Jan: if I feel we are able to move toward specifics rather than staying abstract. Sees urgency, importance of working collaboratively and also concretely.
John: the word that came to mind when I heard the question was traction. that would keep me coming back.
Doug: having been around many efforts like this for decades I've watched things get started and fall short. Realism - what can be taken on and reaches across spectrums. It is a challenge to include diverse viewpoints and that's what would keep me involved.
Manju: I hear you all saying: concrete, traction, action, realism--how do we make this more diverse? My primary impetus is to be a connector, making surethat other groups who are doing similar work are connected into us and vice versa. Diversity rates very strongly with me, as it's so lacking in many conversations I'm engaged in. Also looks for whole systems approach.
The only places I've seen diversity is in initiatives committed to it, such as Citizens' Review Boards in Oregon. Most groups have been more like me in terms of socioeconomic class, etc.
Jan: when the topics are quite large and we're framing out concepts, I don't see the diversity even in terms of viewpoints, let alone the diversity of demographics, etc. But when we get into practical issues, like water shortages or immigration policy, it must bring together the groups most effected, and that means more diversity is needed. I wish climate change was an issue whose interest base were more diverse, but for now it seems the province of a specific interest group, and maybe that's OK for a while.
Manju: What can we do that would bring the elements of specificity, traction, realism and diversity TO this conversation?
Silent Harvest
People really do seem to realize that a political diversity gap exists in most dialogue situations and are curious about how to bridge it.
Back to +12/15 Call: Collaborative Notes