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<div class=Section1>

<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>Christine and Claudia’s story reminds
me of a large event I did which was incredibly challenging for me.<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  </span>I have always wanted to write it up to
share with you, and their story was an inspiration to do so.<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  </span>I wonder – do any of you, dear
colleagues, have stories to share of your most difficult Open Spaces ever?<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  </span>Here is mine…<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=black face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";color:black;mso-no-proof:
yes'>___________________________<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;mso-no-proof:yes'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'><font size=2
face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";
font-weight:bold;mso-bidi-font-weight:normal;mso-no-proof:yes'>My Most
Difficult Open Space Ever<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-no-proof:yes'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>I want to recount the story of my most difficult
Open Space ever -- to share with you how it always works, in spite of even many
things going on at once.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  </span>It is a
practice in keeping the faith - trusting the process, and trusting the people.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>This was a large international youth event,
held in the USA a few years ago.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> 
</span>The event brought together over 850 young people from ages 14-19 for a
week of experiencing teamwork and leadership.<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  </span>The young people were recommended by
their school teachers, counselors and administrators, for their excellence in
scholastic achievement, extra-curricular activities (such as sports or art) and
for their dedication to community service.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> 
</span>Their week together included several days learning skills from teachers
and coaches in their chosen area (such as soccer, poetry, culinary arts or
voice), a day serving the local community, listening to inspirational speakers
each morning, plus two evenings in Open Space.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>The Open Space focused on the theme of
leadership - hence the actual theme was “Be the change you want to see in
the world”, inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’s quote.<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  </span>Under that quote were the questions:
“What is my power to create and nourish positive change?”<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  </span>“How can I be the change I want to
see in the world?” “How can I make a difference?” “How
can I as one person change things?” and “What are my passions and
how can I use my passions to shape positive change?”<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>The first evening was for agenda
co-creation.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  </span>Picture 850 young
people sitting on the floor of a vast gymnasium.<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  </span>Picture a wide-open center circle, with 4
volunteer space-holders kneeling at 4 points around the circle, each holding a
cordless microphone and also a large drawing of the earth.<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  </span>Picture me opening space, sharing the
guidelines, inviting the posting of topics.<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  </span><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><span class=GramE><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>Now picture young people
lining up at those 4 points, waiting for their turn at the microphones to
announce their topic.</span></font></span><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'><span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  </span>One at a time, the volunteer
space-holders would hold up a globe (so the huge audience would know who was
speaking in such a cavernous room) and hold a microphone for that
topic-announcer.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  </span>Then the next
volunteer at the next point in the circle held up their globe and microphone
for another young topic announcer, and so it went clockwise around the circle.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>Now imagine this:<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  </span>In just 20 minutes, 225 topics were announced.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>Amazing, and exciting.<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  </span><span class=GramE>Time for a good
overnight sleep.</span><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>The next evening: 5 hours for the Open
Space.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  </span>Yes, I had tried to get more
time and I tried to get continuous time but there were so many activities
scheduled for these young people that the best I could get was a 2-part OS
(agenda-setting and then the next evening for 4 sessions).<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  </span>When we reconvened, I reviewed the
principles and law, indicated the huge gymnasium Agenda Wall filled with topics,
and invited them to enjoy their sessions and to gather again in full circle in
4 hours.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>I had about 20 volunteer space-holders, whom
I had briefed in a short orientation the day before.<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  </span>We made signs and prepared materials for
2 days, creating 52 discussion areas (with materials boxes and notes-taker
forms) all over the gymnasium floor and into the highest levels of the
bleachers.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  </span>Off those young people
went.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>The <span class=GramE>region was
experiencing a heat wave, and guess</span> what? The air conditioning system
broke.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  </span>So the gym was swelteringly
hot.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>The noise was deafening - 850 young people
talking all at once in a gymnasium.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>They were supposed to get food, and they had
all had a long day of doing their sport or activity, and they were incredibly
tired.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  </span>And the food never
came.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  </span>No water, no food.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>And still, they had a marvelous and
productive time.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  </span>They held sessions
all over the gym, on topics such as:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:569.25pt;
margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:.75in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.5in;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2;tab-stops:list .5in'><![if !supportLists]><font size=2
face=Wingdings><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Wingdings;mso-fareast-font-family:
Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>§<font
size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>        
</span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>Child Soldiers<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:569.25pt;
margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:.75in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.5in;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2;tab-stops:list .5in'><![if !supportLists]><font size=2
face=Wingdings><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Wingdings;mso-fareast-font-family:
Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>§<font
size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>        
</span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>Guns in Homes<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:569.25pt;
margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:.75in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.5in;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2;tab-stops:list .5in'><![if !supportLists]><font size=2
face=Wingdings><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Wingdings;mso-fareast-font-family:
Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>§<font
size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>        
</span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>Overcrowded High Schools<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:569.25pt;
margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:.75in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.5in;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2;tab-stops:list .5in'><![if !supportLists]><font size=2
face=Wingdings><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Wingdings;mso-fareast-font-family:
Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>§<font
size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>        
</span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>Child Abuse<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:569.25pt;
margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:.75in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.5in;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2;tab-stops:list .5in'><![if !supportLists]><font size=2
face=Wingdings><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Wingdings;mso-fareast-font-family:
Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>§<font
size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>        
</span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>Should Weapons of Mass
Destruction be <span class=GramE>Destroyed</span>?<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:569.25pt;
margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:.75in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.5in;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2;tab-stops:list .5in'><![if !supportLists]><font size=2
face=Wingdings><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Wingdings;mso-fareast-font-family:
Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>§<font
size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>        
</span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>Abstinence Versus Teen
Pregnancy<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:569.25pt;
margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:.75in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.5in;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2;tab-stops:list .5in'><![if !supportLists]><font size=2
face=Wingdings><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Wingdings;mso-fareast-font-family:
Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>§<font
size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>        
</span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>America’s Fall from a
Belief in God<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:569.25pt;
margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:.75in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.5in;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2;tab-stops:list .5in'><![if !supportLists]><font size=2
face=Wingdings><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Wingdings;mso-fareast-font-family:
Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>§<font
size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>        
</span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>US versus Europe Drinking
Age<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:569.25pt;
margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:.75in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.5in;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2;tab-stops:list .5in'><![if !supportLists]><font size=2
face=Wingdings><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Wingdings;mso-fareast-font-family:
Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>§<font
size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>        
</span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>Choosing the Right College<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:569.25pt;
margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:.75in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.5in;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2;tab-stops:list .5in'><![if !supportLists]><font size=2
face=Wingdings><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Wingdings;mso-fareast-font-family:
Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>§<font
size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>        
</span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>Cultural Unawareness<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:569.25pt;
margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:.75in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.5in;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2;tab-stops:list .5in'><![if !supportLists]><font size=2
face=Wingdings><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Wingdings;mso-fareast-font-family:
Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>§<font
size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>        
</span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>Death Penalty -- Right or
Wrong?<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:569.25pt;
margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:.75in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.5in;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2;tab-stops:list .5in'><![if !supportLists]><font size=2
face=Wingdings><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Wingdings;mso-fareast-font-family:
Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>§<font
size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>        
</span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>Genocide<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:569.25pt;
margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:.75in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.5in;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2;tab-stops:list .5in'><![if !supportLists]><font size=2
face=Wingdings><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Wingdings;mso-fareast-font-family:
Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>§<font
size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>        
</span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>What’s Important to
Teenagers<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:569.25pt;
margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:.75in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.5in;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2;tab-stops:list .5in'><![if !supportLists]><font size=2
face=Wingdings><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Wingdings;mso-fareast-font-family:
Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>§<font
size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>        
</span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>Prejudice Against
Minorities and Multi-Racial Dating<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:569.25pt;
margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:.75in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.5in;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2;tab-stops:list .5in'><![if !supportLists]><font size=2
face=Wingdings><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Wingdings;mso-fareast-font-family:
Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>§<font
size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>        
</span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>Abortion<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:569.25pt;
margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:.75in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.5in;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2;tab-stops:list .5in'><![if !supportLists]><font size=2
face=Wingdings><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Wingdings;mso-fareast-font-family:
Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>§<font
size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>        
