Full Circle Associates

Another one of the arts treats from Nexus for Change 2 - a lovely juggling interlude from Space Painter Tom Sparough - who is not only amazingly talented, but a joy to work with. If you need a collaborator in the mid-west of the US, call Tom!. Enjoy! A Monday video on Wednesday!
YouTube - Getting Out of the Box

Last week at Nexus for Change 2 we had an evening of the arts for change. We had Playback Theatre from our full arts team (who recruited me - that was fun! You can see some video clips here, here and here), juggling from the amazing Tom Sparough and song from Timothy C. Van Ness and we even drew together. Taking an idea from Johnnie Moore, we did a pairs drawing exercise, continuing on my inquiry into visual expression as a mode of interaction and learning together. Here is a short video of one pair drawing together.

YouTube - Drawing Together Exercise

Here are some of the beautiful faces they drew together:

You can see the pictures more clearly in the Nexus set on Flickr.

And some stills from Playback Theatre

Peter Block made an observation on Tuesday that really hit home for me. He said something to the effect that we resist change done unto us, but we embrace change that helps us stay who we are. Somewhat paradoxically, it is in the preservation of self that we embrace change.

So does change always have to be serious and gut wrenching? Or can we play, singe and draw our way through transformation? I think we can. And perhaps we MUST!

For more on Nexus, see our wiki.
More videos here.

I have a lot to “download” and process from Nexus 2 in Bowling Green Ohio, but I wanted to share one of the charts I did during Peter Block’s conversation on community. Look at the questions that are part of this “path.” They are great. I did not want to forget them. I want to USE them.

Now it is time to catch up on some sleep!

Flickr Photo Download: From Peter Block’s Presentation

Nexus U OfferingsNexus U OfferingsLast week I blogged about Nexus for Change II March 29 - April 1 in Bowling Green, Ohio, USA. The first two days are Nexus U, a chance to dive into particular methods and approaches to whole systems change. Gabriel Shirley, who is coordinating the “U” sent out a list of the “explorations” available on Saturday. He said this is pretty set, but there may always be a last minute change or two. (PDF of Nexus U)

You can pick two. Then on Sunday you put them to work. There are some cool people and this will be a chance to work with them in small groups.

• Arts Integration - Tim Van Ness
• Appreciative Inquiry - Diana Whitney
• Peter Block’s Community Engagement Model - Linda Fabe, Dan Joyner
• Community Weaving - Cheryl Honey
• Conference Model - Dick Axelrod, Emily Axelrod
• Dynamic Facilitation - Jim Rough, Deanna Martin
• Future Search - Sandra Janoff
• Human System Dynamics - Kristine Quade
• Open Space Technology - Peggy Holman
• Process Arts Framing - Brandon WilliamsCraig
• Self-organizing Systems: Creating the Capacity for Change - Myron Rogers
• Six Sigma - Tom Devane
• User Centered Design - Keith Innstone, Gabriel Shirley
• Visual Process Integration - Nancy White (an introduction to using visuals/graphics in your facilitation)
  
• World Cafe - Don Proffit
• Whole Scale Change - Sylvia James, Paul Tolchinsky, Beverly Seiford

March 28th I head to Bowling Green, Ohio for my second Nexus for Change. Last year at Nexus 1 I had the opportunity to work alongside some amazing professional graphic recorders who were supporting the overall event and my eyes were opened to the visual aspects of group process. This year, I’m heading back to Nexus for Change 2/Nexus U and am inviting you to consider going too. And I’m on the Arts Team again (as well as the Tech team, but spreading my wings beyond my customary domain).

I was on the fence because life is crazy and the year is looking to be full of travel. I was unsure because it took a while to see the agenda and to figure out if I had something to contribute/get. Then I decided to let go of expectations and just COMMIT!

This year there are two parts ($600 for 4 days!). Nexus U is a chance to focus on large group/whole system methods and consider how to apply them. Think of “method camp.” Gabriel Shirley has assembled a team of experienced practitioners to lead folks through a series of fast/deep dives on Saturday, then to work in groups to plan actual applications. Then on Sunday night Nexus 2 opens, followed by two days of thinking about whole systems change - how methods are related, how we can use these tools to change our selves, our companies and the world.

Are you a facilitator? A change maker? Interested in change? In methods? Sign up and come along. If you are into visual methods, I’ll be leading the deep dives on Saturday, then I’ll be backing up an old client, James Soohoo (James is NOT old, but this is a past client!!) as he shares how online tools made a difference for his group at the March of Dimes.

For all the details in a downloadable form, click here: Nexus for Change 2 Invitation (pdf)