Kaliya Hamlin posts a great article on the Mashupcamp 2 Open Space recently in the San Fransico, USA area. Included in the article, on the front page of the San Jose Mercury business section, is the above photo, probably the first ever example of hand drawn OST principles in a business section.
Notice the photos in the top-left corner of this page? They’re different every time you look at this page because they’re randomly selected from all photos tagged “openspacetech” at flickr.com. So go ahead and add your own photos there and notice the diversity of what open space looks like throughout time and space.
London-based facilitator Johnnie Moore describes how Open Space Technology works in this short video clip from a recent event he did on education and social software
The Pioneers of Change “Summer School” is taking place August 19-25. This year it is hosted at the “Shire“, an inspiring learning centre in Nova Scotia, Canada, that focuses on leadership and sustainable practices, and which has been launched by a fellow pioneer, social entrepreneur, and artist, Tim Merry.
Pioneers of Change is a global learning network of young people, in their 20’s and 30’s, who have committed to be themselves, do what matters, start now, engage with others, and never stop asking questions. The “pioneers” include social entrepreneurs, corporate and NGO professionals, civil servants, artists, teachers, and free agents from a variety of cultural and social backgrounds. Founded in 1999, Pioneers of Change today engages over 2000 participants in over 70 countries.
Our intention for Summer School is to create a much space as possible for Pioneers from around the world to learn from each other. We invite you to come prepared to share experiences, case studies, tools, models and anything from your Pioneering work that you think could benefit other Pioneers. Together we can create a rich, diverse and highly self-organized learning environment.
Find the full invitation and intention here.
For more information or questions about financing participation, please email Sera (sera|at|pioneersofchange.net) or Pablo (pablo|at|pioneersofchange.net).
Chris Corrigan has posted 21 newly revised stories of Open Space in action at his website. These stories form an important learning resource, especially for those working with marginalized groups.
Interesting conversation going on at omidyar.net on The Mystery of Open Space. From Christina Jordan, an Ashoka Fellow in Uganda:
So inspired am I by open space, actually, that I’m trying to develop it as a cultural ideal at Life in Africa. I’d like to see the physical WE Centers operate more or less in a permanent state of open space, where members reserve spaces to do their thing and invite others to learn or help.
The tricky part of developing the physical Life in Africa space so far has been to have a hook that effectively brings people to the space and keeps them coming back. In practice, offering part-time, temporary income generating activities in craft-making is the glue that’s worked best. Once they are there making jungle beads or solidarity bracelets (which are activities they can do while talking or listening) they decide where to do that work at the Center according to the other activities (english lessons, loan planning discussions, health presentations) that are scheduled throughout the day.
My hope is that members will eventually will feel able to use the LiA space to work freely with likeminded members to achieve whatever they want to achieve. Right now, they are learning alot from each other informally, but most are still waiting for instructions at every turn with regard to implementing activities. I think within another 6 months or so they will have had enough leadership experience as a community to start initiating more and more small project & group work ideas on their own.
Very interesting how people have to be taught self-organization, as if they don’t already know how to do it! Open space seems to do that teaching without even trying.
Yesterday we undertook a new experiment at Catalytic Communities, inspired by a friend and collaborator, Michael Herman.
and then goes on to say:
As the director of CatComm I was refreshed to see staff taking control of the meeting… I was fascinated by the topics that came up naturally, as they are different to those I would have posed, but are perhaps closer to the pulse of what is really important…
Spirited Work is an experiment in ongoing Open Space that’s been running in the Seattle area since 1999. Anne Stadler, one of the founders and leaders of this multi-year journey, has posted an excellent short history of Spirited Work, complete with pictures.
Here is a list of conferences and exchanges, with contacts for more information, that Michael M Pannwitz helped assemble for us…
Learning Exchange in Southern Germany (July 16-19)
email Georg Rehm or Wolfgang Faenderl
OSonOS in Moscow (August 4-6)
See International OSonOS page for details
OSonOS by the Sea USA (September 11-12)
Hosted by Harrison Owen. Think it’s sold out now.
Learning Exchange in Ukraine (September 20 -22)
email Bohdan V. Maslych or
Andrey Klymyshyn or Lad Kanevska
Jo Toepfer sent this about an International Open Space Technology Training that is going to take place in Blossin / Germany (close to Berlin) from November 2 through 9, 2006…
Many of us experience our work, the organizations we are part of, our communities, even our countries and in fact the whole world around us as transforming at ever increasing speed. To effectively deal with the resulting challenges often perceived as chaos, conflict and confusion we need an approach that involves all interested parties with their insights, experiences, questions and wisdom. An approach in which we collectively focus on making organizations and communities places in which the human spirit can unfold and thrive.
