What would it look like to have the ARTS included in the SYMPOSIUM?

Written by David Usner

In this paper I’m going to try to present as many ideas I can. They are there to spark your own imaginations.

There were three areas that the discussion covered:

• Performance or in the delivery of the symposium
• Participatory
• Invitation/Display/Gallery

PERFORMANCE/DELIVERY

The complete symposium
Parts of the symposium to enhance the traditional presentation.

It is noted that we currently use multi-media with the talking heads and the short films and often read Drew’s poem read dramatically. I’m suggesting that we look for many more of these opportunities. It could be just reading some quote more dramatically presenting it in a different way. Read Thomas Berry with a dancer on stage. Invite a hip-hop artist to deliver the excerpt.

The Complete Symposium
A full performance piece would allow the symposium to be delivered at festivals, fairs, etc. For the most part I see a complete symposium being developed by teams of people who have specific talents or by people who are willing to play and stretch themselves. Usually this kind of ‘show’ would be developed knowing what kind of talents are being brought to the table... song, dance, theater, multi-media, poetry, storytelling, etc.

In the some of the trainings people have come up with some very inventive ways of demonstrating facts.

One person showed up with a very long rope that represented the big boom to present and every so often a tag was attached that indicated an event (i.e. extinction of dinosaurs, ice age, etc.). On the very last faction of an inch it represented how long man had been on the planet. Very effective and tactile.

This could be considered a performance.

Parts of the Symposium
There are many places in the Symposium where some kind of performance could be done to drive the point of the traditional presentation... and in many ways do it more effectively.
A group singing Monty Python’s Universe Song at the end.
The Universe Story expressed in dance.
Read some of the talking head text and act it out.

PARTICIPATORY

Participants would be asked to add their own creativity to the mix.
Decorate paper bags as masks
Hand out party hats
Bring in a bunch of used object (trash) and ask teams of people to create a piece of sculpture with them
Ask participant to express the loss exercise by drawing something
Hand out envelopes to some of the participants as they enter. On the envelopes is a number and instructions. When the number is called the person opens the envelope and reads the facts on information. These could be environmental or social justice facts that now show up in the symposium.

INVITATION/DISPLAY/GALLERY

Invite artists
Create a gallery space in the room or adjoining room
Prints, paintings, sculpture.
We had an artist bring in a beautiful alter hand made.
Maybe art made from recycled items.
Art could relate directly or indirectly to the purpose of the symposium
Some performances could be done as a background to the presentation or presented at the break time.
Guest musician (maybe indigenous)
Sound healing
Dancing

THINGS TO THINK ABOUT

Brainstorm with a few people. This is fun.
Allow your mind to run free when looking to bring the arts into the symposium.
Stay open to even the most outrageous ideas on this.
Keep look at “What if...”
Find people who will take on some of the performance end of things. The more you have the less daunting it looks.
Start to observe where others have implemented the arts in the symposium and in other presentations you seen.
Keep your ears open. So many talented people would just love to be a part of the symposium... whether they know it right now or not.

Soul and Spirit of ATD

Written by Amore

Elements to deepen the SPIRITUAL FULFILLMENT component of the Symposium

This is an INVITATION to HONOR the SOUL & SPIRIT of the Symposium

The SOUL of the ATD SYMPOSIUM is:
“A Conscious AWAKENING to the INTERCONNECTEDNESS of all LIFE and ALL OUR RELATIONS” (Wombat)

[This is just a possible interpretation of what the essence of the Symposium is. Please make your suggestions.]


1. SPIRITUAL FULFILMENT is currently the weakest link of the trilogy (since Social Justice became highlighted after Van Jones presentation)

[Suggestion: Let’s REVAMP this area and treat it with equal importance as the other two areas of the Symposium.}

2. The SPIRITUAL CRISIS is rooted in the sense of SEPARATION from:
a) NATURE: Ecological crisis, nature as resource, 6th mass extinction
b) Fellow HUMANS: Social injustice-racism-isolation-not belonging)
c) SPIRIT: Lack of purpose and meaning)
d) OURSELVES: Mind/heart, inner/outer)
e) LIFE: Eagle/condor, rich/poor, north/south, white/color, young/old
Ecology/Social Justice/Spirituality

[Suggestion: To recognize that the feeling of separation prevails in ALL SPHERES of our life, not only in regards to nature.]

