilled with the thoughtfulness and initiative. In the end, we =
<DIV></DIV>>encouraged them to listen as much as possible; to assume that even if =
<DIV></DIV>>what they saw wasn't the way they'd approach the work, that it was just =
<DIV></DIV>>fine; and if they couldn't resist intervening, that they do it with a =
<DIV></DIV>>question.=20
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>Another 140 sessions went up in the morning and 40 in the afternoon's =
<DIV></DIV>>action
<DIV></DIV>>planning OS. The dynamics were much the same as the day before. No =
<DIV></DIV>>orderly queuing in aisles, just a mob, respectfully waiting their turn =
<DIV></DIV>>to announce their sessions.
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>The kids were quite amazing. I felt a bit like Mother Therese. =
<DIV></DIV>>Whenever I walked through the square, they surrounded me. Mostly, they =
<DIV></DIV>>wanted to try their 3 or 4 words of English and ask me questions. On =
<DIV></DIV>>the second day, I joined the film crew (yes, we had a professional =
<DIV></DIV>>videographer with us) and started asking the kids questions. They told =
<DIV></DIV>>me that they definitely want to do more OS. When I asked why, one of =
<DIV></DIV>>these hard-core young men (no doubt carrying a knife or a gun somewhere =
<DIV></DIV>>in all that baggy clothing) said it gave him a feeling of family.
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>One young man approached me right after the space opened to tell me that =
<DIV></DIV>>he had left early on day one but was committed to staying all day today. =
<DIV></DIV>> I wondered if he'd just told me indirectly that he wouldn't leave to =
<DIV></DIV>>get stoned today.
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>=20
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>The man who ran the program was thrilled. He told us that he had =
<DIV></DIV>>learned so much from this. The kids had told him that the program was =
<DIV></DIV>>far too easy on offenders, the rules should be much tougher! His =
<DIV></DIV>>solution: he would ask the kids to define the rules and the =
<DIV></DIV>>consequences. What an incredible shift!
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>=20
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>A teacher found me to say that she had gone into a room where the kids =
<DIV></DIV>>were playing cards. Her first impulse was to tell them to get to work. =
<DIV></DIV>>Instead, she remembered the suggestion of asking a question. "Did they =
<DIV></DIV>>need anything?" "No," they replied, "we're just fine. We're taking a =
<DIV></DIV>>break and will get the work done just fine." The teacher left, a bit =
<DIV></DIV>>bemused, but satisfied that she'd done the right thing.
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>=20
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>As you can imagine, there was incredible support from many, many people =
<DIV></DIV>>to pull this off. The kitchen baked 8,000 loaves of bread for day 1. I =
<DIV></DIV>>understand that 2,300 lunches were served that day, making the official =
<DIV></DIV>>count of 1,800 low. (We may have a new OS record! They're re-counting =
<DIV></DIV>>the number registered.) The team working the computers posted reports =
<DIV></DIV>>as they came in. The last I saw of the report, it was at least 600 =
<DIV></DIV>>pages. None of it would have been possible without my extraordinary =
<DIV></DIV>>colleague in this adventure, Andr=E9s Agudelo. While relatively new to =
<DIV></DIV>>OS, he has many years as a Gestalt therapist and exudes calm even when =
<DIV></DIV>>deluged by several hundred kids surrounding him with sessions to =
<DIV></DIV>>announce.=20
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>=20
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>AFTERWARDS
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>I left for home the next morning, the weather gray and drizzly, leaving =
<DIV></DIV>>a request for Andr=E9s to let me know what happens. We were quite sure =
<DIV></DIV>>that Pandora's box was wide open and nothing would be the same.
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>=20
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>Four days after the event, Andr=E9s sent this message:
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>=20
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>> >Hi Peggy,
<DIV></DIV>> >
<DIV></DIV>> >I will try to call yoou this weekend. A lot of things have happened, =
<DIV></DIV>>but I'd rather talk to you.
<DIV></DIV>> >
<DIV></DIV>> >Ciao,
<DIV></DIV>> >
<DIV></DIV>> >Andr=E9s Agudelo
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>=20
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>And so it stands..
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>=20
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>=20
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>Peggy Holman
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>November 7, 2004
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>=20
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>P.S. Pictures and a video coming soon..
