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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Funda,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>You asked:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>>My question is if you had organized an OST
meeting with the teachers before the event, what would "the theme,
the question" have been?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>It's a great question and I don't know the answer. It suspect it
would have been something related to them supporting the young people. I
would have explored it with the sponsor to see what made sense.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Peggy</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV></FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=fundaokan@superonline.com
href="mailto:fundaokan@superonline.com">Funda Oral</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A
title=OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
href="mailto:OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU">OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU</A>
</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Saturday, November 13, 2004 7:57
AM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: [OSLIST] GOOD WORK FOR 2,000
COLOMBIAN STREET KIDS (long)</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Dear Peggy, I am also very happy to be
able to know and to read about this work. It represents a very meaningful
OST exemple for me when I talk people</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>around me about OST.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>My question is if you had organized an OST
meeting with the teachers before the event, what would "the theme,
the question" have been?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Funda
Oral </FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=peggy@opencirclecompany.com
href="mailto:peggy@opencirclecompany.com">Peggy S. Holman</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A
title=OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
href="mailto:OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU">OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU</A>
</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, November 09, 2004 2:13
AM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> GOOD WORK FOR 2,000 COLOMBIAN
STREET KIDS (long)</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV>
<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"><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
<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>
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