Council for the Arts of Greater Lima
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Trust Among Leaders |
Project Description
Citizens of Lima, Ohio and Lima/Allen County participated in a theater making and dialogue process with Michael Rohd and Sojourn Theatre to examine issues of trust among leaders. Water resource issues have divided city and county officials and residents. The real dimensions of this issue and the metaphor of water provided an entry point for Sojourn Theatre and artistic director Rohd to engage citizens and officials in interviews and theater/dialogue workshops that sought to build trust and honest dialogue. A resulting new play or "poetic documentary" was presented in public performances and to a cross section of leaders and citizens at a community conference. Dr. Patricia Romney designed and facilitated civic dialogues in conjunction with these events. Rohd and Romney worked closely to develop facilitation methodologies that draw from Rohd's "Hope is Vital" approaches as well as Public Conversations model, and Reflective Dialogue. Community members involved over time in Lima's Study Circles on race relations received training to further build their civic dialogue facilitation skills and utilize art as a dialogue stimulus.
