Cultivating Conversational Leadership in Tampa Bay

Sharon Joy Kleitsch shared this story of an Impact Cafe in Tampa Bay.

Hosts:
Eric Weaver and The Connection Partners

Hosting Org/Sponsor:
The Connection Partners

Location (City & Country):
Tampa FL, United States

Who was this World Café for:
Those who were planning a regional gathering to address poverty in Hillsborough County Nov 7th. Most had not experienced a World Cafe, which was to be a significant part of the upcoming all day event. It was hosted at a Tampa public library so that neighbors and library patrons might attend.

Purpose:

• An Introduction to World Cafe and it's role in "Enriching Community Connections: The Power of the Collective" on Nov 7th in Tampa.
• Secondly, to encourage more to participate in the online World Cafe 20th anniversary experiences.
• Finally to introduce the concept of cultivating a culture of conversational leadership, an outcome of Juanita's and David's hosting a storytelling day for Tampa Bay 2004.
• How might we become better citizens by acquiring significant skills to foster conversational leadership?
• What might happen, if we collaborate and share what we learn around the region as Communities of Practice?

Number of People Attending (approx):
8

Questions Used:
1. Turn to someone at your table and share a meaningful conversation
you have had. What made it special?

Framing Quote: "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed
citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever
has." --Margaret Mead--

2. Give an example of your participation in such a group and what
changes did you experience?

3. Same question again - listening for what's new.

Impact:
Even in such a small group, there were powerful connections and shared experiences. There was a deeply moving exchange between two women who had experienced homelessness and what they had learned.

Again, the afternoon re-enforced our belief in World Cafe as a potential life-supporting conversational tool that can become a community foundation for resilience.

World Cafe has become a recognized name in the Tampa Bay community
among a growing number of leaders because it works.