</span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>Did We Actually Land on the
Moon?<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:569.25pt;
margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:.75in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.5in;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2;tab-stops:list .5in'><![if !supportLists]><font size=2
face=Wingdings><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Wingdings;mso-fareast-font-family:
Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>§<font
size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>        
</span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>How Modern Language Can
Lead to Dispute<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:569.25pt;
margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:.75in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.5in;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2;tab-stops:list .5in'><![if !supportLists]><font size=2
face=Wingdings><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Wingdings;mso-fareast-font-family:
Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>§<font
size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>        
</span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>Why do Girls in Lacrosse
and Hockey Have to Wear Skirts?<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:569.25pt;
margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:.75in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.5in;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2;tab-stops:list .5in'><![if !supportLists]><font size=2
face=Wingdings><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Wingdings;mso-fareast-font-family:
Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>§<font
size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>        
</span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>Teen Drinking<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:569.25pt;
margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:.75in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.5in;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2;tab-stops:list .5in'><![if !supportLists]><font size=2
face=Wingdings><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Wingdings;mso-fareast-font-family:
Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>§<font
size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>        
</span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>Sexual Orientation<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:569.25pt;
margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:.75in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.5in;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2;tab-stops:list .5in'><![if !supportLists]><font size=2
face=Wingdings><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Wingdings;mso-fareast-font-family:
Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>§<font
size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>        
</span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>Can Soccer Survive in the
US?<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:569.25pt;
margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:.75in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.5in;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2;tab-stops:list .5in'><![if !supportLists]><font size=2
face=Wingdings><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Wingdings;mso-fareast-font-family:
Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>§<font
size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>        
</span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>Random Teenage Thoughts<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:569.25pt;
margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:.75in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.5in;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2;tab-stops:list .5in'><![if !supportLists]><font size=2
face=Wingdings><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Wingdings;mso-fareast-font-family:
Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>§<font
size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>        
</span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>How Kids Don’t Eat
Healthy<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:569.25pt;
margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:.75in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.5in;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2;tab-stops:list .5in'><![if !supportLists]><font size=2
face=Wingdings><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Wingdings;mso-fareast-font-family:
Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>§<font
size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>        
</span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>Skin Cancer and Teens<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:569.25pt;
margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:.75in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.5in;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2;tab-stops:list .5in'><![if !supportLists]><font size=2
face=Wingdings><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Wingdings;mso-fareast-font-family:
Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>§<font
size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>        
</span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>Free-Style Poetry Session,
Singing<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:569.25pt;
margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:.75in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.5in;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2;tab-stops:list .5in'><![if !supportLists]><font size=2
face=Wingdings><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Wingdings;mso-fareast-font-family:
Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>§<font
size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>        
</span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>Gender Equity in High
School Athletics<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:569.25pt;
margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:.75in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.5in;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2;tab-stops:list .5in'><![if !supportLists]><font size=2
face=Wingdings><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Wingdings;mso-fareast-font-family:
Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>§<font
size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>        
</span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>Letter to President Bush<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:569.25pt;
margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:.75in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.5in;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2;tab-stops:list .5in'><![if !supportLists]><font size=2
face=Wingdings><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Wingdings;mso-fareast-font-family:
Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>§<font
size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>        
</span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>Premarital Sex<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:569.25pt;
margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:.75in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.5in;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2;tab-stops:list .5in'><![if !supportLists]><font size=2
face=Wingdings><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Wingdings;mso-fareast-font-family:
Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>§<font
size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>        
</span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>Who Will Pay for AIDS?<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:569.25pt;
margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:.75in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.5in;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2;tab-stops:list .5in'><![if !supportLists]><font size=2
face=Wingdings><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Wingdings;mso-fareast-font-family:
Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>§<font
size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>        
</span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>Why Are Some Addictive,
Habit Forming Drugs like Nicotine or Caffeine Legal, But Other Addictive, Habit
Forming Drugs <span class=GramE>Like</span> Cocaine or Marijuana Illegal? <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:569.25pt;
margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:.75in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.5in;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2;tab-stops:list .5in'><![if !supportLists]><font size=2
face=Wingdings><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Wingdings;mso-fareast-font-family:
Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>§<font
size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>        
</span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>School Violence<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:569.25pt;
margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:.75in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.5in;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2;tab-stops:list .5in'><![if !supportLists]><font size=2
face=Wingdings><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Wingdings;mso-fareast-font-family:
Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>§<font
size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>        
</span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>Eating Disorders<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:569.25pt;
margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:.75in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.5in;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2;tab-stops:list .5in'><![if !supportLists]><font size=2
face=Wingdings><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Wingdings;mso-fareast-font-family:
Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>§<font
size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>        
</span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>US Intervention in Foreign
Countries<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:569.25pt;
margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:.75in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.5in;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2;tab-stops:list .5in'><![if !supportLists]><font size=2
face=Wingdings><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Wingdings;mso-fareast-font-family:
Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>§<font
size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>        
</span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>Stem Cell Research <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:569.25pt;
margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:.75in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.5in;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2;tab-stops:list .5in'><![if !supportLists]><font size=2
face=Wingdings><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Wingdings;mso-fareast-font-family:
Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>§<font
size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>        
</span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>Solving Other
Peoples’ Problems<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:569.25pt;
margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:.75in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.5in;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2;tab-stops:list .5in'><![if !supportLists]><font size=2
face=Wingdings><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Wingdings;mso-fareast-font-family:
Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>§<font
size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>        
</span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>US Immigration<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:569.25pt;
margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:.75in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.5in;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2;tab-stops:list .5in'><![if !supportLists]><font size=2
face=Wingdings><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Wingdings;mso-fareast-font-family:
Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>§<font
size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>        
</span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>Race and Culture<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:569.25pt;
margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:.75in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.5in;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2;tab-stops:list .5in'><![if !supportLists]><font size=2
face=Wingdings><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Wingdings;mso-fareast-font-family:
Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>§<font
size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>        
</span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>Can An Artist Change the
World?<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><span class=GramE><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>…and more.</span></font></span><font
size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'><span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  </span>You could look across the room to see
some engaged deep in discussion, others teaching their peers how to play chess,
inner-city kids teaching little white suburban kids how to dance the
“Chicago Hustle”, two shy boys looking over the whole crowd to ask
each other, “In this whole room, how many kids do you think feel really
good about themselves and how many struggle with peer pressure?”, and an
amazing seething throbbing shifting session about race and culture taking place
in the center of the room.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>To my eye, it looked incredibly successful
and productive.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>But to my client’s supervisor, the
head of the week-long event, it looked like chaos - utter chaos.<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  </span>And he is a man of control.<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  </span>So after the first 20 minutes, he came
up to me and told me to stop the process.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> 
</span>I’m looking at 225 amazing sessions posted and conversations
popping out all over the room, with young people being truly engaged and
learning as leaders from one another, and he is saying stop the process.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>And I breathed, and I breathed, and I was
sorting my words to him when the sound guy (who it turns out was also a space
holder and truly appreciated what the kids were doing), said “Gee, we are
having problems with the microphone - I cannot give you sound right now, so
sorry”.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  </span>And he hid the
microphone, bless him.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  </span>And the
volunteer space-holders went around the room reminding the kids know to write
up their sessions, even the dance sessions (so that the client’s
supervisor could eventually see the measure of all those great
discussions).<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  </span>And everyone held
space and held space, in spite of the heat, the unsettled supervisor, the lack
of water and food…and the kids kept going.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>The young people were not allowed to leave
the building.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  </span>If they *did* try to
leave, they were met outside the front door by a phalanx of golf carts driven
by chaperones, all pointed towards the front doors with their headlights on (it
was night time).<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  </span>Chaperones would
say ‘go back into the building!’ even when a young person wanted to
use the Law of Two feet and go back to their dormitory to rest after such a
full day.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  </span>The 5 hours was allotted
