Tuesday@REI

08.10.04 Open Space Dialogue: “Talk2Action: How can we take contemplation to collaboration?”

Facilitators Jack Ricchiuto, Adele DiMarco Kious, George Nemeth of Smart Meeting Design opened the forum with a review of what Open Space is all about, the topic Talk2Action was reintroduced and the group talked about the issues and opportunities relative to taking talk to action.

Three issues were volunteered from the large group:
1) How do we get the environmental groups together?
2) How do we regionalize the airports in NEO?
3) How do we include other people in these conversations who are not here today?

Next: The group divided into three smaller groups; 20 minutes of conversation began.

Then: Everyone returned to the opening circle and was asked what stood out for you in the conversation you were involved in? The answers generated the next three topics for conversation.

Next: The group split up into three smaller groups and proceeded as before in a second round of conversation.

Conclusion: The second round of conversation was more targeted and actionable than the first round. Participants said the 1 3/4 hour forum conversation contained alot of movement and the group was able to identify targeted issues for the group.

Learn more about the Tuesday session/photo: "8-11-2004" http://gassho.blogspot.com/

Learn more about Open Space Training: http://www.globalchicago.net/mha/index.html

Coming Up: “Talk2Action: How can we take contemplation to collaboration?”

In the past few years, we in this region have become better at networking, dreaming, and talking about our passions, strengths, and ideas. Now we need to get good at taking action to make differences at the scale of our dreams and resources. This requires using our capabilities, networks, resources, and opportunities in new ways. This session will utilize a dynamic Open Space model of dialogue. The invitation to you: come and bring people you would like to take action with, or just show up and get energized for taking your next steps toward action. - Jack Ricchiuto

Facilitators: Jack Ricchiuto, Adele DiMarco Kious, George Nemeth of Smart Meeting Design http://www.smartmeetingdesign.com/index.php/Main/TheTeam

Read more:
http://www.smartmeetingdesign.com/rei/index.php/Main/REITuesdays

"Workforce Development: Building Skills and Services through Networks"

08.03.04
The Tuesday@REI discussion opened with an overview "Workforce Development: A systems perspective" prepared by Ed Morrison, Executive Director, Center for Regional Economic Issues at the Weatherhead School of Managment.

This discussion is in support of the upcoming Workforce Summit 2004 presented by the Workforce Development Divisions of the City of Cleveland and Cuyahoga County. Learn more: http://www.cleveland.com/workforcesummit/index.ssf

David Megenhardt, Executive Director, United labor Agency, Amy Hanauer, Executive Director, Policy Matters Ohio and JJ DiGeronimo, Team NEO were on hand to talk about how their organizations are involved in workforce development and where they see investments need to be made for future generations.

Many different partners from the county, city and private sectors participated in the discussion. Cathy Eberhart-Warren and Dennis Roberts, representing Cuyahoga County Department of Workforce Development gave a presentation about the upcoming Workforce Summit 2004.

Randy Hill, City of Cleveland, Ernest Johnson of Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA) and Nan McIntyre, Shorebank Enterprise (Learn more: http://www.shorebankcleveland.com/workforce/) described successful workforce development programs their organizations are involved in that offer potential solutions and next steps.

The group identified what business, city and county leaders and educators feel are our toughest challenges and highest priorities as a region in workforce development:

Some observations:
* We need a new set of civic behaviors and dialogue
* How are working families really doing? Some of the indicators we use may not translate into better lives
for the region
* Read the Report on the State of Ohio
* It's just a lack of networks and timely access to opportunities
* Kids want their own space today, which adds the financial pressure of living expenses - something that
living with family can eleviate - that otherwise makes education a luxury item
* Workforce training should address behavior modification, including life skills, anger management and
grieving skills
* People are having rouble finding people to fit middle management positions
* A major shift is approaching: 80% of all consumables will be from other countries
* Kids need to think/strategize/develop logic skills and practice in-depth sequential thinking
* There is no program consider Wal Mart career path to Key Bank

A follow up meeting will be held Wednesday, 8-18, 4:00-5:45PM. at the Peter B. Lewis Building to discuss challenges and explore solutions. If you are available, please plan to attend. It promises to be a lively and productive conversation as we build next steps together.

Learn more about Tuesdays@REI: http://www.smartmeetingdesign.com/rei/index.php/Main/REITuesdays

Volunteers Making Change

Making Change is a program funded by the SBC Foundation and coordinated by the Center for Regional Economic Issues (REI) at Case Western Reserve University. Making Change provides a platform for civic engagement. Access to other people and knowledge.

On Tuesday, July 27th, we talked about what is important to volunteers Making Change: meaningful goals, other people who share your passion and enthusiasm, access to knowledge and tools.

Ed Morrison, Executive Director of REI, shared his insight as a practitioner who has worked twenty years in the field.

In the past, corporations had supported employee engagement in the civic space. But with the attrition of the local corporation, the civic volunteer became, like the corporation, a thing of the past. Volunteers used to be tightly organized around hierarchies in the business community.

Now, there is a competing and different world view with a civic space aligned around networks. This space gains alignment around conversations. We structure our conversations around our strengths and what is important to us.

In doing so, we naturally seek alignment. But in order to align, we need to change the conversations and model civic behavior. In a global world where everything is connected, this is strategic and wise.

We have a follow up meeting, Thursday, August 19th, 4:00PM-5:45PM at the Peter B. Lewis Building. We are going to talk about ways to build your Making Change network. All are wlecome.

Some Background

We live in a global community. We are all civic volunteers. Everything depends on everything else.

To help us sustain our strengths and service our deficits, REI, with the guidance of Northeast Ohio entrepreneurs, has developed a framework of open source internet tools for civic volunteers who want to Make Change.

But before these tools can be used in our civic space, simple rules of trust, positive action and compassion must be followed.

If people trust one another, valuable social networks can be formed. Change can happen.

And then what?

Boundaries become positive filters for individual initiative life experiences become knowledge assets diversity enriches group critical thinking solutions become richer and long lasting internet tools become inclusive, fast and efficient teams and organizations become forward moving, dynamic.

In short, good stuff happens.

Making Change: Tuesdays@REI

The Center for Regional Economic Issues (REI) at Case Western Reserve University hosts weekly forums called Tuesdays@REI. The public discussions are part of “Making Change,” a regional initiative supported by the SBC Foundation and coordinated by REI.

A Platform for Civic Engagement. Tuesdays@REI help to build a new level of civic engagement for our Innovation Economy in Northeast Ohio. The weekly discussions focus on the future of our regional economy and serve to connect people to a broader range of regional initiatives. In addition to being a gateway to civic entrepreneurs, these sessions also act as focus groups for REI.

Who Attends Tuesdays@REI? Led by Ed Morrison, Executive Director of REI, and Northeast Ohio business, civic and government champions, the weekly Tuesday discussions are inclusive of anyone who has initiative and is known for getting things done.

Simple Rules & Updated Methods for Leadership. We follow simple rules for conversation built on trust and respect. And by engaging others through an Appreciative Approach to Leadership, the capabilities of our region - individual and shared strengths and passions – can be maximized.

The Innovation Roadmap. The Innovation Roadmap provides a clear and simple investment framework for building Northeast Ohio’s regional Innovation Economy in the areas of Dialogue & Inclusion, Brainpower, Innovation & Entrepreneurship, Quality, Connected Places, and Branding & Marketing

To learn more about Tuesdays@REI, please go to:
http://www.smartmeetingdesign.com/rei/index.php/Main/REITuesdays