3. This Spiritual inner crisis translates in an EXTERNAL CRISIS as:
War, violence, fundamentalism, hatred, alcohol, drugs, autism, depression, suicide
All these are MANIFESTATIONS of that sense of separation and SPIRITUAL VOID

[Suggestion: To frame these external crises in the CONTEXT of a Spiritual Crisis,]

4. INTEGRATION & RECONNECTION:
Are the WAY to inner peace, purpose, meaning and Spiritual Fulfillment.

5. The theme of Spiritual Fulfillment can be approached at two LEVELS:
A) At a personal level as Facilitators
B) At the Symposium level.

A.) As FACILITATORS, it is important to RECOGNIZE that the ATD Symposium:
1. Is an integral part of our own SPIRITUAL PRACTICE
2. Gives higher PURPOSE and deeper MEANING to our lives
3. Is an important path for our SERVICE
4. Provides us with a vibrant COMMUNITY and a strong sense of CONNECTION and BELONGING
5. Is a powerful means to AWAKENING ourselves and others
6. Reflects our deepest VALUES and ETHICS
7. Makes our HEART SING: We feel more love, joy and compassion
8. Through the Symposium we are a CONDUIT for Spirit, the VOICE of PACHAMAMA expressing through us.
9. In Synthesis, the Symposium gives us, as facilitators, a tremendous sense of SPIRITUAL FULFILLMENT

[Suggestion: Let’s recognize the Symposium as part of our own Spiritual fulfillment and practice.]

B. In the SYMPOSIUM:

Once we RECOGNIZE what the Symposium really means to us, we can PERMEATE this awareness into HOW we DELIVER the Symposium.

Suggestion: Let’s our ENTHUSIASM about Spiritual Fulfillment be contagious through the Symposium.

[Suggestion: To create a safe container through a clear distinction between Spirituality and Religion so that the people who take the Symposium don’t feel threatened.]

Pachamama needs us. We must come loud and clear in conveying her message. The more we have Spiritual Fulfillment in the Symposium, the more we’ll convey fulfillment…The fulfillment of the Prophecy of the Eagle and the Condor.

Creating CONTINUITY Between Symposiums

(so that one leads to another... and another... and another)

Written by Jonathan Hughes

The three key points that I shared from the front of the room (each went with a mental image)

PURPOSE... PEBBLES... & RIPPLES

(1) PURPOSE: Within each symposium you could say there is a 'sub-purpose' for that particular audience... in that particular place... at that particular time.

With every new symposium, it's always smart to get a sense, early on, of what that might be...

(2) PEBBLES: Imagine a timeline represented by a line of pebbles - each to mark a different event... a big pebble = a symposium

What emerged in my Open Space was the idea of holding smaller events (smaller pebbles) before and/or after

For a business community, it might be a short 'preview' taster presentation a few weeks before

For a local community of family and friends, it could be a music & wine event a few weeks after

And each of those events could be swapped - a follow-up event with local businesses - a social & fun taster event for friends

The key thing is to see the 'big pebble' symposium in the context of a line of events - that create continuity in that community

(3) RIPPLES: In the same way... rather than thinking of each symposium as an end in itself...

Think of the intention in a different way... as a series of expansive rings... the initial intention being:

To create a community (with your fellow facilitators)...

That delivers symposiums...

That create community...

That delivers symposiums...

That create community...

One final thought - the words 'continuity' and 'community' are very closely linked... and through their heart runs the idea of sustainability in the broadest sense...

As a community we need to make ourselves sustainable... and to do that, we need to be smart with our energy... directing it to places where it pays to invest our time and energy... that lends itself to, and will reward, continued effort & input...a place where we can draw on the strengths of others... and unearth hidden local strengths... and tap local passions & longings... show the untapped community spirit that already exists yet (pre-symposium) remains unconnected... and see a series of symposiums (or like-minded initiatives) gathering momentum...

