The Glass Plate Game, inspired by Hermann Hesse's Glass Bead Game, is essentially a conversation in the trappings of a board game. Hesse's game us alluded to as a The idea is to spark creative and interesting dialog as the players explore connections between ideas against a dynamic mosaic map. There are no winners or losers. There is no order of play. Conversation continues throughout, and anyone can make a move at any time. The end result is an artifact of the conversation. The "game board" makes it easy to follow the twists and turns of the conversation.

Co-creator Dunbar Aitkens will be visiting to help lead the session. We will begin with an introduction to the game followed by a period of idea card making to especially bring concepts from players' own projects and interests into the card deck, then launch right into playing. Stay for the 3rd hour, and we'll build Glass Plate Game sets for everyone who'd like one to take with them. The sets contain "idea cards" for composing the mosaic and wooden cubes and colored transparencies for tracking the thread of thought.

Come for fun, friends, and stimulating conversation.

Also, "Collective Agency" will be open continuously to the public, from 9am-9pm on September 1st. Regular hours are 9am-5pm, Mon-Fri.

It is a common pattern for advocates of any kind (Agile, Quality, Process Improvement methods, Waterfall, etc.) to start off banging a drum with almost religious zealotry. “This is the way to achieve quality products!” “Follow me or be cast aside!” I have certainly done this and many of the change agents and forward thinkers I respect in the industry have struggled with this as well in their careers. However, riding a train of dogmatic viewpoints and practices has, in many cases, ruined the original efforts of change agents and more tragically, created bad patterns of development. This presentation (also presented at the Pacific Northwest Software Quality Conference earlier this year) will explore how we can clarify our intentions and work towards creating an environment where the people involved are empowered to think and experiment but still march in the same general direction. As product development becomes more and more complex, different approaches are needed to get to the right outcome and we can no longer afford to apply rigid methods that worked for a simpler environment. This presentation will help the audience think critically about where they are being too dogmatic in their efforts while introducing some new ways of thinking around complex adaptive systems and complex product development. The full paper written for this conference presentation can be found here: http://www.uploads.pnsqc.org/2013/papers/t-095_Stadick_paper.pdf

Our Speaker: Rhea Stadick is an Organizational Coach at Intel, Corp. She has spent the last eight years in software quality and development of engineering teams. Today she helps organizations across her company develop cultures and competencies to create thriving work environments that support excellence in product development. She received her B.S. in Computer Science from Oregon State University and M.B.A. from Willamette University. For the past several years she has organized the Rose City Software Process Improvement Network (SPIN) in the Portland-metro area that gathers professionals in the area to learn and network.

Come work and have conversations at Collective Agency during our First Fridays Free Days, and join an optional potluck lunch.

Members, come as usual, and you can bring guests, it’ll be the same for you as it is every day but with more people here.

There are 2 requirements: 1) RSVP at https://www.facebook.com/groups/collectiveagency/ or http://www.meetup.com/Collective-Agency-community-workplace/ or Twitter @CollectiveAgenC with the time you expect to be here, what you’ll be working on (you can include a link to a website or social media), and what you’re looking for. This will be posted on our website, RSVP pages, and here on the wall. 2) While you’re here, aside from lunch, you’ll find ways to talk with at least 2 people here for at least 30 minutes total.

Schedule: • 9am – Open for free • 12pm – Optional potluck lunch • 5pm – End of Open House

People here for free will have access to the big loft room, the kitchen, and restrooms, but not: conference rooms, locker storage, computer monitors. You can come in groups of up to 14 people but everybody has to qualify and do the actions described above. There are no age restrictions.

The community guidelines are the core of the terms of service: http://collectiveagency.co/community-guidelines

RSVP: https://www.facebook.com/events/576112569215781/ or http://www.meetup.com/Collective-Agency-community-workplace/events/231889333/

Come work and have conversations at Collective Agency during our First Fridays Free Days, and join an optional potluck lunch.

Members, come as usual, and you can bring guests, it’ll be the same for you as it is every day but with more people here.

