Susan: To be honest, I think your time frame is too short, although I think your instincts about using OST are right on.
I have had some great experiences with OST and youth, and in fact am gearing up to do another one soon with youth around the issue of improving services to youth victims of crime. These are smaller gatherings, and in fact it looks like we will be doing them in five hours. We have a youth advisory committee in place, one of whom has been involved in an OST meeting I did in the summer and they are keen on the process, even though my client knows that five hours won't be really plumbing the depths. I find that OST works well for youth consultations because the youth come away feeling like their voices and contributions were really important. Just allowing them to set the agenda is a huge step forward from their perspective. i also find that youth take to this process like ducks to water and shape and bend it in a whole variety of ways, in whatever ways they need to. On your third point...I don't think it is wise to pre plan the composition of groups. Let it self-organize. Youth and adults will find each other if they need to and will separate if they need to do that too. Everyone present must be able to participate equally, meaning that the law and the principles apply to everyone in that room. Messing with that will undermine the powerful dynamic of self-organization that leads to true empowerment for the folks in that room, especially the youth. There is nothing worse for a youth gathering than having the feeling that adults are looking over their shoulders. And I'm sure the youth at this conference would be happy to work with adults who shared their passion. And if the adults got overbearing, the youth will usually use their feet, and fast. As an alternative to this, I would encourage them to do the conference in Open Space and give the time needed for the process to work. In my experience any other format will most definitely NOT empower the youth. Being told where to go, who to listen to and when to work has it's close relations in both traditional conference settings, prisons and schools, none of which are traditionally very liberating! I have found that adults who argue on behalf of highly structured events for youth, generally do so because they have a deep mistrust of youth. And it's not surprising that many feel that way...there is surely no more powerful group of people than liberated and free youth. Once they get a handle on their power, little can stop them, and they pursue their passions with an unbridled commitment. In my experience it's one of the most beautiful and moving things to see. I try to encourage it wherever I can. As you know, living in an earthquake zone rather inoculates us to danger! Chris PS There are two stories of my using OST with youth on my website at http://www.geocities.com/chris_corrigan/osstories.html -- CHRIS CORRIGAN Consultation - Facilitation Open Space Technology http://www.geocities.com/chris_corrigan 108-1035 Pacific Street Vancouver BC V6E 4G7 Phone: 604.683.3080 Fax: 604.683.3036 cor...@interchange.ubc.ca * * ========================================================== osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu Visit: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html =========================================================== osl...@egroups.com To subscribe, 1. Visit: http://www.egroups.com/group/oslist 2. Sign up -- provide an email address, and choose a login ID and password 3. Click on "Subscribe" and follow the instructions To unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of osl...@egroups.com: 1. Visit: http://www.egroups.com/group/oslist 2. Sign in and Proceed