By applying continuous energy to a place, or to a certain gathering of groups & individuals, we will facilitate the emergence of the community that already exists... the hidden community all around us that is craving to be made manifest and brought into being...

ATD and Self-Sustaining Communities

Written by Heather Salmon

Inquiry: What could/would it look like to channel the knowledge gleaned from the Symposium and it’s participants through the infrastructure of the ATD/Pachamama Alliance into the co-creation of fully self-sustaining communities?

This also includes Embracing/Embodying the practice of the “Sacred Art of Living”

1. Note… UNESCO is working with the UN on a 2010 World Fair in Egypt at the base of the pyramids. Their objective is to showcase a fully self-sustaining model for “Leave No Trace REFUGEE Camps” and promote World Peace. Heather Salmon is working with the team who is visioning and working on this project and the possible use of the Burningman model. Also interesting to note is why Refugee Camps would be considered the thing to showcase if something rather serious wasn’t anticipated to be coming down the pike so to speak. Given the fact that 80% of the World’s population lives within 100 miles of the rising sea shores and with Solar Cycle 24 expected to peak in 2011/12 which is expected to have the ability to take out satellites, electrical grid systems, etc., it might be a very worthy endeavor to examine this area further.

2. Examining/Identifying the Physical Infrastructure and technological requirements for full self-sustainability:
- power, water, food, shelter, methods of exchange
- solar panels, wind power
- green houses
- consideration regarding climate and sustainability
- understanding the practicality and validity of Geodesic domes
i. Buckminster Fuller (movie “The Next Industrial Revolution” is about his life)
ii. Wood frame vs. poly carbonates
1. double paned walls
- www.WorldsNest.com located in Taos, New Mexico, this house/retreat center is a showcase of self-sustainability. They:
1. Generate their own power;
2. Collect, clean and recycle their water times;
3. Process their own waste;
4. Grow their own food;
5. Do their own health care!
Heather’s friends with creators/founders Robert Plarr and Victoria Peters

3. Examples of Existing Communities:
- Morehouse (Teri Sugg lived there for 18 years beginning in 1968; a community of 40-60 people);
i. Supported themselves by teaching what they’ve learned by living together
ii. She said that a strength was that everybody felt like they had power and everyone had the right to say no.
iii. A weakness was that there existed a sense of superiority within the group. Also the leader died a few years ago and there is now more of a female presence and more of a willingness to connect with other groups.

- Harbin Hot Springs (www.Harbin.org) – Heather Salmon is in a 3 month Candidacy for Residency; 150 person community, operating for almost 40 years
- Others: 12 Tribes, Universal Temple of Higher Consciousness, Love Israel Family (Heather has visited);
- Rocky Mountain Institute (www.RMI.org) – Amory Windstar Lovins (has a 50’ dome w/ 3 different levels, solar panels, biodome)

- Ideas for analysis:
i. examine strengths/weaknesses, ancient practices vs. new/radical approaches; shared values

4. www.HolacracyOne.com – remodeling how we organize ourselves; deepening the space around sovereignty
- Wisdom Councils – are about dynamic facilitation and how we tap into the intelligence of the group and make recommendations
- EXAMPLE: Landless Workers movement in Brazil (MST, PT, Workers Party)
i. they take over unused land
ii. have a participatory budget process to determine where they want the money to go.

- we can use more examples within the symposium which help to move us out of conceptual ideas and into action (also good usage of WiserEarth.com)

5. Global Happiness Index

6. Lessons from Brazil and indigenous cultures (examples of what’s working)

7. Using the symposium as a catalyst for the networking of sustainable groups/communities.

8. Importance of creating mutually beneficial relationships with the Alliance.

- for example, the SF Urban Alliance for Sustainability has opened its door as a multiuse facility that is/can provide housing, gathering space, showcase center, etc. and is grateful for the opportunity to support the work of the Pachamama Alliance and the Awakening the Dreamer Symposium and feel like there could/should be a way to reciprocate the benefit. This could be by connecting facilitators with a way to experience some tangible material and personal benefit for themselves that could directly impact their ability to live a more Green and self-sustaining lives.

