Susan: I have used Open Space Technology in a few different "Race relations" contexts here in Vancouver. Notable was a meeting dubbed as a "community-to-community" forum between local governments and First Nations leaders. You can find that story, and a few others, on my web site at http://www.chriscorrigan.com
Your initial worry about using OST with highly charged groups in conflict may be wondering what will happen if conflict breaks out. In my experience, there are three things that mitigate this in Open Space. First is the Law of Two Feet which acknowledges the power of each individual to choose which conversations to engage in. If one is in a conversation that is making one uncomfortable or which seems unproductive, one can move somehwere else. Second, the Law of Two Feet means that in setting the agenda, topics of personal passion come to the forefront. I have had many participants comment that this fact alone means that people are gathered around meainingful topics, and not pre-set agenda items which can serve as a lightening rod for the real issues of conflict. As a result, conversations in Open Space tend to be more respectful and leave participants with a greater understanding of each other's perspectives. Third, the lack of a facilitator in the small groups means that people have nowhere else to turn to for help in resolving conflict. The realization slowly dawns on people that there is no one else to solve their problems, and that the solution lies with each person in the room. This is a powerful learning and serves to empower communities to come together to pursue collaborative solutions. THat has been my experience. I think that if you issued an invitation to the community, people would certainly self-select for a useful gathering. Good luck with it. There is no time like the present, and sometimes, no present like time (and a little space!) Chris -- CHRIS CORRIGAN Consultation - Facilitation Open Space Technology http://www.chriscorrigan.com 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
