What is a universal language of meaningful collaboration in - - PDF document

Presentation from the Open Space Sessions at the International Society for Organization Development & Change 2018 Information Exchange at Bowling Green State University@Levis Commons, Perrysburg, Ohio, USA

Foster change in society with methodologies of organizational change:

The Power of Imagination Studio

What is a universal language of meaningful collaboration in diversity?

Presentation and discussion on a practical example from Luxembourg, the European finance metropolis

Our company is called parto, based in Germany. The name is composed by four letters of participation and one letter of organizational development. In Spanish language it means birth. We were engaged by an international network

• f social service organizations to support a process of change.

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parto gUG | www.part-o.de | koeln@part-o.de | phone +49-221-47401515/6920249, cell +49-152-52614433, +49-171-1255668

www.pois.part-o.de

Presentation from the Open Space Sessions at the International Society for Organization Development & Change 2018 Information Exchange at Bowling Green State University@Levis Commons, Perrysburg, Ohio, USA

Catholic Charities Luxembourg wanted to change public perception. The old mission was to provide service to people in need. The new challenge should be: Empower the clients. Make them develop their own ideas for a better future. Let them implement their ideas conjointly. CC Luxembourg also wanted to educate their staff to facilitate appropriate processes of participation with their clients. So we put in practice various workshops and training sessions.

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parto gUG | www.part-o.de | koeln@part-o.de | phone +49-221-47401515/6920249, cell +49-152-52614433, +49-171-1255668

Presentation from the Open Space Sessions at the International Society for Organization Development & Change 2018 Information Exchange at Bowling Green State University@Levis Commons, Perrysburg, Ohio, USA

Our participants: Clients of a laundry which runs as a social institution of job-creation for socially excluded, long-time unemployed people – Residents of a institutional home for psychiatric care... ... – Homeless people who are reliant on emergency shelter. – The highlight of the participation process was a national conference against poverty where they all met together: Rich and poor people, powerless and powerful people, eloquent (well-languaged) people and people who would never raise the voice and express their thoughts.

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parto gUG | www.part-o.de | koeln@part-o.de | phone +49-221-47401515/6920249, cell +49-152-52614433, +49-171-1255668

Presentation from the Open Space Sessions at the International Society for Organization Development & Change 2018 Information Exchange at Bowling Green State University@Levis Commons, Perrysburg, Ohio, USA

More participants on the national conference had been: Staff members of many welfare organizations and social initiatives. People who live in extreme poverty. And members of the local government and the national parliament. About one hundred participants came. In the welcome session the local mayor shows the appreciative attitude of the conference: Integration of all the different lifestyles and backgrounds. Open-mindset for all ideas. Dialogue on a par with the others.

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parto gUG | www.part-o.de | koeln@part-o.de | phone +49-221-47401515/6920249, cell +49-152-52614433, +49-171-1255668

Presentation from the Open Space Sessions at the International Society for Organization Development & Change 2018 Information Exchange at Bowling Green State University@Levis Commons, Perrysburg, Ohio, USA

As a universal language we utilize elements of artistic creation: Creative powers – free use of paint colors – word juggling – story telling – – theatrical scenes based on improvisation – vivid imagination.

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parto gUG | www.part-o.de | koeln@part-o.de | phone +49-221-47401515/6920249, cell +49-152-52614433, +49-171-1255668

Presentation from the Open Space Sessions at the International Society for Organization Development & Change 2018 Information Exchange at Bowling Green State University@Levis Commons, Perrysburg, Ohio, USA

Phase ONE: Address the problems, collate the contradictory criticisms, nobody should mince the words. The participants focus on their most important needs and mark them with colors.

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parto gUG | www.part-o.de | koeln@part-o.de | phone +49-221-47401515/6920249, cell +49-152-52614433, +49-171-1255668

Presentation from the Open Space Sessions at the International Society for Organization Development & Change 2018 Information Exchange at Bowling Green State University@Levis Commons, Perrysburg, Ohio, USA

They write the chosen viewpoints on paper bricks and construct a wall. The wall rises. It symbolizes the barriers that impede social change in society.