Comment below with the time you expect to be here, what you’ll be working on (you can include a link to a website or social media), and what you’re looking for, and more people will be here for you.

Schedule: • 9am – Open for free • 12pm – Optional potluck lunch • 5pm – End of Open House

People here for free will have access to the loft room, the kitchen, conference rooms, computer monitors, and restrooms, but not locker storage. You can come in groups of up to 14 people. There are no age restrictions.

The community guidelines are the core of the terms of service: http://collectiveagency.co/community-guidelines

Community Mission Statement: A cozy place to work alongside people doing what they’re passionate about and committed to, where 80% of people say hi. Come and work here!

Come work and have conversations at Collective Agency during our First Fridays Free Days, and join an optional potluck lunch.

Members, come as usual, and you can bring guests, it'll be the same for you as it is every day but with more people here.

There are 2 requirements for people here free: First, RSVP on Facebook, Meetup, or on our event page (before you come) with: your name, what time you expect to be here, what you’ll be working on (you can include a link to a website or social media), and what you’re looking for.

Then, while you’re here, aside from lunch, you’ll find ways to talk with at least 2 people here for at least 30 minutes total. And most of the time you'll be working on something.

Schedule: 9am: Open for free. 12pm: Optional potluck lunch. 5pm: End of Open House.

People here for free will have access to everything except: locker storage and member car parking, and can make short phone calls in conference rooms (up to 30 minutes; members get 3 hours per day). You can come in groups of up to 14 people but everybody has to qualify and do the actions described above. There are no age restrictions.

The community guidelines are the core of the terms of service: http://collectiveagency.co/community-guidelines

Membership info is: http://collectiveagency.co/membership

Community Mission Statement: A cozy place to work alongside people doing what they’re passionate about and committed to, where 80% of people say hi. Come and work here!

Come work and have conversations at Collective Agency during our First Fridays Free Days, and join an optional potluck lunch.

Members, come as usual, and you can bring guests, it'll be the same for you as it is every day but with more people here.

There are 2 requirements for people here free: First, RSVP on Facebook, Meetup, or on our event page (before you come) with: your name, what time you expect to be here, what you’ll be working on (you can include a link to a website or social media), and what you’re looking for.

Then, while you’re here, aside from lunch, you’ll find ways to talk with at least 2 people here for at least 30 minutes total. And most of the time you'll be working on something.

Schedule: 9am: Open for free. 12pm: Optional potluck lunch. 5pm: End of Open House.

People here for free will have access to everything except: locker storage and member car parking, and can make short phone calls in conference rooms (up to 30 minutes; members get 3 hours per day). You can come in groups of up to 14 people but everybody has to qualify and do the actions described above. There are no age restrictions.

The community guidelines are the core of the terms of service: http://collectiveagency.co/community-guidelines

Membership info is: http://collectiveagency.co/membership

Community Mission Statement: A cozy place to work alongside people doing what they’re passionate about and committed to, where 80% of people say hi. Come and work here!

Come work and have conversations at Collective Agency during our First Fridays Free Days, and join an optional potluck lunch.

Members, come as usual, and you can bring guests, it'll be the same for you as it is every day but with more people here.

There are 2 requirements for people here free: First, RSVP on Facebook, Meetup, or on our event page (before you come) with: your name, what time you expect to be here, what you’ll be working on (you can include a link to a website or social media), and what you’re looking for.

Then, while you’re here, aside from lunch, you’ll find ways to talk with at least 2 people here for at least 30 minutes total. And most of the time you'll be working on something.

Schedule: 9am: Open for free. 12pm: Optional potluck lunch. 5pm: End of Open House.

People here for free will have access to everything except: locker storage and member car parking, and can make short phone calls in conference rooms (up to 30 minutes; members get 3 hours per day). You can come in groups of up to 14 people but everybody has to qualify and do the actions described above. There are no age restrictions.

The community guidelines are the core of the terms of service: http://collectiveagency.co/community-guidelines

Membership info is: http://collectiveagency.co/membership

About the event
Most organizations want to succeed at what they do, right? And an inclusive workplace is a key aspect of successful organizations. What does an inclusive workplace feel like? What behaviors make people feel like they’re part of the team? These questions must be answered if the goal is to create an environment where everyone can grow and thrive. To build such a culture, there are specific strategies that can be employed in any organization.

