Community Sourcing Solutions

This highly #interactive presentation was given to Venture Cafe Philly & walks us in real time through a #methodology for architecting comprehensive, #accessible solutions to #systemic problems through #restorative community development and #equitable #empowerment.

Even as a facilitator, who We are and what We do is no more important than what anyone else participating does and who they are. We'll get to know each other as we go. What's important is that together we learn how to tackle the kinds of systemic problems that touch us all but effect us in different ways by working together to design solutions with positive impacts that benefit us all equitably.

Every step has a short link to the entire prepared content of this workshop including slides, a text reader accessible transcript, and ways to support Us and Our work. We've got lots to cover, so let's dive in.

**Note for transcript- The capitalization of "We" and 'Our(s)" is in specific reference to the facilitator, similar to what is custom for "I". Without capitalization, it is used as is common and references a group external to, and including, the facilitator.

___________________________________________________________________

[Step One: Bring people together]

__________________________________________________________________________

The first step is recognizing and acknowledging the folks who have come together to take on the chaos that is engaging with other human beings more than one at a time. If it's to solve a systemic problem affecting a neighbourhood, a community or an organization in a way that equitably empowers the affected, it's complex and meaningful work we are taking on that none of us can do alone anyway. It's important to come together and to know who we are working with.

We'll each write a brief sentence in the third person and submit it to a group document (via internet browser or index card in this workshop).

As a group we'll review these sentences, write them down if we like, and ask the author to visibly identify themselves. We'll then repeat the sentence together out loud and move on to the next. Using sight, script, sound and speech will help us remember, recognize, speak to, and refer to each other accurately and respectfully (even if we need notes to help). Does that make sense?

***For those who are interested, the group document is hosted on an Etherpad service hosted by Riseup, does not store IP addresses, requires https, and will be automatically destroyed after 60 days.**

Here is the format for the sentences:

(Personal Pronoun - subjective)

know(s) a lot about

(two subjects of knowledge)

and (Personal Pronoun - objective) name is (Name).

That sounds really technical and messy. We promise it's quite simple, so let's practice before we start writing:

(They) know a lot about

(Facilitating Thriving and jellyfish),

and (their) name is (Tara).

Try repeating that out loud. See, not so bad, right?

If that still sounds uncomfortable to write for yourself, there are some ways to altar it. If we preferred not to use our name, we could consider using a pseudonym for the purpose of the workshop to facilitate collaboration. If We didn't want to share our pronouns, we could use just our name in their place:

ALT for no name:

(They) know a lot about

(Facilitating Thriving and jellyfish),

and (their) name is (mastress).

ALT for no pronouns:

(Tara) knows a lot about

(Facilitating Thriving and jellyfish),

and (Tara's) name is (Tara).

While it sounds a little repetitive, it reinforces accurately addressing each other while we collaborate. This is also a helpful tactic if participants are exploring pronouns or if folks just tend to butcher them and we would rather not deal with that today.

_________________________________________________________

Step Two: Agree on how we interact

__________________________________________________________________________

Relationships and resources are what solve problems in the end, every time. If we don't facilitate meaningful relationship building, our resources are being mis-invested, without exception. We'll actively cultivate the kind of environment we'll need to be able to build those relationships by having a shared commitment to a collectively developed set of expectations. This is a crucial step that cannot be skipped, and may develop into a code of conduct or rules of engagement if we chose to recreate this space for future meetings and want to add new participants.

This works best if we're able to use positive language to articulate our needs and mutually agree on expectations in order to be fully engaged and to participate to the best of our ability.

Here's Our example submissions:

to feel heard

to feel respected as a person with something valuable to offer

to feel safe to advocate for ourself, and to be advocated for when we struggle to advocate for ourselves

Let's take a few minutes to add our own needs to the group document. We can use these to guide our development of a working alignment. In repeat events this process can be used to re-evaluate previous agreements and make needed alterations.

Building off these collective needs, what are some things we would appreciate being able to expect in order to meet the needs we identified? Here is a good format we can use:

We would appreciate being able to expect [this behavior] because it

[fills these needs].

Here is an example:

We would appreciate being able to expect

[that the correct pronouns and/or name will be used for one another]

because it

[ensures everyone is respected & advocated for].

