Face to Face or Online?


Steve Pashley has a great post Engaging with Local Communities about using Open Space Technology, including Open Space Online. He notes that the NHS (Britain’s National Health Service?) has used face to face OST meetings “engage with stakeholders” in a one-off way without democratizing the organization. He proposes the online version as a possible on-going tool to push change further.

Circles of Change: Haiti Innovation


John Engle and colleagues have created a program, called Circles of Change, in Haiti which incorporates Open Space and another method they refer to as Reflection Circles. Nice to see their success featured recently at Haiti Innovation, a new Washington DC-based nonprofit which was started by former Haiti Peace Corps volunteers:

In the midst of a national situation that is violent and chaotic, it is indeed refreshing and stimulating to see how Beyond Borders’ small but vibrant alternative to the authoritarian schooling and leadership is taking shape in Haiti.

—Claudette Werleigh, former Prime Minister of Haiti and Director of the Life & Peace Institute

Circles of Change is one of several Open Space Initiatives that invite and encourage your inquiry and support.

Please Support Open Space World


OpenSpaceWorld.ORG is a global community asset, maintained by personal giving. Please support it’s maintenance and development if you can!

In the last seven years, we have invited and incorporated resource contributions in 18 languages. Thank you to the many friends and colleagues who’ve helped along the way!

This year, we expect to spend $350 for hosting and other fees and perhaps 200+ hours of webmaster time and attention. Much of this time has already been spent in the complete redevelopment of the site. We hope you like the new look and functions!

We’ve chosen a somewhat arbitrary target of $2500. If you like what is happening here, please consider making a contribution to help me pay the bills. We’ll accept any addtional contributions as personal thanks and encouragement.

This is also an experiment in raising active community support for personal projects and initiatives. Your contribution here will help open a space for others to step forward and start other community-backed Initiatives.

UPDATE: OpenSpaceWorld.ORG is grateful for contributions of $1,945 toward total goal of $2,500 through 2007. Thank you! And if you find this site helpful, please consider commenting and contributing.