Join us for the SIM Portland November 2018 meeting when we will discuss the concepts of diversity and inclusion, along with the behaviors that make it possible – or impossible – to achieve true workplace inclusion and highly effective organizations.

Key topics that will be explored include,
• Key aspects of successful organizations
• The concepts of diversity and inclusion
• Strategies that create an inclusive workplace
• What does this all mean to IT leadership? How can you create an environment where everyone can grow and thrive.

The Distinguished Panelists
• Bob Leek, Interim Director and Chief Information Officer, Department of County Assets at Multnomah County, Oregon
• Kory Murphy, Equity and Inclusion Manager, Department of County Assets, Multnomah County, Oregon

Agenda
5:30 PM Social
6:30 PM Dinner
6:50 PM Meeting Start
7:00 PM Keynote and Q&A
8:15 PM Close

What does racism sound like here in Portland? Is it subtle? Is it overt? Have I said something wrong? Have I been misunderstood? Why is racism so tricky to talk about?

This experiential engagement will explore the spoken and unspoken cultural norms of communication as key pieces to advancing racial equity in yourself and your workplace. Here in the Pacific Northwest (PNW), which includes Oregon, Washington and Idaho, we have a unique flavor of communication norms referred to as passive aggressive and conflict aversion. Based on WASP (white, anglo, saxon Protestant and middle class), the PNW regionally communicates indirect and 'watered down' sharing of information. This is significant because it is hard to manage for something if you cannot name it clearly for everyone to understand. Tone policing, vagueness, deflecting, blaming the messenger rather than engage in the content of the message, civility politics, conflict aversion etc are a few forms this takes.

Presenters Fleur Larsen and Jodi-Ann Burey, originally from Seattle and New York City respectively, will draw from their own lived experiences and invite attendees to do the same. We will identify how these regional norms impede addressing racial equity when people and institutions are not able to squarely name dynamics. White dominant culture is held together with the glue of passive aggressive communication norms here in the PNW making it really sticky to pull apart and identify racism in situations or conflicts. Together, we will name the ingredients needed to live into a better conversation and take racism head on.

Ticket pricing is on a sliding scale. Nobody will be turned away for lack of funds for this event. Contact [email protected] for more information.

About Fleur Larsen:

Fleur Larsen grew up in Seattle and learned how to relate to others based on the dominant identities she holds: white, protestant, working class, and socialized female. The norms of this region have a particular flavor of conflict aversion, indirectness and passive aggressiveness that are deeply ingrained in me from an early age. Unlearning these has been a HUGE place of personal and professional growth as she’s aimed herself at racial equity work.

Fleur started facilitating 18 years ago on challenge course programs with youth and adults. Currently, she works with several companies utilizing challenge and experiential facilitation with corporate and nonprofit groups. People often learn better by doing. Experiential facilitation engages and activates more parts of the brain. Her style is based on sharp analysis, flexible thinking, fun, purpose and results. Her work is relationship-based with connection, collaboration, and community as integral elements to reach results.

About Jodi-Ann Burey:

Jodi-Ann Burey is the Senior Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) at The Riveter, a membership workspace and community platform built by women, for everyone. She leads the development of a robust programming portfolio that powers The Riveter’s mission to redefine equity in the workplace. With a strong focus on intersectionality, Jodi-Ann works to ensure all women and their allies—inclusive of any gender, race, ethnicity, age, sexuality, ability, and child status - can leverage The Riveter to develop as impactful leaders in their businesses, networks, and the world.

Jodi-Ann is also one of the founding members and co-chairs of the Seattle DEI Community of Practice (DEI CoP), an expansive network of professionals across industry committed to improving DEI practices at work. Jodi-Ann earned her Masters in Public Health from the University of Michigan and her Bachelors in Communications from Boston College.

The future of work is one with womxn of color at the center.

