To host this conference / community gathering / retreat for your organization or community, contact Lisa Heft at lisaheft@openingspace.net

If I am 'the right person', what may my task be? What is my passion and what is my responsibility, moment by moment? This is essential for peace making in a war zone for two reasons: one is that you need yourself totally present to survive and the other is that because of the chaotic forces if you are fully present you have endless opportunities to try and make a difference…

That is a place to find some hope, when people, together, touch on something that is truthful, authentic; uniquely created and attended, being born. The feeling is revitalizing and reminding people of their wholeness and 'partness' no matter what the issues are …

-- Tova Averbuch, facilitator of Open Space peace gatherings
between Israelis and Palestinians in the Middle East

Event Description

Do you wish to join a diverse community of individuals gathered for several days of ever-deepening communication and new learning - to share wisdom, experience, insight and action based on passion and personal responsibility regarding peace? Host this community- or organization-wide event to explore personal and global transformation and leadership -- the practice of peace - within yourself, your organization, your community, the land and the world. Talk deeply with others, reflect on what's been happening in this world and country, generate action, form community. This event can be used as an action planning conference or just a coming together of community.

Duration

2 consecutive days; 2.5 days if used as an action conference

Target Audience

The richer and more diverse participants you invite to this, the richer the experience. Even better if their different points of view and experiences seem to conflict to the point of high passion. For how are we to understand each other if not through this method where participants convene discussion circles to truly witness each others’ true concerns, differences and similarities?

Learning Objectives

After their participation in these gatherings, participants say

• this was the first time they were truly heard without someone rushing to solve a problem
• they were truly able to listen to people who were very unlike themselves, finding more in common than they expected
• they were able to disagree respectfully if their discussions did not lead to agreement
• every issue that was important to them got discussed in a way that felt safe and supportive
• they realized that even issues they originally thought were global were in fact a cause to reflect on their own personal, daily practice of peace

Event Outline and Description

As the participants co-create the agenda at the beginning of an Open Space event, it cannot be predicted what the topics will be. The following is a sample of topics from a previous Practice of Peace event:

• How do we create community groups for peace and inter group relations? What are effective strategies for getting buy-in from institutions?
• How do you bring law enforcement into peace work?
• Is there ever balance? Incorporating spirituality
• How do you move beyond expected roles and responsibilities to reach consensus?
• What is the embodiment / the practice of peace in our lives?
• Loving the enemy
• Working for peace & staying detached from anger
• Why are humans so addicted to war & so frightened of pPeace?
• How do I practice peace with those with whom I disagree or dislike
• Why do we fear our enemies?
• How to deal with disruptive energy while creating/sustaining/maintaining harmony
• How can we connect what we do in our own smaller communities (the personal/work environment) with the larger community (the public sphere) so that we learn from each and apply what we learned to the other?
• Why Is conflict bad?
• How can we use conflict creatively?
• Working for peace in the belly of the beast
• What specific actions can be taken (or are being taken) now; individually?
• How do peacemakers avoid cynicism & burnout & remain healthy & sane in the midst of chaos?
• Does war & peace begin in people's mind's or elsewhere?
• Working to overcome oppressive patterns
• Education leading to worldwide change

Methodology and Process

This gathering will be facilitated using the method of Open Space Technology (OST) a method originated by Harrison Owen and used by facilitators internationally to bring diverse (and sometimes conflicted) individuals together for shared purpose and insight.