Some thoughts...
Hip Pocket Questions for Katrina
by Vicki Robin
As the many victims of Katrina are finding shelter, food, clothes and new communities, communities across America are asking, "What's the Katrina coming our way? Are we ready?"
As we survey the rubble, we are asking, "What do we rebuild, and how? What do we fix? What do we scrap? What is the opportunity in this destruction? What principles should govern restoration?"
As we review the crisis response, we are asking, "Who or what was responsible for the many breakdowns in New Orleans?" In our own communities, "What is the Federal Government uniquely responsible for? What are the roles of other institutions? And what do we do neighbor-to- neighbor?"
As we prepare for future hard times, we are asking, "What do we farm out to experts? What do we do for ourselves? Is our community prepared for breakdowns? Are we? 'Sh-t happens.' What can we do now to weather later storms?"
Below are some "hip pocket questions" to raise in conversations you are having. A "hip pocket question" is a simple question you carry around in your "hip pocket" and ask friends over coffee, strangers in the grocery line, groups at work or at parties. They are designed to be open-ended, non- positional and reflective, seeding a stance of inquiry and learning in circumstances of polarization and blame. They have no 'right answer.' They are also useful for Conversation Cafés and other more formal dialogue events.
Use any of the questions above to start dialogue, or the simple ones below:
- How has Katrina changed your life?
- What are you learning through this crisis: about yourself, your community, our nation, life?
- What do you now feel called to do?
Dialogue: A Second Response to Crisis
Conversation Cafés have joined with other dialogue groups asking, "How can the 'Dialogue and Deliberation' community be better prepared to respond to future crises?"
Peggy Holman, author of THE CHANGE HANDBOOK, invited people who host various types of community dialogue to think together about how we bring our skills to crisis situations. She wrote:
Katrina stormed into lives, communities, and our collective psyche, shaking business as usual and opening space for potential changes, from the most horrendous to the most hopeful. We are in the middle of one of America's greatest internal diasporas, and one of our greatest potential societal teaching moments.When "containers" are mindfully created, conversations can heal, open hearts and minds, solve problems, bring forth visions, and help people create life newly together.
If you are a professional facilitator or process designer interested in this discussion, let us know. Through this network, we have learned of Global Facilitators Service Corps , which has training materials for facilitators in times of crisis and chaos. Other resources will eventually be available through our website, www.conversationcafe.org .
Conversation after crisis is crucial. It determines the depth of our learning and the quality of our response. Without it, the social fabric weakens further. Anger builds. Opportunities are missed. Conversation Cafés grew exponentially after 911. People had to talk. Conversation Cafés filled that need and generated a sense of hope and possibility in the face of a towering wave of grief, confusion and blame. Join us again as we build together the capacity for conversations among diverse people about the amazing and difficult times we are living through.
May all our Katrinas grow our resilience - our capacity to cope with change - and our capacity to host conversations that make meaning in tough times.