April 23, 2012 Sarah Byrnes, Resilience Circles Organizer.
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Transcript of April 23, 2012 Sarah Byrnes, Resilience Circles Organizer.
April 23, 2012Sarah Byrnes, Resilience Circles Organizer
Resilience Circles
Before we get started…
Please use a PHONE to call in to this webinar unless you have a headset connected to your
computer.
This will allow you to verbally participate. (We want to hear your voice!)
Resilience Circles
Before we get started…
Resilience Circles
Core assumption #1
The world is changing.
Resilience Circles
Core assumption #1
The next 15 to 20 years are likely to be very different than any recent period in our history.
We will most likely be facing deep, destabilizing challenges in our communities.
Resilience CirclesCore assumption #1
Growing economic difficulties from an increasingly destabilized global economy
Rising oil prices dramatically affecting food and transportation costs, as well as other basic needs
Disruption and stress from increasingly frequent extreme weather events, locally and globally, and general environmental depletion on many fronts
Resilience CirclesCore assumption #2
Community connections that support resourcefulness have weakened over the past 50 years.
25% of us report having no one to confide in about personal troubles.
We need to rebuild our collective community muscles.
Resilience CirclesResilience Circles are one response…
Seven initial sessions using the Resilience Circle Curriculum, a free & open-source tool
Learn about challenges togetherBuild community connectionsProvide support for one anotherTake action together
…structured but flexible tool…
Resilience Circles
http://localcircles.org/find-a-circle/
Resilience CirclesResilience Circles build security…
Resilience CirclesResilience Circles build security…
Resilience CirclesPOLL
Sprout: interested/excited by idea;want to learn more
Seedling: preliminary conversations with a few others;
possible partners identifiedSapling: one or two organizing meetings under yr
belt;on your way to an Intro Session
Branch: under way -- committed group has met
Resilience CirclesDownload the Organizing Kit
http://localcircles.org/organize-a-circle/
Our Webinars - An Ongoing Experiment
TOPICS
Ingredients for Starting a CircleCommunication and Publicity
The Curriculum & After the Curriculum
Resilience Circles
INGREDIENTS FOR STARTING A CIRCLE
One or two facilitators15 – 20 initial participants
A space to meetThe dates and time of day you’ll meet
How to find all this… ?
Resilience Circles
INGREDIENTS FOR STARTING A CIRCLE
Using the Introductory SessionThings to Consider: FAQ for Organizers
Finding an Organizing PartnerGrowing Your GroupFinding a Facilitator
Resilience CirclesUsing the Introductory Session
Hour-and-a-half long agenda designed to introduce the idea of a Resilience Circle.
Gives people a taste of the benefits of being in a Resilience Circle without requiring any commitment.
Can be used with an “open invitation” group, or with a specific group considering the idea of a Circle.
Provides some new ideas mixed with personal sharing.
Resilience CirclesUsing the Introductory Session
Option #1: Hold an Intro Session with at least 20 people in attendance. Option #2: If 15 – 25 people commit to forming a circle, go straight to Session 1.
The agenda for an Intro Session overlaps with the agenda for Session 1 in the Curriculum, so it may not make sense to do both with the exact same group. Once you have scheduled an Intro Session, tell us about it at Resilience Circle Network!
Resilience CirclesThings to Consider: FAQ for Organizers
• Number of Participants
• Timing
• Food
• Geographic Area
• Cost
• Longevity
Resilience CirclesFinding an Organizing Partner
Excited by the idea of a Club
Good chemistry
Magnet for other people; not an obstacle
Dependable
Resilience CirclesFinding an Organizing Partner
Experience with facilitationConnected to circles of interested people
Resilience CirclesGrowing Your Group
Tip 1: If possible, work within an existing base community.
