World Cafe Community

World Café Signature Learning Programs

Amy Lenzo — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 13:19:19 PST

We have now scheduled our next set of Level One World Café Signature Learning Programs!

We will be offering these learnign programs in three two-hour sessions online - one in January 2011, and one in February 2012.

Each one is timed to be convenient and accessible to people in different parts of our international community, so you can choose the one that works best for you.

January 2012
Level One Online - The Americas & Asia/Australia
Offered online in three two-hour sessions
January 6th, 9th, and 11th
(in Asia/Australia that is Jan 7th, 10th, & 12th)
5pm - 7pm Pacific Time
REGISTER HERE

February 2012
Level One Online - The Americas & Europe
Offered online in three two-hour sessions
February 15th, 17th, and 19th
8am - 10am Pacific Time
REGISTER HERE

We call them Learning Programs rather than trainings, because while you will come out of the series (Levels One to Three) well grounded in the art and craft of hosting World Café, the process is one of collaborative learning rather than pedagogical instruction. Interactive and experiential, these programs are held in an atmosphere of shared inquiry and mutual support.

Start your own "learning journey" into the magic of the World Café by registering for one of these introductory Level One events now!

Level One is a pre-requisite for the Level Two Signature Learning Programs, so you'll want to take one of these currently-scheduled programs to prepare for our Level Two course being offered online in March 2012 in collaboration with Fielding Graduate University.

If you would like to contribute a scholarship to one or more of the many people who would love to participate in this program but are prevented by financial limitations, please make your contribution using the "Give" button in the left column - be sure to indicate your wishes in the PayPal text field provided.

What the World Café Makes Possible

Amy Lenzo — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 12:06:49 PDT

From Ben Roberts of weDialogue, on what his engagement with the World Café has made possible for him:

On the occasion of this “Harvest Fund Drive,” I find myself reflecting back on what has been an incredible personal journey in which the Foundation has played a key role. A year and a half ago, I began an inquiry into the power and joy of engaging in “conversations that matter,” in the context of my involvement in the political initiatives of “the Coffee Party.” This led me immediately to The World Café as a process and to the work of the Foundation. There I found an inspiring array of resources and an incredibly responsive, sincere, generous and dedicated community of practice that was eager to support me. Talk about “creating hospitable space!” You can read a series of posts in the StoryNet section of our wonderful Online Community describing my efforts; here are links to part 1, part 2 and part 3).

As I learned more about the magic of large group dialogic processes, my interest quickly morphed from excitement about finding a set of tools to apply to this specific political initiative to a sense that I had discovered new and fertile ground for my life’s work in a much broader context. I became especially taken with the possibility for weaving these processes together with the incredible convening power of the internet. Here, the Foundation’s director of global communications Amy Lenzo proved to be particularly supportive. One of the world’s most experienced hosts of emergent dialogue online, Amy generously volunteered to teach me, connect me with resources and even to co-host many of my earliest efforts in convening virtual conversation.

Last August, I was honored when Amy invited me to join her in creating weDialogue. We are now building this business together, focused on expanding the quality and reach of online dialogue and providing a new revenue stream for The World Café Community Foundation via an array of online services, including hosting and training. We also launched the Conversations for the 21st Century project in April with an engagement on Community for the 21st Century. Next, in collaboration with other members of The World Café and Art of Hosting communities based in Greece, we co-hosted the 2nd in the series, “What is Moving and Awakening Around the World,” inspired by events in the Eastern Mediterranean. This Conversation for the 21st Century featured “conversation starters” from Greece, Syria and Israel and drew participants from over a dozen countries.

The Occupy Wall Street movement was just a week old at that time, but it seemed clear on that call that the connection to global events was powerful. I therefore began looking for opportunities to host generative dialogue animated by the energy of the budding Occupy movement. That has led quickly to “Occupy Café”, an initiative supported by weDialogue and the Co-Intelligence Institute. This open space for global conversation is designed to give participants in the movement a place to connect with one another and to the wider world. Our virtual doors will open Monday, 10/24 at 11am Eastern for the first of a series of three-hour MaestroConference calls. We're using an open approach to provide anyone who has an idea for a compelling conversation with a platform for convening it. I look forward to collaborating with members of the World Café Community and others in the "Jardin Central" of transformative social technologies to make this the richest, most generative and hospitable space possible.