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>=20
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>___________________________________
<DIV></DIV>>Peggy Holman
<DIV></DIV>>The Open Circle Company
<DIV></DIV>>15347 SE 49th Place
<DIV></DIV>>Bellevue, WA 98006
<DIV></DIV>>425-746-6274
<DIV></DIV>>www.opencirclecompany.com=20
<DIV></DIV>>peggy@opencirclecompany.com
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>*
<DIV></DIV>>*
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<DIV></DIV>><P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">GOOD WORK FOR 2,000 =
<DIV></DIV>>COLOMBIAN=20
<DIV></DIV>>STREET KIDS</P>
<DIV></DIV>><P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><?xml:namespace =
<DIV></DIV>>prefix =3D o ns =3D=20
<DIV></DIV>>"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p> </o:p></P>
<DIV></DIV>><P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Where to begin to =
<DIV></DIV>>tell this=20
<DIV></DIV>>story?<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I hope to channel =
<DIV></DIV>>two of my=20
<DIV></DIV>>favorite story tellers, Harrison Owen and Chris Corrigan, who always =
<DIV></DIV>>seem to=20
<DIV></DIV>>capture the vibrant aliveness of the event itself.</P>
<DIV></DIV>><P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<DIV></DIV>><P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">THE SET-UP</P>
<DIV></DIV>><P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">I was already on my =
<DIV></DIV>>way to=20
<DIV></DIV>><?xml:namespace prefix =3D st1 ns =3D =
<DIV></DIV>>"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"=20
<DIV></DIV>>/><st1:City w:st=3D"on">Bogota</st1:City>, <st1:country-region=20
<DIV></DIV>>w:st=3D"on">Colombia</st1:country-region>, to teach a class at =
<DIV></DIV>><st1:place=20
<DIV></DIV>>w:st=3D"on"><st1:PlaceName w:st=3D"on">Los</st1:PlaceName> =
<DIV></DIV>><st1:PlaceName=20
<DIV></DIV>>w:st=3D"on">Andes</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType=20
<DIV></DIV>>w:st=3D"on">University</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> on Whole Systems =
<DIV></DIV>>Change.<SPAN=20
<DIV></DIV>>style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>About five weeks before =
<DIV></DIV>>leaving, I=20
<DIV></DIV>>received an e-mail from Andr=E9s Agudelo , <A=20
<DIV></DIV>>href=3D"mailto:aagudelo@tandemadr.com">aagudelo@tandemadr.com</A>, one =
<DIV></DIV>>of my=20
<DIV></DIV>>contacts in <st1:place w:st=3D"on"><st1:City=20
<DIV></DIV>>w:st=3D"on">Bogota</st1:City></st1:place>:</P>
<DIV></DIV>><P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<DIV></DIV>><P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">> Hi =
<DIV></DIV>>Peggy,<BR>><BR>>=20
<DIV></DIV>>Just a quick note to let you know some good news. I had a meeting with=20
<DIV></DIV>>an<BR>> italian priest, Javier de Nicolo who has worked in =
<DIV></DIV>>the<BR>>=20
<DIV></DIV>>streets of <st1:place w:st=3D"on"><st1:City=20
<DIV></DIV>>w:st=3D"on">Bogota</st1:City></st1:place> helping kids who are abandoned =
<DIV></DIV>>by their=20
<DIV></DIV>>families, and get<BR>> into drugs and prostitution (or the =
<DIV></DIV>>guerrilla) to=20
<DIV></DIV>>survive. What he has been<BR>> doing is training them in different =
<DIV></DIV>>skills,=20
<DIV></DIV>>and he gets them jobs, or makes<BR>> team of youngsters to pave the =
<DIV></DIV>>streets=20
<DIV></DIV>>of the city, financed by the mayors<BR>> office and some private =
<DIV></DIV>>funds. He=20
<DIV></DIV>>agreed to make an OST in order to motivate<BR>> the kids: they start =
<DIV></DIV>>working=20
<DIV></DIV>>with energy, and then fade out.<BR>> What do you think? Would it be=20
<DIV></DIV>>interesting for you when you come next<BR>> october?<BR>><BR>> =
<DIV></DIV>>Best=20
<DIV></DIV>>regards,<BR>> Andr=E9s Agudelo</P>
<DIV></DIV>><P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<DIV></DIV>><P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Of course I said =
<DIV></DIV>>yes.<SPAN=20
<DIV></DIV>>style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The next message, two weeks =
<DIV></DIV>>before the=20
<DIV></DIV>>event, added one interesting and challenging wrinkle =96 this Open Space =
<DIV></DIV>>would be=20
<DIV></DIV>>for 2,000 people:</P>
<DIV></DIV>><P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<DIV></DIV>><P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">> Hi =
<DIV></DIV>>Peggy,<BR>><BR>>=20
<DIV></DIV>>The priest would like to do an OS for two thousand of the=20
<DIV></DIV>>kids/adolescents,<BR>> including three hundred of the people who work =
<DIV></DIV>>with=20
<DIV></DIV>>them, if possible oct<BR>> 31st and Nov. 1st. Would this be fine for=20
<DIV></DIV>>you?<BR>> </P>
<DIV></DIV>><P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">> When would be a =
<DIV></DIV>>good time to=20
<DIV></DIV>>talk by phone?</P>
<DIV></DIV>><P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">><BR>> =
<DIV></DIV>>Ciao,<BR>>=20
<DIV></DIV>>Andr=E9s<BR style=3D"mso-special-character: line-break"><BR=20
<DIV></DIV>>style=3D"mso-special-character: line-break"></P>
<DIV></DIV>><P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">I remember thinking, =
<DIV></DIV>>=932,000=20
<DIV></DIV>>people?<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Is that for =
<DIV></DIV>>real?<SPAN=20
<DIV></DIV>>style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I=92m sure when we dig into =
<DIV></DIV>>the details,=20
<DIV></DIV>>it will be a more =91normal=92 size.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: =
<DIV></DIV>>yes"> =20
<DIV></DIV>></SPAN>And if not, it will be fine (I hope).=94</P>
<DIV></DIV>><P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<DIV></DIV>><P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">We talked the next =
<DIV></DIV>>day.<SPAN=20
<DIV></DIV>>style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>And sure enough, they wanted =
<DIV></DIV>>2,000=20
<DIV></DIV>>people present.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The =
<DIV></DIV>>context and=20
<DIV></DIV>>questions all sounded straightforward enough.<SPAN=20
<DIV></DIV>>style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I trusted Andr=E9s=92 judgment =
