Festival Night at the 2nd Int’l Dialogue on Festival in the Workplace, Nassau, Bahamas.

Roosevelt Finlayson Festival in the Workplace P.O. Box SS-5679 Nassau, BAHAMAS (242) 322-1605 (242) 364-0171 fax email

Members of Colours Junkanoo Organization participate in the Opening “Rush” at the 2nd Int’l Dialogue on Festival in the Workplace.

What is an underlying question that gives form to your work or interest in this field?

How can we develop an organizational culture where people are stimulated and challenged to become their most creative, passionate and productive selves, and where they experience joy meaning and fulfillment?

What is your personal experience of collective wisdom in groups?

Working with a diverse group to develop the Festival in the Workplace Transformation Process. This group has included organizers and performers from our national Junkanoo Festival, visual artists, literary artists, an economist, management consultants, Human Resources specialists and an anthropologist.

At several points along the journey of discovery we couldn’t as individuals see the answer/solution or what was emerging. We were surprised that through reflection and dialogue what was invisible to us individually became visible to us collectively.

What is it about the work in this field that excites you and connects you to your own deepest self?

There is a deep and vast ocean of wisdom in all people that lies unvalued and untapped. I know what it feels like to have your ideas unvalued and also not to be respected; you feel like you must be invisible.

As I work to create environments where the collective wisdom is valued and nurtured I am contributing to the development of the ideal of learning and sharing communities where all people are visible, valued and respected.

Please provide a brief storyline or snapshot of what brought you to this work.

I was struggling for several years with the discomfort of doing other people’s work as apposed to work that I created and which reflected who I am. Then I became clear that a call was being made on my life and I had to find the most appropriate response. The call was for me to integrate the lessons from my spiritual journey and the lessons from growing up in a community where the church and the Junkanoo Festival group were major elements of the heart of the community.

I feel that I am now pursuing my life’s work and through the organizations that I have the privilege to work with I am engaged in a creative and spiritual ministry that is aimed at developing workplace communities that nurture the soul and stimulate the creative heart.

How would you like to be available to others in this field?

I am available to share experiences first by email and then by telephone. It may be helpful to some persons to learn of our experience in the development of FITW and the importance of balancing the desire to plan everything out in a strategic way and the need to be able to listen and wait for what is emerging.

Links to this site or others:

Festival in the Workplace: Transforming people & organizations through the creative power of festivals and the arts

Festival in the Workplace - Article by Roosevelt Finalyson and Patrice A. Francis

Junkanoo Festival