Gathering Ground, a New Jersey-based organization with a mission of creating an equitable and just society, hosts its signature event, a Call to Collaboration, on Wednesday and Thursday, February 12 and 13, at The College of New Jersey at 2000 Pennington Road in Ewing.
The Call to Collaboration is not your typical conference. First off, there is no pre-set agenda or schedule of speakers. The event is organized around a central question, but specific topics of discussion are proposed by attendees during the opening session each day using a self-organizing approach known as Open Space Technology.
The question driving this Call is “How an we transform NJ’s organizing ecosystem to create an unstoppable solidarity movement led by those most affected, and equip those fighting for justice with the enrichment and resources needed to ignite action for a liberated future?” Previous events have hinged on supporting the arts and arts education, small business development, diabetes awareness, community journalism, and other timely topics.
Anyone attending the TCNJ event is invited to propose a topic discussion relevant to the central question at the start of each day. Topics must be submitted in the form of a question that helps set the intention for a potential discussion. The question-asker then becomes the leader of a discussion on that issue at an assigned time later in the day. The format does not require any experience facilitating discussions, and participants do not need to be experts on the subjects they want to discuss. Discussions may be held in any language.
The event, running from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days, is free to attend, but registration is required. Contact Kacy O’Brien at kobrien@gatheringground.us to request a registration link.
Gathering Ground, per its website mission statement, “fosters community cohesion and collaborative action by bringing together highly-diverse groups of people with varied backgrounds, lived experiences, expertise and influence to amplify community dialogue around critical issues, build and strengthen networks, encourage cross-sector and multi-cultural partnerships and cultivate equitable community-rooted solutions.” For more information, visit www.gatheringground.us.
