Contemporary Photo Album

Our Souvenir World Café Photo Album April 28, 2011

We imagined a magical evening of multi-cultural conversations and it

happened because of all of YOU!

Thank you everyone for making our premiere event so

very special.

Thank you also to our Sponsors:Girls Inc. G.Wiz - The Science MuseumHabitat for Humanity Local Coffee Sarasota

And to our leading Event Host The Sarasota Partnership for

Children's Mental Health

WELCOME

As you pass through this door, specially created for

our “SRQ Connects” World Café, pause for a moment to

admire the art.

For us, Art, in all its forms, is a big part of the essence of what

Community is all about.

We hope you will enjoythis photo journey

as a special memory of our time together!

Our host team of volunteers prepares for the arrival of our guests….more than 60 registered!

Creating Community with our Next Generation!

World Café EtiquetteSpeaking and Listening together

Click icon to add picture

Anne gently tests the bellsOur conversations will soon begin…

Marilyn explains the tradition of the

talking piece

Listening

Talking

Recording

Interaction between community members Support change To represent those who don’t have the ability to have a say Support Anne Hopefully World Cafes become the community’s baby Meet people, learn about community Wasn’t sure what meeting was about, thought emphasis was on

some type of diversity I was interested in the word conversation and community – finding

out what is going on in the community Interested in diversity and how we see disparities played out in the

community Interested in what people thought the issues are in relation to

Mental Health and the economic disparities and the diversity Like-minded people talking about Sarasota’s concerns Getting out in the community Balance: age, genders, race, etc.

Why am I here?Verbatim comments from participants using their summary notes

There is a great need for integration between different groups of community, promoting more than the ARTS. There is a great gap between age groups

Challenge ourselves to reach out and get out of our comfort zone by taking actions towards integration and community

Overarching themes: Social Conditioning, Labels, Formal/Informal Structures/Desire for common ground

Common spaces/social policies Size of group matters, perceptions, cost/opportunity/history repeats Proposed solutions: sincerely focusing on the positive aspects of another’s position Obstacle to diversity: community for some, not for others Affiliation: another does not share one’s view Curiosity, genuine interest in another’s life: What personality type will allow for this? Time/Invisibility: What other factors are at play? Can we really eliminate the prejudices that divide natural communities? Achieving balance: possible? Interconnected communities via social class,

proximity/environment Can get ingrained in your part of town, work Unawareness of each other that’s present here Some people want community of shared interests; some want diversity of

experience to have interaction

What challenges me….

On the Picture Tools | Format tab, you can create your own frames and make picture corrections such as adjusting contrast and brightness or cropping the picture for just the right look.

Emergence is happening here

Smiles and laughter sprinkle

our conversations!

Click icon to add pictureClick icon to add picture

Words and Drawings

A Story of Community

Wants more diversity, finds Sarasota segregated, stuck in a time warp Respect the fundamental humanity of others, appreciate the gifts that everybody

brings to the table Looking beyond diversity as race etc. also space/nature I experience the close mindedness, particularly in the mall. Teach diversity in

schools Subdivisions, geographic representation of our mindset IN a perfect world, no diversity as concept but as reality From despair to hope through one’s connections Awareness of our own feelings of discomfort and being ok with it. Conversations are great avenues to unification and diversity Cultivate curiosity about whatever is different Different ethnicities, understanding and co-exist which helps to enrich the

community, a common thread Food, clothing, music, smells, etc, and loving it! Music is a catalyst for me as a nurse, includes music as healing; Arts in Hospitals Diversity in food

What does a diverse community mean to me?

and…..“What have I heard so far that has challenged or expanded my idea of a diverse community?”

Matt Richards, graphic artist, captures people’s ideas and expressions with images and color as they are being

spoken in the moment.

Candid, open and from the heart… People shared their stories and hopes

Possibilities through conversations that matter

Estranged and Isolated… or…Close and Connected

What does Community mean to ME?

Discerning serves a purpose We belong somewhere else, not in the US Best place in the world is the US, people are afraid to lose it US opened arms to immigrants, community is hard to define and hard to belong here Idea of America is a melting pot if we choose who can be American and doesn’t, it

will kill the idea of America How do we fit everyone in an equal environment? That would be the ultimate

achievement How do we make people understand the broader human family? Judgment is a defense rather than an offense to keep something from attacking you,

basic human instinct for survival Importance of relationships It starts with children Possibilities/opportunities Know yourself to expand your world People assume even though they don’t know who you are and who you represent We think people think the same way I do; when we realize that’s not the case, then

we get hurt We spend time looking for solutions to problems but by agreeing we don’t really do so

What expands my thinking? (more unedited integral comments from table top notes)

Getting to know each other by sharing our stories

It’s not just about age, race or religious organization. Seen progress in Sarasota about it, religion has common goals

Expanded into more than difference in race, age but also difference on lifestyle, Sarasota needs that invitation to open up and be part of the change we want to see.

Experience with kids in schools; Sarasota is a small town community with lots of resources and a giving community (needs better communications about our resources)

Very stressful for the kids: parents out of work and kids coming in very sleepy; trying to find jobs, families having difficulty making it

In Sarasota, see a vast divide of those that have and those in need. We do have several homeless children and families; important to try to not hide that Need for strengthening girls Very connected to arts culture Arts, Transition Sarasota initiative: harvesting food goes to food banks and shelters,

Florida House, plant gardens at elementary schools Notice there is a lot of volunteering Learn a lot through Natural Awakenings magazine Difficult to remain true to who you are How media shapes direction and how people trust one another What is idea of media? What is too much? How do you keep trust and who you are?