9. Indymedia/Wiser Earth – great opportunities to share best practices.

Keeping the Energy Up at the End of the Symposium

Written by Mark Bachelder

This offering came out of my observation, after being part of 8 to 10 symposiums, that the energy level generally declines, steadily, during the last third or so of the symposium. The energy, the level of excitement, the intensity of the audience's engagement tends to continually rise after completion of the loss-process, through How Did We Get Here, the Universe Story, etc. up through Paul Hawken and the Wombat video. There is a tendency for it to get a little flat during the many handouts, declarations, etc, and What Will You Do items. Not that these are not key to the intention of the Symposium, just that they are a little flat, and we and participants focus seems to dissipate, and I noticed facilitators' energy seeming to dissipate, too. A good performance, a good play or movie continues to build, all the way up to the completion, and has left me wondering if we couldn't have our symposiums do the same. After all, we're supposed to leave the participants Awakening, right?

To this end, we had input terrific input from several people. These are their (paraphrased) comments and observations, (and their accreditation, where I have that). All of these items have been tried and approved by various facilitators in various parts of our Awakening the Dreamer community:

As a suggestion for the "getting into action" group exercise: hand out the "personal practices" sheet, at the usual time, but tell folks "don't complete it yet", then during the getting into action section, have people share with the group like this:
What are some of their current personal actions, and what new ones will they be taking on?
What community actions are they involved in, and/or what new ones are they taking on (there can be lot of passion expressed here, and that can really bring the energy up!)
Have the group go around two or more times – first with their personal practices, and then with their community involvement shares.

The feed back form – allow 5 minutes for completing this (no more – if folks need more time, they can complete it after the close)

Alexandra Rebecca Hubbell's observation: the participants LOVE to hear from us about what we are doing – especially about our own personal practices (this is where I connected with the notion of eliminating plastic bags from my own life, for instance)

(Ingrid Martine) In the Closing section, alter the paragraph, (just after the Vaclav Havel quote) that says "we are almost done" and "we have a few housekeeping items": when we say these people start to leave, energetically and some times actually. They take it as a signal that the real symposium is over. Find a way to state where we are in a more compelling way. Also, the bracelet: don't call it a "little gift" – it is a sacred offering in partnership and community, and present them gracefully, elegantly, not in tangled mat.

After the "What gives you hope" video – ask the audience to respond – "popcorn" style – they get to weigh in the value of today's work as well!

AND – it has been suggested (and tried with great success) to change the order of things in the close section, like this:
What Gives You Hope video
"Popcorn" sharing from the audience, about "what gives YOU hope"?
Present the bracelets (as a sacred offering)
Close the sacred space
Have someone read the final Thomas Berry quote (and or find an even more compelling and energizing quote)
Finally, play the Willie Nelson song/Eco Spot
Now, it's over!

Mary Brown has used this format at the very end of the close:
First, close the sacred space, and then tell the Cherokee Story.
Then play the "What Gives You Hope" video
And then, as part of the volunteer acknowledgment have each volunteer read a quote, pertinent to "what gives you hope".
Then, have everyone in the room stand in a circle and pass the bracelets, and mutually tie them on to one another, and then stay and regard one another with admiration and respect.
Play the Willie Nelson song, as they do this. (folks have been known to break out in spontaneous singing!)

Some other music to be added at the end, after close and as people are milling about: Monty Python's "Universe Song" (it's both humorous and existential at the same time).

And finally, Cindy Dixon has offered wine and cheese parties to follow the close. It at least keeps people to the very end, and allows folks even more time to build community, or let the impact of the day's work sink in.

Workgroup Notes: ATD and Speaking Circles

Written by Laurie Javier

1. The connecting exercise (looking into our partners eyes without speaking) was a powerful exercise. We thought that Lee could create it in a way that it would fit into the early part of the symposium to get people in relationship with one another and feeling safe.

2. The connection that is possible after doing such an exercise can really help overcome some of the social justice issues as well. Our theory was that once one feels connected and safe with a person they no longer exclude them (whether they were aware of doing that or not).

