Appreciative Inquiry, Open Space, and Green Innovation
About a year ago, my wife, Pamela, and I got disgusted with selling
cookies, candy, and junk to raise money for non-profits and buying the
same stuff from others. Our negative feelings about existing
fundraiser options were clear and powerful and we decided to take the
step we teach in AI workshops: flip the negative.
There were two negatives: environmental strain on our planet and
fundraising efforts pushing junk. What did we want to see in the world
as an alternative and how could we create what we wanted? We went for
a double flip to find two positives.
We settled on a green coupon book that would save people money, help
them be more responsible occupants of our lovely earth, and would allow
nonprofits to raise money.
That was the idea. We also teach the power of ideas. Ideas that are
pursued, nurtured, enhanced and given form are what have created every
aspect of our human society. Sustained focus on an idea, hard work and
perseverance make good things happen.
So we started to talk to people. We wrote our ideas down. We sent a
proposal to Mayor Graham Richard of Fort Wayne with the coupon book
idea and other efforts. We struck a chord and the City gave us some
initial support. We kept writing and talking about the idea with the
Open Space perspective that the right people would show up - and they
did. Printers, writers, photographers, marketing pros, CEOs,
environmentalists, and average people that cared deeply about our world
kept showing up. We had two OS events and people explored ideas and
our army for green change grew.
Open Space. It’s more than a group format; it’s a way or seeing and
being in the world, just as Appreciative Inquiry is. Pamela and I
combine these approaches in what we call Appreciative Space, where we
constantly try to help others open space to appreciate what they want
to see in the world and to watch those things quickly appreciate in
value.
Now we have an organization with four great partners (six including
Pamela and me) named Grassroots Green. We have 20,000 copies of the
Green Living Guide for Northeast Indiana in print that non-profits can
buy for $5 and sell for $15. We have endorsements from our outgoing
mayor, the mayor-elect, both of our senators from Indiana and our
representative in congress. We have 3,000 reusable shopping bags to
sell to help our area shift from disposable bags. Reusable water
bottles are on the way to move consumers from disposable water bottles
that liter our countryside and add to the pile of garbage in landfills.
Our plans for next year include a second guide for Northeast Indiana,
expansion into other markets and extension of our reusable bag and
water bottle campaigns and more efforts to create the sustainable world
we want to see.
If you’ve worked with Ai, you know that creating the world we want to
see is at the heart of the approach. Conversations geared toward the
possible ignite such passion that energy naturally flows. If you use
OS, the heart of that approach is allowing the right people to show up
and explore ideas and actions generated from passion and to take
responsibility to make a difference.
Here’s the news: these things work, especially when they move past
techniques to ways to operate in the world. They don’t just work as
ways to do an organizational change intervention or run a meeting, they
work as a way to run an organization and change the world.
We can change this world by looking for what we want and making it
happen. When that approach and spirit is sustained, amazing things
happen. Now we have a growing organization that we plan to nurture
with the spirit of Ai and OS.
If you’re in the neighborhood on December 5, stop in Sweetwater Sound
for fun, great music, community, a chance at door prizes, wonderful
information and a big dose of hope. If you can’t make it, check out
our starter website at www.grassrootsgreen.us This site will be
growing and changing very soon. If you want to see more about the
perspectives we’ve brought to this effort, visit
www.jpconsultantsinc.com If you’re interested in bringing our
Grassroots Green approach to your area, let us know and we’ll get back
to you around the middle of January. The days are full until then.
As we enter the holiday season with a day here in the U.S. designed to
give thanks, I want to thank all the people in the Appreciative Inquiry
and Open Space communities who introduced me to perspectives that have
allowed us to make a positive contribution to our community and world.
Peace and blessings,
John Steinbach
Co-founder Grassroots Green
260-744-2122