Join The Riveter and Future for Us for The State of Womxn of Color Roadshow, an evening to tell audacious stories of womxn of color at work, accompanied by an overview of the data, insights and solutions. This collaboration provides a platform for rising and established womxn of color professionals to share their experiences and next step strategies as they build powerful communities to create a future for where womxn of color lead at the highest levels across all sectors.

This is a special roadshow edition of Future for Us’s State of Womxn of Color, featuring a panel of local leaders. Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty, Paige Hendrix Buckner and others will share personal experiences, discuss how womxn of color can navigate the world of work, and leave us with insights on negotiation, building community, and true allyship. Portland is one of the fastest growing cities on the West Coast. With its history of racial inequities and increasingly diverse population, it is of critical importance that we are actively working to build community, and ensure that across all sectors, womxn of color are in visible leadership roles across the city and state.

Allies and champions are invited to come together to support womxn of color professionals through community, culture and career development - to create equity of access and opportunities for advancement. Together we can take actions to advance womxn of color and explore what it takes to build intentional communities for and with womxn of color, examine how allies can strengthen their cultural competency muscle, and explore what true workplace collaboration can make possible!

6:00 - 6:30pm Registration and Networking

6:30 - 7:00pm The State of Womxn of Color Presentation with Future for Us Founders

7:00 - 8:00pm Panel + Q&A

8:00 - 8:30pm Networking

Why womxn and not womxn?

The spelling of womxn is meant to show inclusion of trans, nonbinary, womxn of color, womxn with disabilities and all other marginalized genders. Both The Riveter and Future for Us use this spelling to indicate that our spaces and platform are open to anyone who identifies as such. We respect people of all genders, identities, and the use of pronouns that best identify an individual.

Speakers:

Paige Hendrix Buckner is the Program Director of Founders Gym, an online training center that helps underrepresented founders build successful tech startups. In the first six months of operation, FG has trained 70 founders across 7 countries, who've gone on to raise over $10MM. Throughout her career, Paige has operated at the intersection of education, entrepreneurship, and social justice. She is a well-respected leader in the Portland startup scene and has helped cultivate their ecosystem, including co-founding the Xxcelerate Fund for women entrepreneurs.

Commissioner JoAnn Hardesty is also the Principal Partner of Consult Hardesty. She is focused on increasing democracy in low-income communities & communities of color, eliminate barriers to advocacy, public policy deliberations, and public policy improvements that create disparate outcomes in communities of color and low income communities. JoAnn is also the President of the NAACP Portland Chapter.

About Future for Us

Future for Us is a platform dedicated to advancing womxn of color at work through community, culture and career development. We envision a future of work where womxn of color lead at the highest levels of corporate, government, and social sector organizations. We do this through a mix of monthly events, large-scale conferences for both womxn of color professionals and allies, and research. Join the movement and a community dedicated to womxn of color on Slack! Visit futureforus.co for more information.

More speakers to be announced soon!

Ticketing Information: Tickets for this event are on a sliding scale. Nobody will be turned away due to lack of funds. Contact [email protected] for more information.

Host level tickets (25 max) will include individual and/or company name and/or logo in the event program.

Join us for a series of discussions this quarter on building and healing the foundation for the future of you, your career, and your influence working in technology.

To kick us off, February's FutureTalks will focus on the healing we all need in order to create the best foundation for our future self. Tracy Williams, New Relic’s Chief People and Diversity Officer will facilitate this virtual fireside chat with Minda Harts exploring her journey to writing her new book, Right Within. In this intimate discussion with Minda and Tracy we'll be exploring courageous conversations, bold teachings when healing from racial traumas, and what tech companies can do to integrate courageous practices for all getting Right Within for their future.

“In workplaces nationwide, women of color need frank talk and honest advice on how to deal with microaggressions, heal from racialized trauma, and find relief from invisible workplace burdens. Through action points, exercises, and clear-eyed coaching, Minda Harts encourages women to summon hidden reserves of strength and courage. She includes advice from therapists and faith leaders of color on a full range of ways to heal. Right Within will help women of color strengthen their resolve across corporate America, ensuring that we can all, finally, rise together.”