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o f Mr. Wysocki’s whimsical art prints.
E very S tory
Cutting-edge process hopes to bring OCA and gay community face to face
by Jonathan Kipp
ome people argue when they disagree.
But the Global Process Institute
suggests a better way— listening. Its
goal seems lofty: bringing together
people representing the entire spec
trum of opinion on an issue and making space
for all voices to be heard while facilitating dia
logue between them.
In this case, an open forum Oct. 2 will make
the issue Measure 9— the Oregon Citizens A l
liances Student Protection Act. The gathering
will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Portland
Conference Center, 300 N.E. Multnomah St.
Organizers have extended invitations to the Forum participants learn to listen
OCA, Basic Rights Oregon, the No on 9 cam
Although facilitators will be trained in the
paign, activists, churches, politicians and repre
method of process work, the fomm will have few
sentatives from other organizations. The forum
rules or expectations. Organizers say some
is also open to the general public.
breakthrough moments come by letting
The institute is a not-for-profit organi
things get a little out of hand.
zation dedicated to building communi
People show up with a broad range
ty around the world by playing host to
of communication styles, Siver says.
open forum group processes. Stan
Despite the mix of such polarized
Siver—a student of process work, a
cross-disciplinary approach to
opinions and the deep emotions
that go with both sides of most
individual and social change
"The
basic
idea
developed in the 1970s— is help
issues, he rTever has seen any vio
ing organize this years event.
lence during a forum, although
o f process work
He believes in the process
he admits it could occur.
is to promote
he is studying. “People change
Organizers don’t plan to have
by having the opportunity to
security on hand at the event.
awareness and
understand the experience of
During the 1992 forum,
someone else.”
both sides reported learning
respect people
But the open forums goal
something, according to
and nature,
is not to resolve the issue,
Siver. Some members of the
organizers say; they want to
gay and lesbian community
to treat every
bring greater awareness to
said they previously hadn’t
each of the viewpoints with
understood the fear behind
moment as
in the conflict and to give an
Measure 9’s supporters. Like
precious and to
opportunity for increased
wise, one O C A member
understanding in the hopes of
hadn’t realized people on the
consider each and
building community, a deeper
other side were suffering.
democracy and a civil society.
every event from as
T hat awareness changes
That might be difficult for
people, says Siver, a doctoral
many sides as may
campaigners on both sides
candidate in social conflict
who already are using fighting
facilitation.
Also known as
be present while
words as the fate of Measure 9 is
process-oriented psychology,
protecting those
played out in the media.
process work offers new ways of
But the forum is not without
‘ with least power." working with painful or problem
precedent. In 1992, a similar
atic areas of life, organizers say.
gathering dealt with homophobi A
—
Dr. Arnold
Dr. Arnold Mindell, a physicist
during the heated debate over the
and Jungian analyst, developed the
Mindell
first Measure 9.
approach with his colleagues. “The
That initiative, like the current
basic idea of process work is to pro
one, aimed at stopping what the OCA
mote awareness and respect people and
referred to as the “gay agenda" in Oregon.
nature, to treat every moment as precious
It failed to pass.
and to consider each and every event from as
Julie Diamond, who holds a doctorate in many sides as may be present while protecting
communications, helped organize the 1992
those with least power.”
forum. “It was very interesting. It was an oppor
The institute plays host to forums around the
tunity for two sides to see each other, which world facilitated by process-oriented psychother
hadn’t happened.”
apists, psychologists and conflict resolution spe
The supporters and foes of Measure 9 were cialists. It is affiliated with Process Work Centers
antagonistic with each other, Diamond says, around the world, including one in Portland.
but when they got in the same room, she saw
something change. “It wasn’t just vilification
■ S itting in the F ire : A n I ntroduction to
but dialogue."
WORLDWORK, a documentary about a conflict facib
The forum had its really contentious
itatum method used on issues such as racism, sexism,
moments, she admits, but people seemed to lis homophobia, war, Third World relations and disabil
ten. Diamond, who trains facilitators in the ities, will premiere 4:30 p.m. Sept. 24 at the Guild
process, says seeing a human face on the other Theatre, ¡219 S.W. Park Ave., Portland. An open
side of an issue affects people.
dialogue will follow the free screening. Call Jill
Siver says the OCA was positive about its Spencer at (503) 227'61H4 for more information.
involvement in the forum eight years ago. "Peo
ple change by having the opportunity to under
For more information on the GLOBAL PROCESS
stand the experience of someone else.”
S