<DIV></DIV>>and made the=20
<DIV></DIV>>leap.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It was a go.</P>
<DIV></DIV>><P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<DIV></DIV>><P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">A few days later, 12 =
<DIV></DIV>>days before=20
<DIV></DIV>>the event was scheduled was my first conversation with the sponsor; =
<DIV></DIV>>actually the=20
<DIV></DIV>>sponsor=92s right hand=97<st1:City w:st=3D"on"><st1:place=20
<DIV></DIV>>w:st=3D"on">Helena</st1:place></st1:City>.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: =
<DIV></DIV>>yes"> =20
<DIV></DIV>></SPAN>As I later learned, <st1:City w:st=3D"on"><st1:place=20
<DIV></DIV>>w:st=3D"on">Helena</st1:place></st1:City> is a remarkable dynamo with an =
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>extraordinarily competent staff that is used to dealing with very large =
<DIV></DIV>>numbers=20
<DIV></DIV>>of kids.</P>
<DIV></DIV>><P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<DIV></DIV>><P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">I should mention a =
<DIV></DIV>>couple=20
<DIV></DIV>>interesting twists to this story.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: =
<DIV></DIV>>yes"> =20
<DIV></DIV>></SPAN>Since we were in <st1:City w:st=3D"on"><st1:place=20
<DIV></DIV>>w:st=3D"on">Bogota</st1:place></st1:City>, the OS would be in Spanish, a =
<DIV></DIV>>language=20
<DIV></DIV>>in which I can count to ten and name a few colors.<SPAN=20
<DIV></DIV>>style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>While I had met Andr=E9s =
<DIV></DIV>>during my first=20
<DIV></DIV>>trip to <st1:country-region w:st=3D"on"><st1:place=20
<DIV></DIV>>w:st=3D"on">Colombia</st1:place></st1:country-region> during the summer, =
<DIV></DIV>>this=20
<DIV></DIV>>would be our first work together.</P>
<DIV></DIV>><P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<DIV></DIV>><P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">During our conference =
<DIV></DIV>>call, I=20
<DIV></DIV>>learned that <st1:City w:st=3D"on"><st1:place=20
<DIV></DIV>>w:st=3D"on">Helena</st1:place></st1:City>=92s exposure to OS consisted =
<DIV></DIV>>of what she=20
<DIV></DIV>>had learned through Andr=E9s and one 50-person self-conducted experiment =
<DIV></DIV>>with some=20
<DIV></DIV>>of the adults who work with this jobs program.<SPAN=20
<DIV></DIV>>style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>They loved the experience and =
<DIV></DIV>>the=20
<DIV></DIV>>results and they were completely committed.</P>
<DIV></DIV>><P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<DIV></DIV>><P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">I called both =
<DIV></DIV>>Harrison Owen and=20
<DIV></DIV>>Michael Pannwitz to gather any information from their 2,108 person OS =
<DIV></DIV>>that might=20
<DIV></DIV>>be useful.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>They both said =
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>essentially the same things:</P>
<DIV></DIV>><P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<DIV></DIV>><P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">The dynamics are the =
<DIV></DIV>>same as any=20
<DIV></DIV>>other OS=85.be prepared to be surprised=85and have fun.</P>
<DIV></DIV>><P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<DIV></DIV>><P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">I arranged to fly in =
<DIV></DIV>>a day early=20
<DIV></DIV>>to see the site.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Andr=E9s =
<DIV></DIV>>was going=20
<DIV></DIV>>to be out of town, so I was on my own in sorting through the =
<DIV></DIV>>logistics.<SPAN=20
<DIV></DIV>>style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I was still a bit in denial =
<DIV></DIV>>that there=20
<DIV></DIV>>might be anything special that I needed to consider for an OS this =
<DIV></DIV>>size.</P>
<DIV></DIV>><P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<DIV></DIV>><P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">THE SITE</P>
<DIV></DIV>><P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">My first impression =
<DIV></DIV>>was of the=20
<DIV></DIV>>sheer beauty of the place.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> =
<DIV></DIV>></SPAN>I=20
<DIV></DIV>>learned that Fr. Javier de Nicolo was 75 and has been working with =
<DIV></DIV>>street kids=20
<DIV></DIV>>for 40 years, helping tens of thousands find a better life.<SPAN=20
<DIV></DIV>>style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Through the years, he has =
<DIV></DIV>>attracted the=20
<DIV></DIV>>resources to build about 8 facilities around the city to house and =
<DIV></DIV>>educate the=20
<DIV></DIV>>young people.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The site of =
<DIV></DIV>>the OS=20
<DIV></DIV>>was primarily for young girls, ages 8-12, many of whom had experienced =
<DIV></DIV>>physical=20
<DIV></DIV>>and/or sexual abuse.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The =
<DIV></DIV>>plan was=20
<DIV></DIV>>to take them off campus when the OS participants, ages 16-22, mostly =
<DIV></DIV>>male,=20
<DIV></DIV>>arrived.</P>
<DIV></DIV>><P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<DIV></DIV>><P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">My next impression =
<DIV></DIV>>gave me great=20
<DIV></DIV>>reason to question my sanity in saying yes.<SPAN=20
<DIV></DIV>>style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I saw the room planned for the =
<DIV></DIV>>OS.<SPAN=20
<DIV></DIV>>style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Unlike the <st1:country-region =
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>w:st=3D"on">US</st1:country-region>, in <st1:City w:st=3D"on"><st1:place =
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>w:st=3D"on">Bogota</st1:place></st1:City>, there=92s no handy sign =
<DIV></DIV>>posted with the=20
<DIV></DIV>>room capacity.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I did a =
<DIV></DIV>>bit of=20
<DIV></DIV>>walking and counting and my best estimate was the main floor would hold =
<DIV></DIV>>750=20
<DIV></DIV>>people sitting on the floor with a tiny circle in the center.<SPAN=20