3. Lee thought that he could create an exercise that could be used at the end of the symposium that would have people leaving the symposium in a great space. A space that was open and inviting to everyone; to the strangers on the street.

Workgroup Notes: ATD and Immigrant Communities

Written by Annemarie Korp

Notes on the Open Space workgroup that dealt with how to incorporate the various communities into the conversation about Social Justice in the symposium. This was two groups that were incorporated into one. One of them originally was to discuss how to bring the ATD to immigrant communities.

There were 7 people attending and we mostly discussed the different communities that would benefit from the sypmposium.

Rocio spoke to the need of the Spanish Symposium to include social issues relevant to Latin communities, those that Hispanics could relate to.

A suggestion was made to write a letter to the Pachamama Board to include Rocio as a member, considering she is one of the few “condor” like facilitator and originally from Ecuador.

One of the members spoke about her involvement with Gospel Churches and their need for hope.

A general consensus was reached that the symposium needs to awaken hope in the hopeless.

Another facilitator alluded to the necessity to have the translated Spanish Symposium be a pilot for taking the symposium to other non-Caucasian communities, tailoring the symposium to each community with facts and stories that relate to their particular backgrounds.

Workgroup Notes: Community Building

Written by James Dickson

DISCUSSION
How do we inspire, create, and build ongoing sustainable communities with the participants after the Symposium?

SUMMARY CONCLUSIONS
Creating ongoing communities after the Symposium requires that before, during, and after the Symposium we hold the INTENTION that our purpose IS TO CREATE COMMUNITY.

FINAL DECISIONS
A team has taken the responsibility to be the focal point on this specific topic. We intend to "enhance the structure and enrich the options available in the POST SYMPOSIUM FOLLOW-UP. Specifically, community building." This team is Dave Buck, Jim Cole, Steve Katz, and James Dickson.

GENERAL DISCUSSION

1. Prepare an upstream / downstream beforehand present during Symposium
2. Call to Action and Advocacy, and participation
3. What does it look like (the world of the future)? Then work backwards.
4. In the introduction, when appropriate, ask the participants "what are your expectations for our time together?" Find ways of getting to know the level of involvement that the participants might be willing to commit to.
5. We need a structure to keep people awake, and engaged in community.
6. A dinner get together, within 10 days, for follow-up
7. Getting into, and staying inaction.
8. Give more time in the symposium for participants to express their involvement in existing communities, and what they are doing as individuals.
9. Facilitators of Symposiums provide the leadership to create salons, local groups in communities
10. Facilitators can inspire by coming to the Symposium prepared with success stories of local communities that participants may want to hear about and perhaps pursue.
11. Expand the role of the facilitator (team) to make a continuing conversation with local organization, and encourage participants to integrate symposium ideals in their own communities.
12. Facilitators can offer the creation of local groups
13. Invite local organizations (those in alignment with the values of the Symposium) to meet participants. Have these not-for-profits come prepared to recruit participants. Let these not-for-profits know that we are not "competing" with them.
14. Wine and Cheese Reception, especially nice to add live music before, during, after.
15. Forming Book Groups (participants have pre-read the book, and come to discuss it), Book Study (participants come and read the book together)
16. Set the objective of the Symposium is to create lasting communities of action and advocacy and participation.
17. When the Symposium is successful, people are able to immediately move into action (provide them "next steps", Better Shopping Guide", etc.)
18. Set the intention of the Symposium to get more action and advocacy (not just more Facilitators)
19. Focus Symposium more on whats working and the available local opportunities
20. Encourage a "challengeday.org" type approach : Let's reduce our carbon foot-print to 10-acres, and let them know that we can follow-up and support you
21. At the "end of the day" our intention is to get our participants into action. Our goal becomes how do we replicate and "seed" groups.
22. First step: Awakening, Second step: continuing synergy of learning, education
23. Symposium is planting a "seed" in each community every time it is held. We need to "water" the seed. As these seeds grow, these local communities will encourage additional Symposiums.
24. Make definite follow-up dates available at the Symposium, so that participants can sign-up, and for follow-up.
25. Encourage "weekend retreats" with Facilitators + participants + non-profits to be in liason together to ensure
26. We come to the Symposium with the intention of planting the seed.
27. We come to the Symposium with the intention of "referring" participants to local groups
28. Make sure all local groups, communities are in wiserearth.org
29. Give participants a way to influence their existing spheres of influence.

