Looking into the future
Taking our learning home...
The final day of our workshop was given over to the participants to take what they had discussed and dreamed of during the workshop and put those ideas into action. Participants formed small groups or went off on their own to begin work on a project that they could carry forward after they returned home.
The last hour of the workshop, we shared some of our project ideas. Leaders from Oregon wished to spend a year focusing on important conversations, using Appreciative Inquiry and The World Café. Others had decided to create a "beyond breastfeeding initiative" to address the needs of mothers who wish to continue involvement with La Leche League when their children are beyond breastfeeding age. Many people planned to facilitate Area workshops and Area Council meetings using Open Space. Communication Skills Instructors were eager to use some of their new learning to change the way they teach communication skills.
Finally, we shared our wishes for our organization in a moving ceremony. With everyone seated in a circle, we each placed a written wish in the centre of the room and took a marble to represent what we were bringing home from the workshop. Those who wanted to could read their wish aloud. Here are some of the wishes that were shared:
- Appreciate our differences and assume good intent
- The learning, attitudes and connections we have experienced here will continue throughout LLL
- Help each mother to trust herself and encourage and support her to be the best mother she can be
- A sense of unity within our diversity
As the workshop came to an end, we were reluctant to leave. For well over an hour after the workshop officially closed, there were people talking, laughing and connecting in the meeting space. There was even time to record a few interviews for a Podcast website! In all, it was a fantastic experience that many of us are eager to repeat in our own areas so that the interesting techniques that we learned and the connections we made over this weekend could be shared with others who were unable to attend.