Election Cafés 2010
The local ChangeCamp experiment keeps rolling along. Without skipping a beat, ChangeCamp is now focused squarely on the upcoming municipal election. What better opportunity for citizens and political leaders to engage in conversations about what matters to our community?
The audacious plan outlined below calls for a series of events around the city and online. The format is simple. Gather together in a café-style setting, having conversations around small tables. This is what we did at the July ChangeSalon event and the feedback was great. This time around, we're calling it civic speed dating. Everyone participates in a series of short, intimate conversations with candidates and other citizens, building on each other's ideas for what kind of community we want and what it will take to get there.
Candidates will demonstrate how they can work collaboratively toward a common objective, to bring out the best in the ideas of others while also finding ways to effectively communicate their own. They'll have to make real choices around what to do and when. Real stuff, the kind of work they'll need to do if they are elected. Of course, citizens are a vital part of the conversation and will have to do the same.
This kind of event has never been done before in the Sault, perhaps in all of Canada. The format uses a combination of World Café, and two Innovation Games: Remember the Future and Prune the Product Tree. Games for Democracy has volunteered help in designing the event.
This is leading edge stuff. I've been sharing this work and the vision behind it with people in other communities, as well as other coaches and facilitators in my profession. Every time, people are amazed, impressed and inspired. There is even one facilitator based in Cincinnati, Ohio who got permission from his employer to fly up here and help at one of the events. WOW! Yes, the Sault is doing some innovative work that others are paying attention to.
If this appeals to you, then get on board. While the hard work of designing the events is mostly done, we need passionate and committed citizens, organizations and candidate teams to get involved. These events don't run themselves heh.
Intrigued? Visit the ChangeSault community site. Become a site member, fill out your profile and join the conversation. You'll find the ChangeCamp small group here.
Posted by Gerry Kirk