Workgroup Notes: Audiovisual Symposium

Written by Sarah Martin

I am the person that has the duty to write up the discussions that occurred around the topic of the Facilitator Enhanced Audio Visual (FEAV) Symposium. I was present for about the first half of it, and will be working from the notes of others for the second half. I have been traveling and kept my notes where I could write this up as soon as I was able, so here goes: “NR” means Neal’s comments.

The first cut was a big hit! We loved the animation of the graphs, the expanded visuals in the expert’s videos, the vitality of the whole video experience for us as the audience.
Comments from Neal included:

• They intend abundant diversity in the presenters and in the visuals.
• Casting is an important challenge soon to be taken up.
• The FEAV will probably be produced in modules, giving us as facilitators lots of opportunity to tailor the presentation to each Symposium audience and presenters.
• The FEAV will likely be more condensed, facilitating even shorter versions which would be appropriate for some audiences.
• There will still be lots of interaction for the audience, including opening/closing sacred space, unexamined assumptions, declaration cards, local connections and other exercises.
• This will be the first “Attention People of Earth” kind of presentation.
  

Some suggestions/discussions the group offered were:

• English subtitles would be helpful as English is a second language for many people around the world.
• Visual Upstream-Downstream exercise could be powerful, NR saw Julia’s cup of coffee recitation as a series of vivid images.
• Discussion of the challenge of presenting III and IV How Did We Get Here and The Universe Story, which are “lecture-y” and abstract. NR saw an idea of having Brian, Drew, Thomas et al presenting the concepts themselves on video.
• “Follow the dollar”, show the route our dollar takes from end user to manufacturer – an upstream/downstream of the money we spend.
• A youth version of the FEAV.
• More Van Jones in the modules.
• YouTube style uploads of graphics, films etc on the ATD site.

Workgroup Notes: ATD/Pachamama Movie

MOVIE Group Notes
from Kay Sandberg (kay@soulofmoney.org or kay@globalfundforhealing.org)

What
Model on "An Inconvenient Truth"; have a new narrator (woman?)
Drama, with compelling story of realistic people that weaves together the three legs of the TPA mission statement
Focus on emotional component of the current story and how it affects our lives, and that of Gaia/Pachamama
Biopic of Life of Lynne and Bill Twist and founding of TPA, and/or weave this story into a sequel to "An Inconvenient Truth" based on symposium content; go deeper into the old and new stories than the Gore film;
Story of how TPA came about and how the message is spreading
Focus on the life of a woman Nobel laureate, emphasizing peace or Jesse Jackson if social justice
Get the symposium into the Los Angeles movie community
Main idea: "If Hollywood gets it"…, i.e., ability for popular movie to reach millions of all ages

How
First, to explore connections and potential collaborations within TPA, such Michael Olmstead (Digital Hollywood), Neal Rogin, and our respective networks
Find a way in to Lucas Films (Dave Ergo and others already working on this; intent to do a symposium within Lucas' Presidio operation)
Work with a film student or independent filmmaker who already gets the message (ex. Desmond Nakano, Utah screenwriting institute
Note the different impact of student production vs. professional level
Approach Jeff Skoll, founder of Participant Productions, which produced An Inconvenient Truth and many blockbusters on social justice and global issues; he also founded the Skoll Foundation, potential partner to Pachamama
Importance of putting out a clear intention
Focus on independent film festivals—Asian American festival (SF), Sundance, Maui, Cannes, New Mexico

With Whom (in addition to above)—focus on stars already on board with environmentalism and/or social justice and/or spiritual fulfillment:
Robert Redford
Michele Pfeiffer
Leonardo DiCaprio—apparently looking to make another film
Stephen Simon and Spiritual Cinema Circle

Next steps
I will write up my vision and approach our current partners;
I have a list of others from the open space group who are interested in future conversations