Hello, everyone -
I love all your recommendations and experiences as you are adding to my thoughts about this multi-language Open Space. As of my conversation today with the client, here are some things we are doing, and we are talking all of your ideas into consideration as well as we are forming up our thoughts about this... (yes, participants are being included in this generation of ideas and resources to help in this multi-language event; and yes, the participants are very excited about coming and sharing their knowledge, so the energy is high. No, I don't think we have capacity to hold multiple/simultaneous events or train folks, which is of course a great idea, and yes, the farmers will 'drive' most of the process/conversations, and my framing of the intro will remind 'helpers' with agencies that it is the farmers' event). We now have identified 3 main languages - for which we will provide roaming translators - for the other smaller language groups we will ensure volunteers to be their 'buddies'. Registration includes participants self-identifying which languages they speak, and *all* participants will place colors on their name badges indicating what languages they speak. So there will be both pre-established *and* informal, peer based, self-organizing translation. And we are very much assuming and providing support and nutrition for the participants to find their own ways of communicating, sharing, documenting and so on. We will have opening circle instructions with 2 language groups on headsets, others sitting near each other according to their needs -- then everyone will take off their headsets and participants will announce their topics in their home languages (they will make their signs at a location where volunteer translators will help write their signs in a few other languages as they are created - then they will come to the center to announce their sessions in their own languages). We will identify a few discussion areas as language-specific. The rest are mixed and we'll have enough participants and helpers to share in translating for each other. Participants will either use this organization method or take care of their needs in other ways, which is fine. We will have volunteer notes-takers sit at every discussion area (because not all participants read and write). We will document via text, video, photograph, and perhaps via graphic recording. We will probably set up a mural wall so participants can draw whatever they want during the event. Post-event we will distribute the documentation in hard-copy, electronically, via visuals, and for some participants, they'll hold storytelling times post-event to share their experience orally post-event. The client will secure funding to translate the Book into the several written languages. Our evening events will include inquiry circles in whatever languages people desire (one evening) - it's a way of sharing experiences through sharing questions. On the other evening whomever wants to will learn the local dances of the region our event is in (I expect some silliness) and then there will be world music DJ dancing for whomever desires. Others will simply enjoy nibbles and chatting. I am sooooooooooooooo looking forward to this...and thanks so much for your great thoughts and experiences... Lisa ___________________________ L i s a H e f t Consultant, Facilitator, Educator O p e n i n g S p a c e <mailto:lisah...@openingspace.net> lisah...@openingspace.net <http://www.openingspace.net> www.openingspace.net * * ========================================================== osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu ------------------------------ To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist