hello chris, my most relevent experience is written up and posted online at <html://www.globalchicago2000/mha/stories/youthaction.html>.
in short, we did an afterschool open space with 35 kids ages 12-22, inviting them to prepare themselves and their peers to be participants in some larger community movements that were taking place in their hometown of racine wisconsin. we did three sessions and finished a little late, throwing off the schedules of several moms waiting outside in mini-vans! anyway, the kids did great work, of course, and went on to organize all kinds of things, staying in open space mode for their "governance". they also went to several conferences to tell their stories and to teach others of open space. at least one other group that we know of also began using open space as a result of hearing the racine stories. the main things needed to support this were, as usual, a question that seemed to matter, to get things started. then, some adult support in providing logisitical support, assurances that they really could continue to go identify and go after the things they thought were important, some encouragement and financial support to go to these conferences and learn more about their story by telling it to others, and someone to keep the moms in the parking lot from coming inside and stealing their kids away before it was over! a more recent experience with 80 youth and 20 local village employees at the 26th annual youth-in-gov't day, but the first in open space, was only two sessions long, with lunch in between. even so, the second session felt like the second day. we seemed to get that day-two sort of bounce in the afternoon session and seemed that a real flow occured in all sessions, and they all seemed to be dealing with the same core issues and all with different languages. it made me think later that maybe 18-year-olds are in such a state of transformation already, that being able to check out and check in faster is just standard procedure for them, so they didn't need all night to think it over. anyway, in both of these groups, the kids seemed to 'get it' really quickly and then just need assurances and supports to stay in this mode, that the real world could really work this way. which doesn't tell you much what to do with your 3 half days, but i hope some of this proves useful. good luck with them. michael -- Michael Herman ...inviting results in evolving organizations Michael Herman Associates 300 West North Avenue #1105 Chicago IL 60610 312-280-7838 voice/fax mailto:mher...@globalchicago.net The Global Chicago Network http://www.globalchicago.net Michael Herman Associates http://www.globalchicago.net/mha