Open Space Technology is such an approach. It supports systems of all kinds and sizes in unfolding the forces of collaboration, cooperation, participation, creativity and spirit required to come to action on the burning issues facing them. It provides a framework of time and space in which people self organize their learning and planning. In this framework everyone works with everyone else on those issues they feel passionate about and for which they are taking responsibility.
Michael Herman, who has provided lots of resources to the Open Space community over the years, has just released two updated offerings:
Open Space Technology: Inviting Leadership Practice – reviews the basics of Open Space, considers its evolution, and points to its dissolving into the ongoing practice of Inviting Leadership.
Open Space Technology: An Inviting Guide – a short guide for Inviting Leaders, with new meeting/event planning worksheet and notes on sustaining action after the big meeting.
What a nice thing to do a week before he gets married!
(Congrats Michael, from the whole osw.org posting team!)
From Ashley Cooper to the OSList about doing Open Space with 42 third graders in 1 hour and 10 minutes (I would’ve given you an excerpt, but couldn’t bear to cut any of this):
The theme was What can we do to make our school a better place? What can we do to make our world a better place?
Of course, the children took to it so easily. We had 2, 20 minute sessions in which they generated 18 topics such as New Rules for the Playground, How we should be nice and kind to each other, Learning from history’s mistakes, Children’s Voting Rights, Try to help the environment! Not polluting any more!, and Not excluding people from anything.
We ended with a once around reflection circle in which everyone had a chance to share. Here are some of their comments.
- What I liked in my group was that there were no debates. We were all united. There were differences about how it is, but we were all united.
- We decided to start a fund to save the rainforest.
- Our group went well. Kids voting rights. It was a good opportunity for discussion.
- In history’s biggest mistakes, it started as being silly with just girls there. Then the boys came in and made it better. In the second session I bonded with someone I didn’t know that well.
- Everyone agreed with saving the rainforest. It wasn’t silly. We were serious.
- I think we talked about an important issue: not excluding.
One little touch that I think helped a lot with this age group was to provide a basket of objects that hosts could choose to use for a talking stick. I saw a few kids struggling with everyone talking at once and then one of them running to grab a talking stick. I also provided a generic form for them to use for note taking.
Aside from the opportunity for their voices to be heard, to connect with one another around things that matter to them, and to experience themselves self-organizing, I greatly appreciated that students who have a tendency to wander and not participate in assigned topics (students that can often be labeled as challenges) that at the OS they actually had names and roles for their ways of being, butterflies and bumble bees. I loved that they were doing what they were ‘supposed to be doing’ by wandering around and trying to figure out where they belong and where they want to participate.
I’m struck today by the swirling currents of self-organizing showing themselves in interesting places.
At The World We Want, Phil Cubeta details an almost-two year lineage from the Giving Conference to the first and second omidyar.net members conferences in Chicago and inviting Karloff to cultivate 75 more local open-space events in conjunction with his book release.
The driving force is the one “on the ground” in the local community who finds the space, talks it up among a few key influencers, and talks them into finalizing the agenda and emailing it around. It may be that Open Space facilitators, like Chris Corrigan and Michael Herman, could be among the ring-leaders. Giving people the freedom and encouragement to make the meeting their own is critical if they are to “buy in.” The World We Want is one in which we are active citizens, not just spectators or guests, much less subordinates.
At the same time, Kaliya Hamlin gives us a step-by-step planning guide for Unconferences, a seemingly-new phenomenon where people are all-of-a-sudden discovering open space. She also says:
I also must say it is disturbing to see the Law of Two Feet decontextualized out of the context of Open Space Technology’s principles and practices. Open Space Technology and the face-to-face process to create the agenda has played a critical role in making the best unconferences so successful.
Kaliya’s at it again. In her post, Open Space does not mean Voting, she quite nicely shows what open space is all about, and how it could be used in places that are not at all traditional conferences, yet still not all they could be.
The event begins with face to face schedule making which allows for emerging developments in this rapidly moving field to be covered.
Inspiring explorations and offerings from the OSlist.