<DIV></DIV>>style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The stage could accommodate =
<DIV></DIV>>perhaps=20
<DIV></DIV>>another couple hundred and the balcony, with no inside access for =
<DIV></DIV>>posting=20
<DIV></DIV>>sessions might hold another couple hundred.<SPAN=20
<DIV></DIV>>style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><st1:City =
<DIV></DIV>>w:st=3D"on"><st1:place=20
<DIV></DIV>>w:st=3D"on">Helena</st1:place></st1:City> seemed completely unfazed by =
<DIV></DIV>>the seeming=20
<DIV></DIV>>impossibility of putting 2,000 people in a space that, by her own =
<DIV></DIV>>admission, had=20
<DIV></DIV>>never held more than 1,000.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> =
<DIV></DIV>></SPAN>That=92s=20
<DIV></DIV>>when I took the leap and thought to myself, =93I=92m working with a =
<DIV></DIV>>religious=20
<DIV></DIV>>organization.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We=92re in =
<DIV></DIV>>god=92s=20
<DIV></DIV>>hands.=94</P>
<DIV></DIV>><P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<DIV></DIV>><P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">The courtyard leading =
<DIV></DIV>>to the room=20
<DIV></DIV>>was big, square and could easily accommodate 2,000.<SPAN=20
<DIV></DIV>>style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We agreed to prepare both the =
<DIV></DIV>>room and=20
<DIV></DIV>>the courtyard and would be outside if the weather made that =
<DIV></DIV>>possible.<SPAN=20
<DIV></DIV>>style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></P>
<DIV></DIV>><P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<DIV></DIV>><P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Ah, the weather.<SPAN =
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We were in the rainy =
<DIV></DIV>>season.<SPAN=20
<DIV></DIV>>style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><st1:City =
<DIV></DIV>>w:st=3D"on"><st1:place=20
<DIV></DIV>>w:st=3D"on">Bogota</st1:place></st1:City> is a lush, green place, much =
<DIV></DIV>>like my=20
<DIV></DIV>>home town, Seattle.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>That =
<DIV></DIV>>meant I=20
<DIV></DIV>>knew and appreciated the price paid to live in such a beautiful, green=20
<DIV></DIV>>place.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It rains a =
<DIV></DIV>>lot.<SPAN=20
<DIV></DIV>>style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I had looked at weather.com =
<DIV></DIV>>and saw=20
<DIV></DIV>>nothing but rain in the future.</P>
<DIV></DIV>><P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<DIV></DIV>><P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">We talked about tape =
<DIV></DIV>>on the floor=20
<DIV></DIV>>to mark aisle ways.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We =
<DIV></DIV>>made one=20
<DIV></DIV>>accommodation for the limited space inside and windiness outside.<SPAN=20
<DIV></DIV>>style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Rather than putting the paper =
<DIV></DIV>>and=20
<DIV></DIV>>markers on the ground in the center of the circle, lots of volunteers =
<DIV></DIV>>would pass=20
<DIV></DIV>>out paper and markers to everyone who wanted them.<SPAN=20
<DIV></DIV>>style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Conveners would come to the =
<DIV></DIV>>center to=20
<DIV></DIV>>announce their issues.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> =
<DIV></DIV>></SPAN>That enabled=20
<DIV></DIV>>us to keep the center circle small, maximizing sitting space.</P>
<DIV></DIV>><P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<DIV></DIV>><P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">They had 40 computers =
<DIV></DIV>>on site and=20
<DIV></DIV>>volunteer teachers to support the kids with entering their reports.<SPAN =
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Plus, they had plans to =
<DIV></DIV>>prepare 2,000=20
<DIV></DIV>>breakfasts and lunches for the two days.</P>
<DIV></DIV>><P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<DIV></DIV>><P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">We talked about the =
<DIV></DIV>>theme.<SPAN=20
<DIV></DIV>>style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The priest had just gotten =
<DIV></DIV>>some=20
<DIV></DIV>>devastating news: the jobs they had from public and private sources for =
<DIV></DIV>>the work=20
<DIV></DIV>>program were in jeopardy because kids were showing up stoned and were=20
<DIV></DIV>>stealing.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The theme took =
<DIV></DIV>>on a new=20
<DIV></DIV>>urgency and a decidedly fear-based twist: from the best possible job=20
<DIV></DIV>>opportunities now and in the future, it became saving the jobs they =
<DIV></DIV>>had.<SPAN=20
<DIV></DIV>>style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I did my best to open the =
<DIV></DIV>>theme to be=20
<DIV></DIV>>more affirmative, future focused.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: =
<DIV></DIV>>yes"> =20
<DIV></DIV>></SPAN>In the end, saving jobs won.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: =
<DIV></DIV>>yes"> =20
<DIV></DIV>></SPAN>The theme:</P>
<DIV></DIV>><P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">"<st1:place =
<DIV></DIV>>w:st=3D"on"><st1:City=20
<DIV></DIV>>w:st=3D"on">Como</st1:City></st1:place> puedo colaborar YO para que los=20
<DIV></DIV>>empleadores nos sigan dando trabajo ahora y en el futuro?"</P>
<DIV></DIV>><P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><BR>Loosely =
<DIV></DIV>>translated (I think):=20
<DIV></DIV>>How can I contribute to employers not canceling work for us now and in =
<DIV></DIV>>the=20
<DIV></DIV>>future?<BR style=3D"mso-special-character: line-break"><BR=20
<DIV></DIV>>style=3D"mso-special-character: line-break"></P>
<DIV></DIV>><P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">The oddest part to me =
<DIV></DIV>>is that I=20
<DIV></DIV>>never panicked.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Rain =
<DIV></DIV>>seemed=20
<DIV></DIV>>inevitable and in no way could I picture 2,000 people fitting in the =
<DIV></DIV>>room.<SPAN=20
<DIV></DIV>>style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The theme was the most =