Common themes, deep sharing

Capturing the dialogue in pictures and in words

Community days for kids, crossing the line diversity, open up , make packs of leaders, train others to do

Need to build in that non-judgmental way Need to build in that non-judgmental piece – how to be inviting and integrate, we

don’t like to suffer Big Brother, Big Sisters need more mentors I was with a community Buddhist group. It’s as diverse and cohesive as we can be,

creating a little ???? for the world. I’m a listener You cannot change another person. Change yourself to change the response. Change barriers that are stopping you Expansion. The joy of being here, coming not knowing anybody, Quantum! Diversity: no boundaries, not trying to analyze what I can do for me and what I can do

for you Do I trust myself? Do I have something to say? Can I expand my listening? Be accepting of yourself Among friends, safe environment if you have a fear of talking, I’ll be moved to be here

for that Similarities in religion = War over the similarities “Ego” / Power/Money

What have I heard so far that has challenged or expanded my idea of a diverse community?

Don’t think of this as being diverse, just visually don’t see as much diversity; community tries to protect themselves from adverse events. How we think we fit in – are we really that different? Always trying to feel safe

Very comfortable with self; strengths are what we have in common, willing to step into any situation because what challenges us is how we learn to work together and expand

How did you get such a strong sense of who you are? Fear is only a word; don’t allow “master fear” to control you Need role models, need mentors, someone to model behavior Broaden interpretation of diversity European: diverse transportation (bus, train,

bicycle) not available in US; people get stuck in their ruts It’s up to you in your community to invite self and others to get together and talk

regarding how to create and feel comfortable Taking children to nursing homes, to adopt GPs, have to feel comfortable in putting

yourself out there Utopian society, people get along and take care of one another; “Guess who’s coming

to dinner ideology, mix culture and diversity What parents taught us – what religion expects of you Come in a room and not see differences but acknowledge differences Enneagram made easy

More Sharing on Diversity….

Having conversations that matter … …to change

our community

Slowing down to wisdom; getting outside the matrix Pocket of diversity Why aren’t people here? Don’t have ID Genuine conversations hard when conflict avoidant Differences lead to lots of interaction, but sometimes conflict, but that’s ok Some people want to be only with common interests Some people forget about the differences that aren’t immediately apparent (white

straight male) Diversity has many elements: cultural, nature, transportation, religion, racial

background How white Sarasota is; forget how easy he has it Remind not to quash discussion when it is old to me, new to others Toronto: very visible coexistence mosaic/melting pot Don’t have to engage people; Big discussion have to apologize Look for what they’re comfortable with Crabby = alive; crabby = genuine Diversity working with kid, not judge Always will have division, nature of humanityCulture Diversity?What is culture? Micro-cultures?Room to express self

Expanding ideas….

Goal is to not see diversity, balance appreciation of lack of diversity with lack of judgment, assumptions, categories

Always have distinctions, don’t want to try to find sameness; can’t work Something everyone needs to do, not necessarily drawing, can be anything

FREEDOM Curiosity: need ability to express self/audience is more optional..ish Have a lot of similar perceptions; all similar people? Look beyond family culture or other ethnic only or single definitions Always have diversity, so many differences, be aware of it Celebrate birthdays Intense curiosity is how people push themselves Community listening, Sarasota better, not ignoring Diversity = not boring Art community pushing self. Art is constant; better of self; defines who I am What does lack of Art forge in people; strict parameters pre-art BA/AA Southgate mall intolerant of other cultures, uncomfortable We are evolving slowly but surely…. A diverse community is more interesting and intellectually fulfilling. It expands your

own identity. Cultural diversity contributes more to one’s experience of life. A large pool of ideas to gain insight into life

“The conversations felt easy and comfortable. It was lots of fun and not at all what I expected,” said a participant

A non-segregated community is a diverse community. A broad spectrum of activities and traditions. Mutual concern between communities. Sarasota needs to be more diversified. Sarasota caters to much to the rich and older people become less tolerant of diversity

Diversity is being yourself, not judging others Diversity, the world is diverse in itself; accept what everything is Learning to be what we are People feel defeated to have passion Slow down; Speed of life stops us from listening People try to cling to an identity from media examples; they think texting is

communication (that’s not legitimate). Media is a great tool but in the wrong hands. In between poor and rich, they tell us to be and how to be. America was founded in

Social Innovation; however we “devolved” to Technical Innovation How hard is it for all of us to fit in? We are all prejudice: good aspects of uniqueness and diversity Juxtaposition of the two words community and diversity Diversity : definition changed … “it’s closer that you think if you listen” Some people Ok about diversity, some encourage it Comfort and safety with a lack of diversity at times Without diversity, you become boring, complacent, and sheltered

Speaking our minds, hearts and souls….

And then WE Came Together

in CIRCLE!

If I could describe it in a word….

wordle.net

Our Words and Conversation Summary NotesUnite to become a Work of

“Wordle” Art

From our TEAM to YOU,

a Heartfelt Thank You!

Thank you Anne, Marilyn and Jack who had this dream to invite cross-cultural and diverse

conversations in Sarasota… a dream that is now shared by many!

The artist behind the

camera who captured these spontaneous

photos.

April, a friend to many…

someone who lives and loves

ART & COMMUNITY !

With a Special Thank You to April Doner

Hope to see you with friends, family and colleagues at our next SRQ Connects World Café for new and continuing conversations

Let’s make Cross-Cultural and Diversity Happen in our Community!

May 25th or 26th 2011Place (to be determined)

We will remember this day at G WizWe were together as a community