What Conversare more clearly is

Conversare (from Latin: to turn or to dance together) events are for people to come together to engage in face-to-face conversation. They are about a fresh and enjoyable way of socialising in which everyone is fully included and has opportunity to interact well with all present.

These events are held in public places such as cafes, pubs, hotels and community centres.

Anybody is welcome to attend and participate. There is no need to know anyone present before coming along as all who do quickly feel at ease.  Particularly if Michael Palin’s ‘take’ on the joy of meeting new people is kept in mind. <smile>

The core activity is conversing in pairs, over a meal or other refreshment, among people who may not know each other, or not well.

There is also opportunity to mix informally with others. When participants ‘bump into’ each other in future situations they have instant and wholesome rapport.

A host provides guidelines for the conduct of the gathering and invites everyone to give of themselves through being curious about, and interested in, those with whom they connect. And at the end of the gathering, to be aware of what happened when they did this.

The purpose is to bring conversation to life, to enable people to experience interesting interaction in contexts specifically designed for this. Such contexts can be thought of as ‘being in a generous haven of old fashioned goodwill.’ Which in plain terms means ‘wholesome!’

Conversing with a stranger, integral to the format, provides a unique opportunity for careful listening, questioning and often remarkable learning about ‘the other’ – and about oneself!

These events are not to achieve anything beyond the opportunity to encounter well with others who have different life experiences and yet who may have much in common. And to experience the human warmth which occurs when all are treated with respect and non judgment.

There is no commitment to come back for more, although some do. Rest assured here is nothing being sold!

Conversare is based on group conversational processes such as Open Space Technology (OST),  The World Café (TWC), Appreciative Inquiry (AI), the Art of Hosting (AoH) and Hakomi. With ongoing learnings from all of these and other sources.

The first events with this name were held in Hong Kong in 2009. From this year they are being conducted in Adelaide in Australia and are potentially available in public places everywhere around our little planet, 3rd from the sun.

Could there be more to it than meets the eye? <smile>

Alan Stewart
Adelaide

PS The next event in Adelaide is on 26 September 2012. For details see here