<DIV></DIV>>fear-based I=92d=20
<DIV></DIV>>ever work with.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>And I was =
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>calm.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Some part of me =
<DIV></DIV>>thought that=20
<DIV></DIV>>was very odd.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Most of me =
<DIV></DIV>>just knew=20
<DIV></DIV>>it would work.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Perhaps it =
<DIV></DIV>>was=20
<DIV></DIV>>because I was VERY clearly working with people who had handled huge =
<DIV></DIV>>crowds=20
<DIV></DIV>>before.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>While they needed =
<DIV></DIV>>my=20
<DIV></DIV>>expertise on the OS logistics, it was clear the kids and I were all in =
<DIV></DIV>>good=20
<DIV></DIV>>hands in every other way. </P>
<DIV></DIV>><P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<DIV></DIV>><P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> I didn=92t =
<DIV></DIV>>actually see=20
<DIV></DIV>>Andr=E9s until the day before the event.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: =
<DIV></DIV>>yes"> =20
<DIV></DIV>></SPAN>I had just finished an intense three-day course and he was =
<DIV></DIV>>returning from=20
<DIV></DIV>>running an equally consuming multiple day workshop in =
<DIV></DIV>><st1:country-region=20
<DIV></DIV>>w:st=3D"on"><st1:place =
<DIV></DIV>>w:st=3D"on">Ecuador</st1:place></st1:country-region>.<SPAN=20
<DIV></DIV>>style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He saw our OS site for the =
<DIV></DIV>>first time=20
<DIV></DIV>>that afternoon.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He =
<DIV></DIV>>thought it could=20
<DIV></DIV>>hold 1,500, still not the 2,000 we expected.<SPAN=20
<DIV></DIV>>style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We were both pretty =
<DIV></DIV>>tired.<SPAN=20
<DIV></DIV>>style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We reviewed a few logistical =
<DIV></DIV>>items that=20
<DIV></DIV>>evening but didn=92t actually agree to how we would work until the next =
<DIV></DIV>>morning as=20
<DIV></DIV>>we drove to the site.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>And =
<DIV></DIV>>still I=20
<DIV></DIV>>was calm.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>So was =
<DIV></DIV>>Andr=E9s.</P>
<DIV></DIV>><P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<DIV></DIV>><P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">For the opening, we =
<DIV></DIV>>took our cue=20
<DIV></DIV>>from Harrison and Michael.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> =
<DIV></DIV>></SPAN>I=92d=20
<DIV></DIV>>speak in English, Andr=E9s in Spanish.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: =
<DIV></DIV>>yes"> =20
<DIV></DIV>></SPAN>He wouldn=92t do exact translation, rather he=92d speak the OS =
<DIV></DIV>>rituals in his=20
<DIV></DIV>>own way.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We took it a =
<DIV></DIV>>step=20
<DIV></DIV>>further=97since the number of English speakers was tiny, I would speak =
<DIV></DIV>>one line=20
<DIV></DIV>>and he=92d add all of the specifics in Spanish.<SPAN=20
<DIV></DIV>>style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>(I actually suggested not =
<DIV></DIV>>appearing at=20
<DIV></DIV>>all.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Ultimately, we =
<DIV></DIV>>agreed that=20
<DIV></DIV>>while they wouldn=92t understand my words, there was something important =
<DIV></DIV>>about the=20
<DIV></DIV>>presence of this stranger coming from another country to work with =
<DIV></DIV>>them.)</P>
<DIV></DIV>><P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<DIV></DIV>><P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">DAY ONE</P>
<DIV></DIV>><P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">After gloomy, grey =
<DIV></DIV>>skies and=20
<DIV></DIV>>constant rain since I=92d arrived, the day, October 31<SUP>st</SUP>, =
<DIV></DIV>>dawned with=20
<DIV></DIV>>blues skies and sun shine.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> =
<DIV></DIV>></SPAN>As far=20
<DIV></DIV>>as I was concerned, it was a minor miracle.</P>
<DIV></DIV>><P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<DIV></DIV>><P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">We convened in the =
<DIV></DIV>>courtyard,=20
<DIV></DIV>>with huge letters put together on the sides of the buildings spelling =
<DIV></DIV>>out the=20
<DIV></DIV>>law of two feet, the four principles, the conference theme.<SPAN=20
<DIV></DIV>>style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It was spectacular.<SPAN=20
<DIV></DIV>>style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The priest spoke (at length) =
<DIV></DIV>>then turned=20
<DIV></DIV>>the microphone over to us.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> =
<DIV></DIV>></SPAN>We=20
<DIV></DIV>>began.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></P>
<DIV></DIV>><P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<DIV></DIV>><P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">In recent years, =
<DIV></DIV>>I=92ve begun=20
<DIV></DIV>>asking for a brief silence anytime the whole group gathers.<SPAN=20
<DIV></DIV>>style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>At a minimum, it is a chance =
<DIV></DIV>>for people=20
<DIV></DIV>>to collect their thoughts.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> =
<DIV></DIV>></SPAN>More=20
<DIV></DIV>>subtlely, there is something very powerful about groups, particularly =
<DIV></DIV>>very large=20
<DIV></DIV>>groups sitting together in silence.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: =
<DIV></DIV>>yes"> =20
<DIV></DIV>></SPAN>We were curious how these young people, with their drug-addicted=20
<DIV></DIV>>backgrounds and reputation for violence would respond.<SPAN=20
<DIV></DIV>>style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It was AWESOME!<SPAN=20
<DIV></DIV>>style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Two thousand young people so =
<DIV></DIV>>quiet you=20
<DIV></DIV>>could hear a pin drop.</P>