Thomas Herrmann shares:
Dear friends in Open Space
Yesterday I facilitated an OST where the age-difference between the oldest and youngest was 90 years! From 1-91, both of them were amonst the most active participants in this – my firsr ever planned out-door OS-meeting. In Sweden it is hard or almost impossible to predict that it will be warm enough and not raining – even during summertime. This time we had both in-&outdoor options and the weather came out perfect. One of the first really warm days this year – everybody enjoyed the different break-outs –
1. By the lake.
2. At the stone.
3. At the fireplace
4. By the tree
5. Behind the agenda wall
6. At the edge (of the lawn)
…
In the morning we built an agendawall with parts from an old greenhouse.
Other signs went into the trees. In the center we had 4 big stones/rocks.
The groups loved it and had a great time – of course. Such a joy.
and Marty Boroson continues:
Dear Thomas
What I like most about your email is the way you have identified and
described locations: nothing is “in” a location or room, only “near” it, or
“by” it or “at” it. And no room numbers! With this simple turn of phrase,
we are already thinking and meeting “out of the box”. And many of the
locations have a natural object, which serves as a touchstone, a wonderful
way both to ground the discussions and keep them fluid. It is also very
playful–suggesting children playing hide-and-seek.
Does this inspire any ideas in you?
title added 5/13/06 by Ted
Rob Paterson writes about The New Realities Forum, a meeting of over 300 delegates from all across the Public Radio system in the US, which occurred in Open Space over the weekend in Washington, DC. UK consultant Johnnie Moore opened the space.
Rob described the gathering’s purpose before it started:
Our intention – to find agreement on how we will go into the future together…
…The stakes are high. For many who will attend, the issue is much more than the survival and health of public radio but the survival of the last large media space in America that can be trusted. Some see the stakes as higher yet. They see the opportunity that public radio can expand its role from trusted news source to a space where the citizens of the nation can come together safely and solve the pressing problems that confront their communities….
And afterwards reported:
We have just completed 2 days of Open Space meetings with leaders of Public Radio in the US. I have been blown away, as have the delegates, with the power of this process to enable a rich and deep conversation.
…
What really made it for me though was how the conference concluded. Here I heard the public radio system declare as a body that it would start the hard work of setting aside petty differences and find a way to come together as a true system with a structure that would heal and help.
Imagine the real power of a real network of hundreds of stations and great producers such as NPR, MPR, APM and PRI all dedicated to help each other inform their communities, the nation and ultimately the world. Imagine this power dedicated to not only keeping the truth alive but also in creating the space where people can come together and find the trust, influence and safety to solve the intractable problems of our time such as why don’t our schools work, why are we not more healthy, why is there such a divide between cultures and communities…
Johnnie and Rob posted an excellent description of the Open Space process on the retreat forum site, where you can also find photos and session reports.
Michael Herman will be opening space on Tuesday at MeshForum, which runs May 7-9 in San Francisco.
From their invitation:
Networks form the basis of everything, from how your body works to who you know, from how power is distributed to how the store on the corner is kept stocked. Networks are in the news, from the elections to anti-terrorism, to investigations of financial markets and the Blackout in the US.
At MeshForum 2006, May 7-9 in San Francisco, we will explore Networks in depth. We will examine the critical role visualization and visual thinking plays in understanding and managing networks. Then we will look at very large scale social networks as a significant case study of Networks.
And from the weblog:
make your net work
In four short words [that] captures what MeshForum 2006 will be about.
It is about the tools needed to make your net work – visualizations, visual thinking, analysis techniques.
It is about what you have to think about to make your net work – the issues of scaling, what happens as things change, the impact of technologies.
It is about the power of a net – to create beauty, to entertain us.
Doug posted a really cool-looking invitation on his site. I can’t figure out how to display it here, so hop over to his place and check it out!
Below is an invitation to a sustainable living forum scheduled for May 6th in Belfast sent by OST facilitator Philip Rogers.
How Can I Live Sustainably?
On Saturday May 6th we will have the time and space to both ask answer this question in the company of others who are also interested and inspired by it. When we reflect on, and begin to understand, what sustainable living means we can act with more confidence to make a difference in our lives and in our communities.
This is an invitation for you to come and join in an Open Space event. Bring your passion, your ideas and your stories; to contribute, to listen, to learn, to be inspired – in an environment that is co-created on the day.
Saturday May 6th
South Bank Hall, Kimberley Drive
10 am -6pm
There is room for 40 people, please call Philip or Jane on 028 9020 3692 to register or email them on ganddltd@clara.co.uk. so we will know how many people are coming.