__________________________________________________________________________

Step Three: Identify, contextualize, and scope the problem

__________________________________________________________________________

Usually when we gather for this purpose, participants already have a problem in mind that they are looking to solve. It's important to make sure, though, that we're all talking about the same problem, we understand the context of the issue, & agree on what the scope of the problem is that we're trying to solve for. Without this step, we can waste a lot of resources talking past each other because we aren't on the same track of consideration to begin with.

To start, let's each write down some thoughts about the Who, What, Where, When, Why & How of the problem from our perspective or experience in the group document. Review critical considerations, complicating factors, & confounding problems. At the end, we'll try to find patterns and commonalities to refine our focus.

Does what we have make sense? Would anyone appreciate additional clarification? Is there anyone who objects to the problem we've scoped out here?

Taking the time to actually ask if taking more time would be helpful, and allowing space to actually answer can go a long way in keeping a group on pace together and participants effectively engaged.

__________________________________________________________________________

Step Four:Explore independently

__________________________________________________________________________

This is the part where participants independently inventory their knowledge, experience, resources, and network available to contribute to solution building for the defined problem. Researching and aggregating relevant citations, resources, and existing strategies to address the problem at hand gives everyone a starting point to contribute to group discussion. Take your time, use your phone or laptop, share what you think or find in the group document to make collaborating next easier.

__________________________________________________________________________

Step Five: Group Work

__________________________________________________________________________

We'll break up into groups and collaboratively research tools, strategies, partnerships, and methods of designing solutions along with the starting resources identified by individual participants. It's important that each participant has an opportunity to speak in these small groups. While it's possible for there to be disruptive engagement, and distractions from solution building, no contributions or critiques should go completely undervalued. We should be advocating for ourselves and each other to participate equitably in building effective solutions. Identify a representative to help manage and present contributions to the group document in the next step.

Each group may tackle this differently, which is desired. Some may imagine Best Case Scenarios observe the gaps from our current reality and reverse engineer getting there. Some may look at who is already doing work to solve this problem and what is keeping them from being successful. Any problem that a group may choose to tackle, and often any solution a group may come up with, is likely not a completely novel one. There are likely to be existing ongoing efforts to learn from, build with, and contribute to. We may find that there are solutions already in place elsewhere and that something can be learned from them about what would be helpful for us.

We'll provide ongoing documentation and research citations in the group document. If your event has time and space allowing, it's helpful for a facilitator to identify effort duplications and opportunities for collaboration between working groups before moving on to the next section.

__________________________________________________________________________

Step Six:Analyzing Solutions

__________________________________________________________________________

Participants will reconvene and working group representatives will present the solutions, or means of contributing to a solutions, that they put together.

We will then provide constructive cross examination by asking questions, reviewing critical considerations, inquiring about needed resources for execution, and potential problems with the proposed solutions. Who will benefit and who will suffer? What communities were missing from our group today & have we adequately considered them in our solution? How can we invite them to weigh in on these solutions? Where can we learn more about how to accomplish this? When has a similar solution been attempted? Why did that succeed or fail? How do we engage potential partners in building this solution?

At the end we aggregate a collection of possible solutions or solution building steps that can be taken. The quality and depth of the solutions we're able to put together is dependant on the amount of time provided in each of these steps, the group's willingness to maintain the expectations they've set among themselves throughout the process, & the accessibility of the space physically, intellectually, and emotionally.

The accomplishment of the group isn't measured, however, by the solutions that we put together. It is measured by the outcome of our work which requires further investments to execute those solutions and build the future we want to see.

__________________________________________________________________________

That's not all folks.

__________________________________________________________________________

 Solution implementation requires distributing necessary action items with success parameters, timelines, and means of accountability, but that's another workshop you should have us run.

Our purpose in life is Saving The World by helping people like you solve systemic problems with the resources they already have. Community development workshops are just one way we go about doing this. If you got anything valuable out of our time together today, We do ask that you support Us in extending that value to others.

It can mean following Us on Social Media, and joining other community workshops we facilitate. It could also mean connecting Us directly to event organizers, organizations, or individuals that might benefit from Our work through an email introduction or sharing content we provide on your own platforms. 

If you're feeling really generous, We'll also happily take your money so please sponsor Our most important work: Save The World Sundays.