ABSTRACT

The World Café is based on the assumption that a small group of people usually have lively and interesting conversations when they are sitting together in a café. It is just one of many structured fora that have the ability to bring people from different positions together for constructive and creative work. The leader decided it was important to have a town meeting to discuss the needs and to help the users get a more holistic view of the situation. He was given a tip by a younger member of his department that the World Café might be a way to involve everyone and get the input they needed. The leader's courage to take a risk was essential to get something new to happen in the community. The World Café brings people from different parts of an organization together in a new way, and teaches people new skills in communication through the way it is arranged.