There is no charge for the day.
A vegetarian lunch can be provided for 5 GBP if you order it in advance.
Looking forward to seeing you there!
Michael Herman has updated his ongoing contemplation of the “practices of Open Space“, in preparation for the Open Space Leadership Practice Retreat that he and Chris Corrigan will be hosting next week, April 18-20, on Bowen Island, in British Columbia.
Michael describes these as the four practices of Open Space:
* Opening Heart:
…The key questions are about core issues, the heart of the matter, the center of the problem or situation, which is always me. What do I care about? What do I love?
* Inviting Connection
…As heart opens, I can invite connection with others. I dare to attract attention. And I have attention of my own to give…What might we be together?
* Supporting Collaboration
…How do we learn, move, live, and work together?
* Making a Difference
…Then, what is my responsibility here?…How will I ground this energy I have? How will I use it to make a difference for myself and others?
In our retreat next week, we’ll consider how we apply these practices as facilitators, participants and leaders, in meetings, conferences, organizations and communities.
The 2006 NCDD conference will take place in San Francisco, California August 4-6, with pre-conference trainings on Thursday, August 3rd. If you are dedicated to solving group and societal problems through honest talk, quality thinking and collaborative action, we invite you to join us at this innovative gathering. The conference will be held at the Renaissance Parc 55, a beautiful hotel in the heart of downtown San Francisco.
Founded in 2002, the National Coalition for Dialogue & Deliberation is a vibrant network of over 500 organizations and individuals who, collectively, regularly engage and mobilize millions of people across the globe around today’s critical issues. NCDD’s national conferences and resource-rich website are crucial to the development of this emerging field of practice.
The Second World Congress of Imams and Rabbis for Peace, will take place at Seville in Spain from 19 to 22 March 2006.
The sponsoring organization, Hommes de Parole, is an international humanitarian foundation devoted to bringing groups of people from areas in conflict to neutral territory and establishing conditions for dialogue and joint creation of a new future.
The First Congress held in Brussels on 3 to 6 January 2005 was an historical milestone in Jewish-Muslim dialogue. Israeli Open Space practitioner Avner Haramati was one of the professional facilitators for the first Congress.
The Second Congress will bring together once more 150 Imams and Rabbis, among the most influential Jewish and Muslim religious leaders in the world, together with the presence of number of Christians, education specialists, observers and experts, to focus on:
* Promoting encounter and dialogue between Jewish and Muslim religious leaders in order to build trust and confidence for developing common projects in seeking common good.
* Creating an opportunity for religious leaders to use their influence in conflict resolution in various regions of the world.
* Helping religious leaders to challenge fanatics who are misusing religion.
* Creating structures and initiatives to continue practical day-to-day work in the most needed areas.
The Second Congress will pursue the aims of the First Congress and will strive to :
* Enlarge the existing network of religious leaders who are committed in this endeavour especially to seek participation of prominent Imams from Arab and other Muslim countries. The Congress expects a large international media involvement in order to create a positive impact on both political leaders and the general public.
* Plan actions to be implemented in the field of education and especially peace education through dialogue and honest conversations with others.
The first day consists of presentations and discussions on specific topics, and the second and third days will be entirely in Open Space, facilitated by Harrison Owen, with Michael Pannwitz and his crew.
May there be abundant peace and life, for us and the whole household of Israel, and the whole household of Ismail.
This in today from Lise Damkjær in Copenhagen:
One of my best OS-experiences was this summer doing an 2-day Open space with thirty 15-17-year-old youngsters from Denmark and Letvia (so they had to do it in english to understand each other).
Their teachers had decided that the theme should be “Democracy and the fairytales of Hans Christian Andersen” (He was danish…)
The first morning we told the youngsters, that we expected them to host an open space with their parents as participantsin the next evening – and that we expected them to work out 4 small plays about democracy and the 4 chosen fairytales to inspire the open space.
And then we introduced open space – and they got to work! Lots of work!
In the evening the day after when the parents arrived the 4 plays were showed and 4 of the youngsters introduced open space and the space were open!
In a chat with one of the young OS-hosts I mentioned that the adults were a bit slow in getting started. This 15-year-old boy reflected: “I think they are having a hard time – being in the same learning as we were yesterday…”
WOW – with these youngsters we don’t need to wory about the future!
More stories about Opening Space for youth and education in the OpenSpaceWorld.NET Workspace.