It is hard to imagine that I would have found what is fast becoming “my life’s work” if the Foundation did not exist. And it is thrilling to imagine what lies before us as the incredible talents, wisdom and heart of this community find more and more ways to manifest "world as café.” Please consider giving generously to the Foundation in support of this essential mission.

Sincerely,
Ben Roberts
Principle, weDialogue

Anne's Blessing

Amy Lenzo — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 03:00:00 PDT

Everyone may not share her spiritual perspective but those who know Anne Dosher know why we at the World Café Community Foundation feel so blessed to have her hold the role of "Elder" and "Guardian of the Soul of the World Café", along with her more prosaic roles as a Community Foundation board member. Her wise council over many years now and her 80+ years have earned her the title of Elder, and it is her deep understanding of life's mystery and our true relationship with all things that make her a Guardian.

We asked Anne to share some personal words of blessing for this last day of Harvest Fund Drive, and here they are:

"For me, I have been privileged for fifteen years to be asked to be Elder and Guardian of Soul of The World Café and I have called for silence and spoken the blessing at the
beginning of meetings. Every day I call on the Great Spirit who moves in and around all things to be with us. All those who have found this work are blessed. Thank you for
joining us and supporting the work.
Blessings aye, Anne
Elder and Guardian of Soul"

* * * * * * * * *

On this last day of our first ever Fund Drive, I hope you too are inspired to contribute to our goal of raising $25,000.00 by the end of today, November 4, 2011.

Thank you to all of you who have already joined us in making this Harvest Fund Drive a great success. Please make your valuable contribution to the World Café Community Foundation now, and help us bring home this Fund Drive successfully at this critical time for the World Café.

You'll be helping to catalyze the most critical conversations of our time.

From the Heart

Amy Lenzo — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 03:00:00 PDT

World Café Community Foundation board member Samantha Tan speaks from the heart in support of the Harvest Fund Drive:

So many of us are longing to speak from our heart about what we care most about in our lives and in our world today. The World Café is the most powerful and successful method I know to connect people through authentic conversations that ignite our courage and spirit to act - to make a difference and be the difference. It is my honor and privilege to serve on the World Café Signature Learning Programs team. My wish is for everyone to experience the satisfaction and profound joy of the
"World as Café".

* * * * * * * * *

Our immediate goal is to raise $25,000.00 by November 4, 2011.

Thank you to all of you who have already joined us in making this Harvest Fund Drive a great success. Please make your valuable contribution to the World Café Community Foundation now.

You'll be helping to catalyze the most critical conversations of our time.

Culturewheel in Cairo

Amy Lenzo — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 03:00:00 PDT

This just in from Deborah Goldblatt, the World Café Community Foundation's Director of Resource Development, who is travelling in Egypt right now:

"We can clean up the streets, build bridges and skyscrapers, but if we aren't building people, none of that matters."

You can feel Mohamed el Sawy's personal warmth throughout el Sawy Culturewheel, the center in Cairo, Egypt he founded in 2003 as a one-stop venue for music, art and theater. An architect and engineer by training, Mohamed is the son of a famous Egyptian writer who has a deep love for all aspects of Egyptian culture. He is a puppeteer, musician and craftsman as well as a supporter of the free exchange of ideas.

Mohamed's dream of a town hall and community center for the new Egypt became reality during the days of the January 25th revolution. The Culturewheel stayed on the pulse of the latest events by hosting debates and presentations, in addition to its artistic events, in an atmosphere of mutual understanding and respect.

His goal is to provide a platform for Egyptians to become even more thoughtful, active and engaged citizens. In the past months, membership has grown quickly and he is currently in talks to open more cultural hubs in other Egyptian cities. The spirit of the Culturewheel - and the spirit of el Sawy - is catching on.

Just yesterday, in Cairo, I had the great pleasure of meeting Mohamed. One of my quests in visiting Cairo was to place a World Café book in his hands. As he received it from me and we spoke about what was possible in hosting World Cafés at Culturewheel, his eyes lit up, he smiled widely and appreciatively.... and his dream expanded right in front of me.

This is a tiny glimpse into the world of the World Café and the work of the World Café Community Foundation. Through a spirit of generosity, we keep passing it forward. We have all read a book that changed our lives and then told as many people as we could to read it. This was one of those moments in Mohamed's life (and mine) and I am excited to hear soon about the first World Café at Culturewheel, built under the bridge and over a dump in Cairo.

Please help us now to catalyze the most critical conversations of our time by making a contribution, any contribution - they are all welcome - and keep the gift of the World Café moving forward.