<DIV></DIV>><P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<DIV></DIV>><P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">We took them through =
<DIV></DIV>>the opening=20
<DIV></DIV>>and then it was time to post sessions.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: =
<DIV></DIV>>yes"> =20
<DIV></DIV>></SPAN>And I got my only big surprise.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: =
<DIV></DIV>>yes"> =20
<DIV></DIV>></SPAN>EVERYONE stood up and started milling around.<SPAN=20
<DIV></DIV>>style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I wasn=92t sure what was =
<DIV></DIV>>happening or=20
<DIV></DIV>>whether anyone would post anything.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: =
<DIV></DIV>>yes"> =20
<DIV></DIV>></SPAN>And then it began.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> =
<DIV></DIV>></SPAN>Andr=E9s=20
<DIV></DIV>>was suddenly surrounded by kids with topics on their papers.<SPAN=20
<DIV></DIV>>style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>For the next forty minutes, he =
<DIV></DIV>>stood,=20
<DIV></DIV>>rock solid, holding the microphone as one by one, 300+ sessions were =
<DIV></DIV>>announced=20
<DIV></DIV>>and posted.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>So much for =
<DIV></DIV>>our neatly=20
<DIV></DIV>>taped aisle ways!<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The =
<DIV></DIV>>kids entered=20
<DIV></DIV>>the hall to look at the agenda wall.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: =
<DIV></DIV>>yes"> =20
<DIV></DIV>></SPAN>And they were on their way.</P>
<DIV></DIV>><P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<DIV></DIV>><P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">One theme was named =
<DIV></DIV>>over and=20
<DIV></DIV>>over: taking responsibility for their actions.<SPAN=20
<DIV></DIV>>style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The sessions themselves were =
<DIV></DIV>>filled with=20
<DIV></DIV>>remarkable conversations:</P>
<DIV></DIV>><P class=3DMsoNormal=20
<DIV></DIV>>style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; mso-list: l0 =
<DIV></DIV>>level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .25in"><SPAN=20
<DIV></DIV>>style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; =
<DIV></DIV>>mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol"><SPAN=20
<DIV></DIV>>style=3D"mso-list: Ignore">=B7<SPAN=20
<DIV></DIV>>style=3D"FONT: 7pt 'Times New =
<DIV></DIV>>Roman'"> =20
<DIV></DIV>></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN dir=3Dltr>Is it time to end the =93code of =
<DIV></DIV>>silence=94 and=20
<DIV></DIV>>speak out when someone shows up to work stoned?</SPAN></P>
<DIV></DIV>><P class=3DMsoNormal=20
<DIV></DIV>>style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; mso-list: l0 =
<DIV></DIV>>level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .25in"><SPAN=20
<DIV></DIV>>style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; =
<DIV></DIV>>mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol"><SPAN=20
<DIV></DIV>>style=3D"mso-list: Ignore">=B7<SPAN=20
<DIV></DIV>>style=3D"FONT: 7pt 'Times New =
<DIV></DIV>>Roman'"> =20
<DIV></DIV>></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN dir=3Dltr>How do we handle people who don=92t =
<DIV></DIV>>obey the=20
<DIV></DIV>>rules of the program?<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> =
<DIV></DIV>></SPAN>Should they=20
<DIV></DIV>>be kicked out?<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Helped =
<DIV></DIV>>back into=20
<DIV></DIV>>drug rehab?</SPAN></P>
<DIV></DIV>><P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<DIV></DIV>><P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">The kids were deeply =
<DIV></DIV>>engaged.=20
<DIV></DIV>><SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>And our challenge was the =
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>teachers!<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>They were so =
<DIV></DIV>>used to=20
<DIV></DIV>>keeping the kids under control, fearful of violence if they didn=92t, =
<DIV></DIV>>that some=20
<DIV></DIV>>were taking over moderating groups!<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: =
<DIV></DIV>>yes"> =20
<DIV></DIV>></SPAN>Wherever we could, we coached the teachers in real time to =
<DIV></DIV>>participate=20
<DIV></DIV>>but not take over.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We =
<DIV></DIV>>expressed our=20
<DIV></DIV>>distress to <st1:City w:st=3D"on"><st1:place=20
<DIV></DIV>>w:st=3D"on">Helena</st1:place></st1:City> and ultimately agreed that we =
<DIV></DIV>>would meet=20
<DIV></DIV>>with the teachers in the morning before we opened the space on day =
<DIV></DIV>>2.</P>
<DIV></DIV>><P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<DIV></DIV>><P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Our concern reached =
<DIV></DIV>>its peak when=20
<DIV></DIV>>we heard <st1:City w:st=3D"on"><st1:place=20
<DIV></DIV>>w:st=3D"on">Helena</st1:place></st1:City>=92s voice over the =
<DIV></DIV>>loud-speaker system=20
<DIV></DIV>>that reached the entire campus announcing that it was time to change=20
<DIV></DIV>>sessions.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>And then she =
<DIV></DIV>>kept=20
<DIV></DIV>>talking.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Andr=E9s went to =
<DIV></DIV>>take the=20
<DIV></DIV>>mike from her and returned empty handed.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: =
<DIV></DIV>>yes"> =20
<DIV></DIV>></SPAN>I went out, found her talking to a young man, just holding the =
<DIV></DIV>>mike, and=20
<DIV></DIV>>I said, =93I=92ll take that,=94 removed it and left.<SPAN=20
<DIV></DIV>>style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>A few minutes later, she =
<DIV></DIV>>joined Andr=E9s=20
<DIV></DIV>>and me.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We talked to her =
<DIV></DIV>>about how=20
<DIV></DIV>>important it was for the young people to experience taking =
<DIV></DIV>>responsibility.<SPAN=20
<DIV></DIV>>style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>She thanked us for the =
<DIV></DIV>>reminder that she=20
<DIV></DIV>>was doing exactly what she often told the teachers not to do!<SPAN=20