and darn it, they were supposed to stay in the building for 5 hours.<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  </span>Tired and hungry, the young participants
who tried to ‘escape’ came back into the gym.<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  </span>And still the kids stayed engaged, and
kept on going.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>I breathed, and breathed, and breathed
through it all, seeing each ‘space invading’ challenge is a fact
but not as a threat to a rich open space.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> 
</span>I trusted the process, and the people, and I really have to say I
enjoyed that so many were holding space with me to ensure its success (and that
the client’s supervisor had to do a little breathing of his own), and let
it happen.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>And at one point I walked up to a volunteer
space-holder and said “Walk with me out of the room…now.”<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  </span>And we walked outside the building into
the night air…and I started crying.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> 
</span>I let her know that I wasn’t crying because anything was wrong - I
just had to cry because one little body cannot hold all that space with all
those challenges and not feel full - and that I just needed an airing.<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  </span>We walked, I cried, she held space for
me…and then she went to find water and Kleenex so I could get <span
class=SpellE>rehydrated</span> and pat my face down and walk back into the room
with that serene space-holding look.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> 
</span>And that was exactly what I needed.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>And so the evening continued, with amazing
things happening in the room.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>That one group on race and culture started
with a black South African young woman asking her African American urban peers,
“You call yourselves African American.<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  </span>You do not know my country, my culture,
my food, my people…and yet you call yourselves *African*
American…and respectfully I say….aren’t you proud to be
American?”<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  </span>At which the other
black kids got upset, engaged and thoughtful, all at the same time -- and the
conversation continued to ebb and thrive with passion and expression as kids
sorted out, bumped into and struggled forward in a rich conversation about
race, identity and culture.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  </span>And the
really marvelous thing was that surrounding a circle of passionate black kids
were people of all races, including those people who would *never* be privy to
this sort of dialogue.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  </span>If they had
heard it in another setting they would have either shied away because of being
scared around these issues of race and rage and passion -- or they would
respectfully step away because the topic was not about people of their
ethnicity.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  </span>And here, in Open Space,
all were welcome to witness this rich dialogue and struggle about race and
identity.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  </span>This one discussion
continued on through all 4 session times.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>This Open Space was an
adults-may-not-participate-unless-invited zone, and I saw a few discussions
where the young people invited an adult to share their experiences, such as one
group interviewing an adult who had been a Conscientious Objector during the
Gulf War.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>At another point, these two really skinny
short brainy-type young men ran up to me accompanied by these two really
gorgeous, ‘popular girl’-type young women.<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  </span>And the young women shared excitedly, “They
are teaching us about the passion…of chess!”<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>“Carry on,” I said, smiling, and
channeling Harrison.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>And so it continued.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>Closing Circle consisted of those 850 young
people reassembled on the gym floor, sharing rich comments and insightful
observations.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  </span>The next day my 20
volunteer space-holders transcribed hundreds of pages of notes for the Book of
Proceedings, which was made ready for all participants by the last day of the
conference (in this design, the young people were so tightly scheduled in other
things that we took this step so they could still have a Book of
Proceedings).<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  </span>We filtered through
handwriting and - knowing this client’s supervisor - we sadly (for me)
replaced any swear words we found with symbols like “%*<span class=GramE>(&</span>$*!#@!!”
to indicate those words.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  </span>(Sadly
because I appreciate full free speech and wish to keep participants’
words and forms of expressions intact).<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> 
</span>We created 1500 CD’s (for every young person and adult
participating in this event) and readied them for closing ceremonies.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>Okay so the client’s <span
class=GramE>supervisor found 1 swear</span> word we missed.<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  </span>So he did not allow distribution of the
Book of Proceedings to the young people.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> 
</span>And okay I was notably not asked back when they had this event again.<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  </span><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'><br>
But I must say, I feel part of one of the most amazing Open Spaces ever, even
if it was the most difficult one I have ever done.<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  </span><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>What an honor and a pleasure it was to work
with such fabulous co-space-holders and to serve those incredible young
leaders.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  </span><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>I would do it again in a heartbeat.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>Lisa<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=black face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";color:black;mso-no-proof:
yes'>___________________________</span></font><span style='mso-no-proof:yes'><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'><font size=2
color=blue face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";
color:blue;font-weight:bold;mso-bidi-font-weight:normal;mso-no-proof:yes'>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 size=2 color=blue face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";color:blue;mso-no-proof:
yes'>Consultant, Facilitator, Educator<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=blue face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";color:blue;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 size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-no-proof:yes'>2325 Oregon<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-no-proof:yes'>Berkeley, California<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;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 size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-no-proof:yes'>+01 510 548-8449<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;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><span
style='mso-no-proof:yes'><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;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>

<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-no-proof:yes'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-no-proof:yes'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-no-proof:yes'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>

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