I don't have a clue - but I do remember Winfrey's early ancestor search. She thought for sure that she was Zulu but anybody who had been there would know she was definitely Kpelle woman.
Harrison 7808 River Falls Dr. Potomac, MD 20854 USA Phone 301-365-2093 www.openspaceworld.com www.ho-image.com (Personal Website) To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of <mailto:osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu> osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu: <http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html> http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html From: OSLIST [mailto:osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu] On Behalf Of Jeff Aitken Sent: Sunday, May 09, 2010 6:17 PM To: osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu Subject: Re: FW: back to the future in Liberia with OS Harrison, this reminds me that Oprah Winfrey (in the 2006 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_Broadcasting_Service> PBS program <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_American_Lives> African American Lives) traced her ancestry to the Kpelle tribal group whose ceremony you visited and remembered. Does Oprah know about Open Space? Jeff Aitken Mount Tamalpais _____ Date: Sun, 9 May 2010 16:27:01 -0400 From: hho...@verizon.net Subject: [OSLIST] FW: back to the future in Liberia with OS To: osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu Some little while ago a friend asked me if I knew anything about using Open Space in Liberia, West Africa. I had to smile because that is where it all began. As the martinis were doing their magic, the first image that came to my mind was that of people sitting in a circle, and it came from my time in upcountry Liberia in the '60s. Circle complete. As you can see from Blake's letter space was opened and the people felt right at home. Surprise! I found it truly wonderful, and I believe you will share the wonder when you read her letter. Happy day! Harrison Harrison Owen 7808 River Falls Dr. Potomac, MD 20854 USA Phone 301-365-2093 www.openspaceworld.com www.ho-image.com (Personal Website) To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html From: mmmbl...@aol.com [mailto:mmmbl...@aol.com] Sent: Sunday, May 09, 2010 3:53 PM To: hho...@verizon.net Subject: back to the future in Liberia with OS Dear Harrison, Just finished OS in an NGO office in Liberia that deals with malaria prevention, treatment and education. (25 people, 13 topics, 1 day) In the closing circle, I wished you had been there and thought of you everytime someone said "This is our heritage of how we use to do it and it feels good." " This is the first time we sit together in 4 years and it is because of our Liberian past ."" "It is how they do it in our villages and now it brings us closer together and we can be one team, one program." "This is the first time I have seen everyone smile in our office." "People were fully engaged in the room." Immense pride filled the room. (I was asked to go to this office to do some team building. I think it worked, wouldn't you say?) This team has gone through major transitions from working with malarial concerns in an emergency situation, just after the war to post emergency work; from one country director's style to an opposite country director's style; and a total change of expat management; all in the last 3 months. And, you know what the # 1 topic out of the 13, after they prioritized? LOVE, plain and simple and powerful. A committee is now in charge of finding ways to express it in the office. I think the country director was shocked at that choice but even more surprised that a quiet man who pushes the broom, convened the topic. I was a bit worried for the first hour as it was very slow moving and I thought I had made the wrong choice, so I left the room and worked on my laptop, to not control the group and close the space. Turns out, no one had ever asked them before for their opinions. That was the hesitancy. The ball started rolling after the first time period. So, my dear, Harrison...it all comes around and back to Liberia, you and your brillance at capturing the essence of the African culture and bottling it up for the rest of the world to sip. You have touched their hearts deeply. In the closing circle, they didn't thank me...at first I was...gee, no praise for me bringing it to them...HA! "When the best leader's work is done, the people say "We did it ourselves." Lao Tzu. Blessings, Blake PS: if you want to post our conversation, please do. I'm still having trouble with my email address and the listserv. * * ========================================================== osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu ------------------------------ To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist _____ Hotmail is redefining busy with tools for the New Busy. Get more from your inbox. 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