<DIV></DIV>>style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></P>
<DIV></DIV>><P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<DIV></DIV>><P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">A few minutes later, =
<DIV></DIV>>our blood=20
<DIV></DIV>>pressure was raised again.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> =
<DIV></DIV>></SPAN>We heard=20
<DIV></DIV>>the priest, midday, lecturing over the loud-speaker, telling everyone =
<DIV></DIV>>they=20
<DIV></DIV>>should go to work.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>So =
<DIV></DIV>>much for=20
<DIV></DIV>>butterflies!<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I knew it =
<DIV></DIV>>was my=20
<DIV></DIV>>responsibility to keep the space open for the kids.<SPAN=20
<DIV></DIV>>style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Andr=E9s, as my translator, =
<DIV></DIV>>and I, as=20
<DIV></DIV>>someone from completely outside the system, took off to find the =
<DIV></DIV>>priest.<SPAN=20
<DIV></DIV>>style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I took (respectfully) the =
<DIV></DIV>>microphone out=20
<DIV></DIV>>of his hands as he was about to launch into yet another lecture over the =
<DIV></DIV>>loud=20
<DIV></DIV>>speaker system. I told him that he was talking to them about=20
<DIV></DIV>>responsibility but not giving them the chance to practice it. The =
<DIV></DIV>>process=20
<DIV></DIV>>we were using supports people in taking responsibility for what they =
<DIV></DIV>>love,=20
<DIV></DIV>>helping them learn to embrace responsibility from within themselves =
<DIV></DIV>>rather than=20
<DIV></DIV>>it being imposed by others outside themselves.<SPAN=20
<DIV></DIV>>style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He told me he wanted what was =
<DIV></DIV>>best for=20
<DIV></DIV>>the kids.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I said we =
<DIV></DIV>>wanted the same=20
<DIV></DIV>>thing.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It was a defining=20
<DIV></DIV>>moment.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He not only took =
<DIV></DIV>>what I=20
<DIV></DIV>>said very graciously but the next day, he came with a completely =
<DIV></DIV>>different=20
<DIV></DIV>>attitude and no longer a need to lecture at length!<SPAN=20
<DIV></DIV>>style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I thanked him for his support =
<DIV></DIV>>at lunch=20
<DIV></DIV>>on day 2. He said, "Day 1 was the apocalypse. Day 2, we are =
<DIV></DIV>>in=20
<DIV></DIV>>heaven."<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It is my =
<DIV></DIV>>favorite line=20
<DIV></DIV>>from the whole event.<BR style=3D"mso-special-character: line-break"><BR =
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>style=3D"mso-special-character: line-break"></P>
<DIV></DIV>><P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">DAY TWO</P>
<DIV></DIV>><P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">The clear weather =
<DIV></DIV>>held.<SPAN=20
<DIV></DIV>>style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We began the day meeting in a =
<DIV></DIV>>circle=20
<DIV></DIV>>with the teachers.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We =
<DIV></DIV>>asked them=20
<DIV></DIV>>how they saw things going.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> =
<DIV></DIV>></SPAN>Some=20
<DIV></DIV>>were quite distressed, feeling the young people needed better =
<DIV></DIV>>guidance.<SPAN=20
<DIV></DIV>>style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Others were thrilled with the=20
<DIV></DIV>>thoughtfulness and initiative.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> =
<DIV></DIV>></SPAN>In=20
<DIV></DIV>>the end, we encouraged them to listen as much as possible; to assume =
<DIV></DIV>>that even=20
<DIV></DIV>>if what they saw wasn=92t the way they=92d approach the work, that it =
<DIV></DIV>>was just fine;=20
<DIV></DIV>>and if they couldn=92t resist intervening, that they do it with a =
<DIV></DIV>>question. </P>
<DIV></DIV>><P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><BR>Another 140 =
<DIV></DIV>>sessions went up=20
<DIV></DIV>>in the morning and 40 in the afternoon's action<BR>planning OS.<SPAN=20
<DIV></DIV>>style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The dynamics were much the =
<DIV></DIV>>same as the=20
<DIV></DIV>>day before.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>No orderly =
<DIV></DIV>>queuing in=20
<DIV></DIV>>aisles, just a mob, respectfully waiting their turn to announce their=20
<DIV></DIV>>sessions.<BR><BR>The kids were quite amazing. I felt a bit like =
<DIV></DIV>>Mother=20
<DIV></DIV>>Therese. Whenever I walked through the square, they surrounded =
<DIV></DIV>>me.<SPAN=20
<DIV></DIV>>style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Mostly, they wanted to try =
<DIV></DIV>>their 3 or 4=20
<DIV></DIV>>words of English and ask me questions. On the second day, I joined =
<DIV></DIV>>the=20
<DIV></DIV>>film crew (yes, we had a professional videographer with us) and started =
<DIV></DIV>>asking=20
<DIV></DIV>>the kids questions. They told me that they definitely want to do =
<DIV></DIV>>more=20
<DIV></DIV>>OS. When I asked why, one of these hard-core young men (no doubt =
<DIV></DIV>>carrying=20
<DIV></DIV>>a knife or a gun somewhere in all that baggy clothing) said it gave him =
<DIV></DIV>>a=20
<DIV></DIV>>feeling of family.<BR style=3D"mso-special-character: line-break"><BR=20
<DIV></DIV>>style=3D"mso-special-character: line-break"></P>
<DIV></DIV>><P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">One young man =
<DIV></DIV>>approached me right=20
<DIV></DIV>>after the space opened to tell me that he had left early on day one but =
<DIV></DIV>>was=20
<DIV></DIV>>committed to staying all day today.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: =
<DIV></DIV>>yes"> =20
<DIV></DIV>></SPAN>I wondered if he=92d just told me indirectly that he wouldn=92t =
<DIV></DIV>>leave to get=20
<DIV></DIV>>stoned today.</P>
<DIV></DIV>><P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<DIV></DIV>><P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">The man who ran the =
