Rather than provide a fixed collection of documents, this issue of Gestalt! offers those in the Northern and Southern hemispheres a gateway through which they might contact one another in an ongoing fashion, share their work, dialogue around organizational matters, and influence one another. While we start with just a few things, we keep the door open. This is "part one," but there may be parts two, three and beyond. We know of the expressed desire to expand contact that has already begun among Gestalt therapists in the Americas, and we offer space in which this might occur in the online environment.

Gestalt therapy flourishes in South America. The ground is unique and varied, so that one cannot assume it is constant across borders, but in each place Gestalt is practiced with vibrancy. Numerous training institutes and publications nourish the field. Significant conferences are held in Argentina and Brazil. Interesting intersections between Gestalt and biological, community, and cultural psychology have been worked out.

This issue of Gestalt! begins with an editorial from Sylvia Korotky, associate editor from Uruguay, and continues with poetic reflections by Alejandro Spangenberg, also from Uruguay. We are pleased to present a reprint of Selma Ciornai's article, "Gestalt in Brazil," which first appeared in Gestalt Review, and Marcela Miguens piece, "Twenty Years of Gestalt in Argentina." In addition, we have an article, "Healthy and Unhealthy Functioning and Process-Oriented Diagnostic Thinking," by Lilian Meyer Frazao from Brazil. There are announcements regarding conferences, hardcopy journals, and workshop opportuntities, but this is just a beginning. We anticipate forthcoming material from various sources in Chile, Argentina, and Brazil, and we hope this is all the start of a flow of information that facilitates growth in understanding between Gestalt practioners in South America and others in the global community.