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<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Lisa -- the practice of bringing in "dis-empowered folks"
early is one that several folks have done that I know of. It certainly makes
sense logically, and in the instances I have heard about, it certainly seems to
work. But what I don't know is what would have happened had the "weaker" group
started with all the rest. And what might have been gained or lost in the
bargain?? One thing I am absolutely clear about is that sufficient time is
essential. A mini-openspace in a complex power situation (or any other complex
and/or conflicted situation) is something that, in my opinion, should be
strictly avoided. A full day at least and preferably two!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>But on the subject of "gains and losses" -- I find myself
scratching my head. For example, the fact that the "weak" were treated as
something "special," might that not confirm in their minds the fact that they
were "weak?" And since all the rest of the folks would obviously know (I assume)
that the "weak" came in early -- might that not tend to confirm their feelings
of dominance and superiority? Also I wonder about the judgment being made here
as to who is weak and who is powerful? -- It has been my experience, I am sure
shared by many others, that individuals who have been oppressed, or never had a
whole bunch of opportunities -- possessed amazing personal power which they used
in gracious and productive ways. And the reverse is also true -- folks who have
all the earmarks of the "dominator group" turn out to be total wimps living in a
fear encased shell. Frankly, I can't figure out any way to discriminate between
these folks in advance.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>I suppose the only way to settle all this would be to run
two comparable OS's head to head and see what happens. But even then it would
seem to me that the unseen variables and complexities would be such that making
a genuine comparison would be almost impossible. I suppose if you did hundreds
of such "head to head" comparisons the larger numbers would wash out some of the
local variables. Maybe some day when our RESEARCH effort is rolling in high gear
we could do such a thing.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>In the meantime I only have my experience which has been
that special preparation for Open Space doesn't seem to make much difference.
And more often the time and effort consumed doing all that would have been
better spent having more time in Open Space, or just going to the beach. In one
situation I remember particularly, a large bank held an Open Space for it's Fast
Track folks -- the brightest and best so to speak. The theme was "Enhancing the
profitability of the Bank." However, the judgment was made by the organizers
(who happened to be the training department) that the participants might be
somewhat lacking when it came to "creativity" -- disempowered in that regard. So
a day was added to the program for a grand experience of Creativity Enhancement.
And it was truly grand, even fun. But when the whole show was over the common
reaction was -- "Why did we waste all that time?" And I even heard some comments
to the effect that the experience was in some way demeaning -- sort of like they
weren't trusted to do what needed to be done.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>A more common experience has been with working with mixed
groups of adults and children/teenagers. The going in presumption of the
sponsors was that the "children" would somehow be marginalized. But when the
great day arrived for the OS, the actual experience was quite different. To be
sure the "children" behaved in somewhat different ways than their elders --
but when it came to functioning in Open Space -- it was these "children" who
often led the way. Go figure!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Anyhow, I guess I am back where I started. Just open space
-- and everything else will take care of itself. At the end of the day I find
that when people are treated as responsible human beings (regardless of age,
sex, economics, position, etc) and given sufficient time/space (at least one day
and preferably two) -- everything works just like usual.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Harrison</FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>Harrison Owen<BR>7808 River Falls Dr.<BR>Potomac, MD
20854<BR>USA<BR>301-365-2093<BR>207-763-3261 (summer)<BR>website <A
href="http://www.openspaceworld.com">www.openspaceworld.com</A></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </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=lisaheft@openingspace.net
href="mailto:lisaheft@openingspace.net">Lisa Heft</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> Friday, July 15, 2005 12:08
AM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: Deep power differentials in
OST</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV class=Section1>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Trebuchet MS" color=black size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Trebuchet MS'">Hi, Brother
Chris –<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Trebuchet MS" color=black size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Trebuchet MS'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Trebuchet MS" color=black size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Trebuchet MS'">You asked
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Trebuchet MS" size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Trebuchet MS'"><<SPAN
class=GramE>how</SPAN> the process works in places where there are deeply
entrenched power dynamics.><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Trebuchet MS" size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Trebuchet MS'">-<SPAN
class=GramE>and</SPAN>-<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Trebuchet MS" size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Trebuchet MS'"><I'm wondering if
others working in more rigid places than Canada, the US or New Zealand might
have had different experiences and if so, what did you do either before the
event or during?><BR style="mso-special-character: line-break"><![if !supportLineBreakNewLine]><BR
style="mso-special-character: line-break"><![endif]><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Trebuchet MS" size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Trebuchet MS'">I agree with what’s been
said before – as long as you give it the 2 or 2.5 days instead of expect
people to unfold quickly and find their own voice in a ‘mini’-OS, people
always seem to find allies, talk together, name things, create things that
enrich the whole meeting – and they note that this is the first time they have
felt included / the first time other participants have worked with them and
not for them / the first time others could listen without rushing right into
solving without listening, and so on.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Trebuchet MS" size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Trebuchet MS'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Trebuchet MS" size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Trebuchet MS'">I have not worked with a
