Thanks for your comments folks - both on and off list - I feel as though
I've planted a little seed, then gone away for the weekend and returned to
find a budding flower of such grace and beauty....such a wonderful gift.
What is now emerging for me from your knowledgeable and insightful comments
is the true complexity of discernment in this situation - this is the very
stuff of Open Space for me - deep listening to my spirit as I engage with
the multiplicity of voices bringing rich wisdom, challenge and affirmation...
And so I will speak to my client and discuss some issues further - about
1 Open Space - is this methodology appropriate at this time for this
group - and is one day sufficient?
I think that at least 1.5 days would provide that additional
sleep-space and familiarity with the process that enables more learning
to occur - and this learning might well include reflection on the role (and
gender?) of the OS 'holder'.
2 If we go with OS, then who is appropriate to open and hold space?
Would a white male 'facilitator' inhibit or enhance the experience?
What if the deeper learning that OS can access is prompted by the
reactions of some participants to the presence of a white
male facilitator? What if such learning is inhibited or limited by
the gender/culture of the facilitator?
AND - how would we ever know?
3 I honour the possibility of my fulfilling this role - I have a deep
empathy with those who have suffered oppression and violence and have
considerable experience now in providing the service of opening and holding
space for others - in this sense I agree with
Harrison that OS operates beneath Culture, Gender, privilege (or
lack of same), education, etc
I believe that I do have the capacity and competency to be
authentically present to the service that this process might provide in
this situation - so far as I can determine at this time - and that
I will be blessed with sufficient spirit within myself to 'hold' in
an appropriate way (while not carrying the responsibility for) the
diversity of the gathered participants. Open Space is a process
that connects deeply to the heart - and as I believe this to be true -
then my heart-energy will be open to those who gather....and trust that
whatever happens...
4 However - is this (my centredness, self-belief and good intentions)
enough in this context? Am I the right person to be walking
the circle/holding the space at this time in the unfolding story of
these people?
I will need to bring this question to the client/sponsor and as
Lisa/Joelle and others say - ASK - and then:
'Trust your intuition, and ask your host team to trust their
intuition and to listen for the answer inside.'
Thanks folks for truly inspiring feedback
Brendan
At 09:09 PM 1/10/2005, you wrote:
Brendan having done a number of Open Spaces in precisely the same
circumstances you describe (or almost) I dont think there is a problem.
Or as you might say No Worries! For example, I did an OS with 500 folks
from the Young Womens Christian Association (YWCA) at a point where that
organization was about ready to explode. There were 500 women and me. And
the YWCA is a VERY feminist organization! I have also had the privilege of
opening space with a number of Indigenous groups. Again no problems, no
worries. I think the critical thing is your authenticity just fully
being there. And Open Space (as usual) does the rest.
I might take some small issue with Wendys suggestion that you acknowledge
your maleness and privilege up front. I would not do that for several
reasons. First of all it is really just a redundant statement of the
obvious you are male and privileged. But most of all, such a statement
draws attention to you. What you want to do (or at least what I would want
to do) is to move as quickly as possible to that moment when the group
starts to do its thing and you leave center stage. Anything that slows
that movement or gets in the way, I try to eliminate. Think of one more
thing NOT to do.
What saves the day in such situations is the fact that OS operates
beneath Culture, Gender, privilege (or lack of same), education, etc
--
I think. Doubtless awareness and sensitivity to the issues involved is a
plus, and we all have a lot to learn. But when facilitating an Open Space,
I am not sure that such awareness makes that much difference, and indeed
it may be a distraction in that you become so aware of difference that you
miss the commonality. I have always found that people everywhere have more
in common than they do in difference. In any event, I have never found any
difficulty in situations such as you describe PROVIDED I was authentically
present (as much as I could be) AND moved the opening along as quickly as
possible to the point where the folks got to work, and I got out of the
way. As we all know, it really isnt about me/us.
Harrison
Harrison Owen
7808 River Falls Drive
Potomac, Maryland 20845
Phone 301-365-2093
Open Space Training www.openspaceworld.com
Open Space Institute www.openspaceworld.org
Personal website http://mywebpages.comcast.net/hhowen/index.htm
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-----Original Message-----
From: OSLIST [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Brendan
McKeague
Sent: Friday, September 30, 2005 11:22 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Cross Cultural Facilitation
G'day folks in the OS global community
A new client has asked me about facilitating a one-day OS for a group of
stakeholders and others about the creation of a refuge/hostel for
indigenous women - she has only minor concerns about using Open Space
having recently experienced her first event with me - her major concern is
about using a non-Aboriginal white male as the facilitator - see honest
and forthright comments below - and this event would be in a different
part of the country from where I live and where I'm not known locally in
the indigenous community - any thoughts on this query? Any stories of this
sort of cross-cultural/gender scenario?
Cheers
Brendan
We have an opportunity with the new site being built in ----- to devote
some of our resources to responding to the plight of indigenous
families. Having a different focus away from the mainstream site gives
our service an opportunity to explore, with the assistance of indigenous
stakeholders, a different way of responding to women and children from
indigenous families escaping violence. I dont know what this will look
like and it will be difficult and we wont always get it right. It will
be a process of learning and experimenting with new ways of responding to
families.
This is like a leap into the unknown for us because it will change our
service. It has not been undertaken by any other service to my knowledge,
so there is no blue print to how we should proceed. Having said this, I
do think it is possible and I believe it will have a positive impact on
our service as a whole.
There would be about 35-40 people invited to this gathering which would
represent all of the key groups that would have an interest in a
mainstream organisation taking on and providing a service to Aboriginal
women and children.
There has been a positive reaction so far to the proposal from Aboriginal
organisations but I am sure we will face some resistance/perhaps
hostility? (I will probably know this before we enter an open space) and
in a sense that is one of the reasons why I think an Open Space forum will
be good so that we can hear and respond to peoples concerns.
One of my concerns Brendan is how they will receive you as a facilitator
of this process. I am confident about you holding the space for us to
discuss these issues but I also dont want to set you up in the process
either. I am worried that there might be some hostility to a man
facilitating the process and not a woman (you may be the only man
there). I would love your thoughts around this and whether you have done
anything similar before. Part of me says be courageous and go with what
you think will work and another part of me is scared stiff!
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