Intergenerations

Being in a hosting team there is always some learning that happens afterwards. We used our hosting team debrief to share these.

* First of all we declared the gathering to be a success. Even though many of us hadn't met eachother before, and the purpose of the gathering wasn't always crystal clear - was it a Pioneers of Change gathering? was it about multigenerational? was it about pioneering? - all participants had a learningful, inspirational and sometimes transformational time.

* During the time prior to the gathering we learned that above all the clarity of 'ownership' is crucial in making an event like this manifest.  read more »

The text below was offered by one of the participants in the intergenerational gathering. We read it in the circle before moving into a peer-coaching exercise. (If someone knows who is the author, then please tell us!)   read more »

Friday, our last day.

We had some unclarity in the hosting team in the morning about what was the right thing to happen. To me it seemed to reflect one of the challenges of our field. We are good, very good, at creating relationships and having conversations that matter, but how do we go to the next step, the action?

If we take the U-process as the model, there is a place - when you really entered the alignment of head, heart and soul - when you can 'act in an instant'. It is clear what to do; there is no doubt, although you only see the next step and not the whole plan in advance.

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In the hosting team it felt high time to open the space.

In silence we invited people to contemplate on the question: What do I need to take my next level of pioneering?

I guess some 20 sessions were posted and the marketplace was immediately filled with life and negotations about timing etc. I can't mention all the sessions, but I offer here the harvest of the day. Maria and Filiz had offered a Harvest Poster, with on  read more »

The hosting team was in the groan zone...

we stayed a little too heady...

were we talking about the real thing?

We had intended this day to be with some silence, as we are entering the bottom of the U. Our hearts and senses were opened in this community with lots of friendship, deep relationships and trust. And we were challenged in our assumptions, which opened our minds a little bit more. To deepen all this we decided to open the circle and speak and share around the question: What is brewing?

I give some of the highlights as perceived by me:  read more »

First day, afternoon: Becoming community

We went into Open Space with the questions: What do you need to feel at home here? What do we need to make this our home this week? Sessions were posted from preparing the kitchen work, to help restore the road, to walking to the beach while exploring interesting conversation topics...

Maria said that people are 'ready to start' and I learned that the original meaning of Community in Greek means: to be in unity while in action. I love this so much! This is really our learning edge, how to be aligned with oneself and also - at the same time - aligned with the rhythm of the group and the wave beneath the waves... Good learning seems to be going on...

Monday morning, our real check-in around the question: What called you to come here?

We spend the whole morning sharing our stories and heard many connections between people and networks. Some were holding this gathering for more than a year, others only decided a few days or weeks ago to come.

Here are the threads that we could hear throughout the morning:

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We are already 15 people today and the same number will arrive this evening. Tonight, at dinner, will be the official opening of our gathering. I am really curious what will happen and what new meaning and actions will emerge.  read more »

Axladtisa - Today was our first preparation day for the intergeneration gathering. A day of physical preparation and also process design. Before it became too hot, we all arranged different practical jobs: fixed a shower on the camping ground, cleaned and fixed the eco-toilets, arranged a space for 'stuff' of alsmost 30 people, worked on the damaged road, made some food... Thisi took us to lunch and then to the beach. After some swiming and play we gathered in the local taverna - with beer or wine - and looked at the design of the five days.  read more »

Intergenerational at Shambhala: story and what is next?

At the Shambhala Summer Institute, June ’08, people were invited to join a conversation around the next steps for the intergenerational work in Shambhala. It started with people trying to put the story together…

Meg Wheatley remembered that at the first Institute people were wondering: Where is the youth? At the last dinner, the kitchen and serving staff said they had enjoyed the conversations. Then they noticed: they were young!

Different pieces made something happen: the work of Berkana, the Pioneers of Change, David Isaac and Juanita Brown wanting to open space for more young people, Toke Møller hosting a module together with Marianne Knuth…
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