<DIV></DIV>>program was=20
<DIV></DIV>>thrilled.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He told us that =
<DIV></DIV>>he had=20
<DIV></DIV>>learned so much from this.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> =
<DIV></DIV>></SPAN>The kids=20
<DIV></DIV>>had told him that the program was far too easy on offenders, the rules =
<DIV></DIV>>should be=20
<DIV></DIV>>much tougher!<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>His =
<DIV></DIV>>solution: he=20
<DIV></DIV>>would ask the kids to define the rules and the consequences.<SPAN=20
<DIV></DIV>>style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>What an incredible shift!</P>
<DIV></DIV>><P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<DIV></DIV>><P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">A teacher found me to =
<DIV></DIV>>say that=20
<DIV></DIV>>she had gone into a room where the kids were playing cards.<SPAN=20
<DIV></DIV>>style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Her first impulse was to tell =
<DIV></DIV>>them to=20
<DIV></DIV>>get to work. Instead, she remembered the suggestion of asking a =
<DIV></DIV>>question.<SPAN=20
<DIV></DIV>>style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>=93Did they need =
<DIV></DIV>>anything?=94<SPAN=20
<DIV></DIV>>style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>=93No,=94 they replied, =
<DIV></DIV>>=93we=92re just=20
<DIV></DIV>>fine.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We=92re taking a =
<DIV></DIV>>break and will=20
<DIV></DIV>>get the work done just fine.=94<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> =
<DIV></DIV>></SPAN>The=20
<DIV></DIV>>teacher left, a bit bemused, but satisfied that she=92d done the right =
<DIV></DIV>>thing.<BR=20
<DIV></DIV>>style=3D"mso-special-character: line-break"><BR=20
<DIV></DIV>>style=3D"mso-special-character: line-break"></P>
<DIV></DIV>><P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<DIV></DIV>><P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">As you can imagine, =
<DIV></DIV>>there was=20
<DIV></DIV>>incredible support from many, many people to pull this off. The =
<DIV></DIV>>kitchen=20
<DIV></DIV>>baked 8,000 loaves of bread for day 1. I understand that 2,300 =
<DIV></DIV>>lunches=20
<DIV></DIV>>were served that day, making the official count of 1,800 low.<SPAN=20
<DIV></DIV>>style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>(We may have a new OS =
<DIV></DIV>>record! =20
<DIV></DIV>>They're re-counting the number registered.) The team working the =
<DIV></DIV>>computers=20
<DIV></DIV>>posted reports as they came in.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> =
<DIV></DIV>></SPAN>The=20
<DIV></DIV>>last I saw of the report, it was at least 600 pages.<SPAN=20
<DIV></DIV>>style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>None of it would have been =
<DIV></DIV>>possible=20
<DIV></DIV>>without my extraordinary colleague in this adventure, Andr=E9s =
<DIV></DIV>>Agudelo. =20
<DIV></DIV>>While relatively new to OS, he has many years as a Gestalt therapist and =
<DIV></DIV>>exudes=20
<DIV></DIV>>calm even when deluged by several hundred kids surrounding him with =
<DIV></DIV>>sessions to=20
<DIV></DIV>>announce. <BR style=3D"mso-special-character: line-break"><BR=20
<DIV></DIV>>style=3D"mso-special-character: line-break"></P>
<DIV></DIV>><P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<DIV></DIV>><P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">AFTERWARDS</P>
<DIV></DIV>><P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">I left for home the =
<DIV></DIV>>next morning,=20
<DIV></DIV>>the weather gray and drizzly, leaving a request for Andr=E9s to let me =
<DIV></DIV>>know what=20
<DIV></DIV>>happens.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We were quite =
<DIV></DIV>>sure that=20
<DIV></DIV>>Pandora=92s box was wide open and nothing would be the same.</P>
<DIV></DIV>><P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<DIV></DIV>><P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Four days after the =
<DIV></DIV>>event, Andr=E9s=20
<DIV></DIV>>sent this message:</P>
<DIV></DIV>><P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<DIV></DIV>><P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN=20
<DIV></DIV>>style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">>Hi =
<DIV></DIV>>Peggy,<BR>><BR>>I will=20
<DIV></DIV>>try to call yoou this weekend. A lot of things have happened, but I=92d =
<DIV></DIV>>rather=20
<DIV></DIV>>talk to you.<BR>><BR>>Ciao,<BR>><BR>>Andr=E9s=20
<DIV></DIV>>Agudelo<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<DIV></DIV>><P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN=20
<DIV></DIV>>style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: =
<DIV></DIV>>Verdana"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<DIV></DIV>><P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">And so it =
<DIV></DIV>>stands=85.</P>
<DIV></DIV>><P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<DIV></DIV>><P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<DIV></DIV>><P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Peggy Holman</P>
<DIV></DIV>><P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">November 7, 2004</P>
<DIV></DIV>><P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<DIV></DIV>><P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">P.S.<SPAN=20
<DIV></DIV>>style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Pictures and a video coming =
<DIV></DIV>>soon=85.</P>
<DIV></DIV>><P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in =
<DIV></DIV>>0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>><DIV><FONT face=3DArial =
<DIV></DIV>>size=3D2>___________________________________<BR>Peggy=20
<DIV></DIV>>Holman<BR>The Open Circle Company<BR>15347 SE 49th Place<BR>Bellevue, =
<DIV></DIV>>WA =20
<DIV></DIV>>98006<BR>425-746-6274<BR><A=20
<DIV></DIV>>href=3D"http://www.opencirclecompany.com">www.opencirclecompany.com</A> =
<DIV></DIV>><BR><A=20
<DIV></DIV>>href=3D"mailto:peggy@opencirclecompany.com">peggy@opencirclecompany.com</=
<DIV></DIV>>A>=20
<DIV></DIV>></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>
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