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parto gUG | www.part-o.de | koeln@part-o.de | phone +49-221-47401515/6920249, cell +49-152-52614433, +49-171-1255668

Presentation from the Open Space Sessions at the International Society for Organization Development & Change 2018 Information Exchange at Bowling Green State University@Levis Commons, Perrysburg, Ohio, USA

„Despite having a job the money isn't enough for surviving“ – „Have to move out of my apartment because of sanitary shortcomings“ Brick by brick the positive opposites are found, and powerful visions emerge: How could life be, if the gap between welth and poverty melts away?

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parto gUG | www.part-o.de | koeln@part-o.de | phone +49-221-47401515/6920249, cell +49-152-52614433, +49-171-1255668

Presentation from the Open Space Sessions at the International Society for Organization Development & Change 2018 Information Exchange at Bowling Green State University@Levis Commons, Perrysburg, Ohio, USA

Phase TWO: Participants change their identity, assume a new role as mayor, or planning expert, or visual artist. One by one the teams present their collective vision of a better life. We saw twelve many-faceted, visionary concepts.

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parto gUG | www.part-o.de | koeln@part-o.de | phone +49-221-47401515/6920249, cell +49-152-52614433, +49-171-1255668

Presentation from the Open Space Sessions at the International Society for Organization Development & Change 2018 Information Exchange at Bowling Green State University@Levis Commons, Perrysburg, Ohio, USA

Hand in hand the participants explore the possibilities to take responsibility and to engage for the dreams come true. To exhaust all real opportunities, they write down stories about the actions to be done.

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parto gUG | www.part-o.de | koeln@part-o.de | phone +49-221-47401515/6920249, cell +49-152-52614433, +49-171-1255668

Presentation from the Open Space Sessions at the International Society for Organization Development & Change 2018 Information Exchange at Bowling Green State University@Levis Commons, Perrysburg, Ohio, USA

Phase THREE: Action teams outline manageable projects, discuss strategies, and make plans that can be realized just after the conference. The politicians move from team to team. They listen attentively, they help along with their knowledge, they support ideas and plans for the people. The facilitators demand honest answers from the politicians.

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parto gUG | www.part-o.de | koeln@part-o.de | phone +49-221-47401515/6920249, cell +49-152-52614433, +49-171-1255668

Presentation from the Open Space Sessions at the International Society for Organization Development & Change 2018 Information Exchange at Bowling Green State University@Levis Commons, Perrysburg, Ohio, USA

Various plans are cross-linked. Later we heard that now no one could distinguish between social workers and clients on the margin of society. The role of an facilitator is not to be a conselor but a midwife – remember the meaning of parto in the Spanish language. Trust in self-guidance of the people! ...

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parto gUG | www.part-o.de | koeln@part-o.de | phone +49-221-47401515/6920249, cell +49-152-52614433, +49-171-1255668

Presentation from the Open Space Sessions at the International Society for Organization Development & Change 2018 Information Exchange at Bowling Green State University@Levis Commons, Perrysburg, Ohio, USA

… Awaken the joy of creative collaboration! Put the three phases into effect (critsism – vision – implementation)! Encourage and empower them all! We are curious to hear: What resonates with you in looking at these images? What is your experience with diverse groups? What do you see as a universal language or approach

• f meaningful collaboration in diverse groups?

Do you want to know more? Read the forthcoming 3rd edition (2019) of The Change Handbook Ask for sharing, networking, training – worldwide in English, French, German language Petra Eickhoff, Stephan G. Geffers Cologne, Germany, EU

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parto gUG | www.part-o.de | koeln@part-o.de | phone +49-221-47401515/6920249, cell +49-152-52614433, +49-171-1255668

www.pois.part-o.de www.thechangehandbook.com