group combining people of different castes in India, but I have worked with
very different cultures and power dynamics all in one big group (such as the
International AIDS Conferences, such as union, management and non-union
workers meeting together, such as violence survivors, such as immigrant,
monolingual (non English speaking) parents working with activist-sophisticated
policy and social service folks, such as parishioners of different languages
and young ages working with the Bishop of their congregation, and so on.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I know you’ve done a bit of this too
and have much experience to draw upon.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Trebuchet MS" size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Trebuchet MS'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Trebuchet MS" size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Trebuchet MS'">However my few additional
thoughts are:<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Trebuchet MS" size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Trebuchet MS'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Trebuchet MS" size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Trebuchet MS'">I would wonder if it
would be always automatically <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-STYLE: italic; mso-bidi-font-style: normal">useful</SPAN></I> to
combine people of such incredibly different power levels as low caste members
and others of much higher <SPAN class=SpellE>stratas</SPAN> – wouldn’t it be
most amazing to give the lowest-caste folks their own special (and ongoing)
Open Spaces to give them a rich, solid voice and a shared experience? <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><SPAN class=GramE>And to do that as a
first priority?</SPAN><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>To help a
<SPAN class=GramE>very</SPAN> marginalized group really get their own great
things going in Open Space for themselves, about themselves?<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><SPAN class=GramE>And then later to
combine a mixed – strata group…?</SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Trebuchet MS" size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Trebuchet MS'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Trebuchet MS" size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Trebuchet MS'">And:<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Often when there is a group of a much
lower (quieter? What word to choose?) power dynamic, I recommend to the event
organizers that they bring in this minority / subgroup in 1 or 2 days ahead of
time – they get acclimated to the space, often they get a day of workshop
sharing issues or learning vocabulary that will be used in the upcoming event;
I recommend they also get time for social interaction, celebration and play
(such as having a relaxed social evening with food and dance and performers) –
and also I assist that orientation/community building/work day by helping them
do something like co-create a group poem naming and proclaiming realities,
issues and hopes/dreams.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>So then
the other participants come in the next day – by that time these earlier folks
really own and feel comfortable in the spaces in the building, have had an
intro to the space and the meeting and even a mini- or experiential
description of OS -- and so are more able to jump right in the day everyone
starts together, and they start by opening the gathering with a group poem
presentation given by some members of the sub-group – to make <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-STYLE: italic; mso-bidi-font-style: normal">them</SPAN></I> the
<SPAN class=SpellE>welcomers</SPAN>, too; to set the tone for the event; to
start the event with their collective / co-created vision and
energy.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Trebuchet MS" size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Trebuchet MS'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Trebuchet MS" size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Trebuchet MS'">Stray thoughts on power
and OS,<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Trebuchet MS" size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Trebuchet MS'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Trebuchet MS" size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Trebuchet MS'">Lisa<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Trebuchet MS" color=black size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Trebuchet MS'; mso-no-proof: yes">___________________________</SPAN></FONT><FONT
color=black><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; mso-no-proof: yes"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><FONT
face="Trebuchet MS" color=blue size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: 'Trebuchet MS'; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">L
i s a<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>H e f
t<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Trebuchet MS" color=blue size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: 'Trebuchet MS'; mso-no-proof: yes">Consultant,
Facilitator, Educator<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Trebuchet MS" color=blue size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: 'Trebuchet MS'; mso-no-proof: yes">O
p e n i n g<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>S p a c
e<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Trebuchet MS" color=black size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Trebuchet MS'; mso-no-proof: yes">2325
Oregon<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Trebuchet MS" color=black size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Trebuchet MS'; mso-no-proof: yes">Berkeley,
California<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Trebuchet MS" color=black size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Trebuchet MS'; mso-no-proof: yes">94705-1106<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>USA<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Trebuchet MS" color=black size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Trebuchet MS'; mso-no-proof: yes">+01
510 548-8449<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Trebuchet MS" color=black size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Trebuchet MS'; mso-no-proof: yes"><A
href="mailto:lisaheft@openingspace.net"><FONT color=black><SPAN
style="COLOR: black">lisaheft@openingspace.net</SPAN></FONT></A></SPAN></FONT><FONT
color=black><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; mso-no-proof: yes"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Trebuchet MS" color=black size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Trebuchet MS'; mso-no-proof: yes"><A
href="http://www.openingspace.net"><FONT color=black><SPAN
style="COLOR: black">www.openingspace.net</SPAN></FONT></A>
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Trebuchet MS" color=black size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Trebuchet MS'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>* *
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