The "World Cafe"

A simple, powerful conversational process for
* Encouraging constructive dialogue
* Accessing collective intelligence
* Creating innovative possibilities for action

It is a way of talking about questions that are important to us within groups of people we care about. Simple as that.

Here's how it works. Conversations start at small tables with four people at each table. Evolving rounds of dialogue lasting 20-45 minutes take place. After each round three of the people move on to other tables (the other person is a host and stays at the same table).

Small, intimate conversations link and build on each other as people move between groups, cross-pollinate ideas, and discover new insights into questions or issues that matter in the life of the community.

Juanita Brown, co-author of "The World Cafe" says, "the collective wisdom of the group becomes more accessible, and innovative possibilities for action emerge."

Nativity will use "The World Cafe" at our annual meeting January 20. I hope everyone plans to attend. Let's try this "conversational greenhouse" and see what grows. Who knows what new wisdom will emerge!