Open Space Strategy Session
September 23, 2010
Phoenix, Arizona
If anything imaginable were possible, if there were no constraints whatsoever, how can we participate, collaborate and innovate to stimulate civic action in Arizona?
On September 23, 2010, nearly 150 Arizonans gathered to discuss how to increase civic engagement in Arizona. As part of It’s Up to Me, AZ: A Day of Civic Action, this Open Space strategy session made it possible for the participants to generate topics and focus on what they most cared about.
After two hours of lively discussions, more than 20% of the participants committed to host further conversations on the most exciting ideas for stimulating civic action.
Christine Whitney Sanchez and Collaborative Spark, a consulting group with expertise in large-group conversations and deliberations, guided the Open Space meeting. This process is a non-hierarchical, transparent process that makes it easy for large groups to build on each other’s ideas and self-organize for action around meaningful issues and opportunities. It is a fun and dynamic way to release the wisdom of the many.
Regina Blakely of Collaborative Spark began the session by performing an original open space poem. Participants then created the agenda and hosted breakout discussions on topics such as:
- How can the arts most effectively stimulate civic action?
- Take back the media
- Abolishing human trafficking (posted by Senior Girl Scouts)
- A great education for all children
- Redistricting to ensure competitive districts
Each breakout group posted their most potent and actionable ideas. One fifth of the participants were so passionate about civic action ideas that they listed their contact information to host another conversation and explore next steps.
The chart below represents original discussion topics, hosts, action ideas, participants who committed to host the next conversation and people who have committed to participate in the next conversation.
If you are interested in joining a conversation, please contact the host listed in the chart.
For other questions about the Open Space session, please contact Christine Whitney Sanchez at cwhitneysanchez@gmail.com.
To see the chart more clearly as a pdf, click here: Open Space Strategy Session-Civil Dialogue