Resilience CirclesCongregations – Churches, SynagoguesTransition InitiativesNeighborhood AssociationsCommunity Projects or Clubs – Community
Gardens, Cycling Clubs, Book ClubsCommunity Organizations – Neighborhood
Development Corporations, the YMCAActivist NetworksTime BanksUnions, Labor GroupsCo-Ops – Food, Worker, Housing
Resilience CirclesCreate Your Own “Base Community”
A regular dinner/discussion group
A group of friends who decide to watch a series of thought-provoking movies together
A community project group
LATER: a Circle intro session
Resilience CirclesGrowing Your Group
Tip 2: Use the Linking Method
Resilience Circles
Look for Leaders from the Base Communities
Ask to Learn from Them
Facilitator Support:
Six-hour Training WorkshopPhone Calls With Other Facilitators
One-on-one Coaching
For Basic Facilitation Tips: http://localcircles.org/facilitate-a-circle/
Finding a Facilitator
Resilience Circles
TOPICS
Ingredients for Starting a CircleCommunication and Publicity
The Curriculum & After the Curriculum
Resilience Circles
COMMUNICATION AND PUBLICITY
What attracted you to the idea?
Why are you interested in starting a Circle?
Resilience Circles
COMMUNICATION AND PUBLICITY
Think about who you are talking to.
What do they care about?How is what they care about connected
to the idea of a Circle?
Resilience CirclesCOMMUNICATION AND PUBLICITY
Get your elevator speech down!
Seven 2-hour get-togethers over a couple months…?
Learn about the roots of the economic turmoil we’re facing and think about how to create more security
with one another…?
Resilience CirclesCOMMUNICATION AND PUBLICITY
Talking points…
Structured but flexible group meetings that are…Very participatory
Help people get to know one anotherA place to read and learn things together
Good for brainstorming ideas
Resilience CirclesCOMMUNICATION AND PUBLICITY
Read stories from Circles: http://localcircles.org/stories-from-resilience-circles.
Watch the video and check out stories from other Circles.
Look for tidbits that seem inspiring to you and commit them to memory.
Show the profiles and video to others.
Resilience CirclesCOMMUNICATION AND PUBLICITY
What to call your Circle?
Resilience Circle or Common Security Club
More ideas…
• Resource Sharing Groups • Neighbor Groups
• Unemployed and Anxiously Employed Worker Groups
• Economic Security Circles
Resilience CirclesCOMMUNICATION AND PUBLICITY
Sample Materials
http://localcircles.org/communication-and-publicity-2/
Resilience Circles
TOPICS
Ingredients for Starting a CircleCommunication and Publicity
The Curriculum & After the Curriculum
Resilience CirclesTHE CURRICULUM
Session 1: Our Resilience CircleSessions 2 – 3: Change the StorySessions 4 - 5: Create Community
Session 6: Change the RulesSession 7: What’s Next?
Resilience CirclesTHE CURRICULUM
Follow it step-by-step OR
Use it as a treasure chest to pull ideas from as you invent your own meetings
ORAdapt it around the edges to suit the culture of your
group
Resilience CirclesTHE CURRICULUM
What matters:Space to talk, both comfortable and containedNo dominance, no preachingWhole selves: mind/heart/bodyExposure to new ideasFocus on taking action togetherSharing food/rituals
Resilience CirclesAFTER THE CURRICULUM
http://localcircles.org/2011/05/01/after-the-curriculum/
Ideas to continue learning, mutual aid, and social action
Session modules, books, films, activities, social action campaigns, project ideas…
Tips for making the transition from us and other facilitators
Resilience Circles
TOPICS
Ingredients for Starting a CircleCommunication and Publicity
The Curriculum & After the Curriculum
Your questions and comments…
http://[email protected]
Resilience CirclesWebinar Discussion: Small Group Facilitation
Next Session TBD
We’ll talk about facilitating and leading a circle, including:
- How to handle strong disagreements (including from co-facilitators)- How to be a more effective “participant leader”- How to interrupt when necessary- Following up on absent members- When and when not to adhere strictly to an agenda
Register for the free webinar at [link coming soon]
When you register, please be sure to enter any other topics of interest. We hope you’ll plan to join us and share your thoughts and insights.