Title: Action Plan for Local Youth Collaboration

Introduction

Many youth organizations work long hours and are often unaware of what other groups are doing. This isolation enables competition, territoriality, duplicate effort and limits new relationships. To resolve these challenges people must gather and hold meaningful conversations about their work and about opportunities for working together. This document seeks to guide youth groups around the world through the process of holding dialogues on collaboration in an effort to move their communities forward and get more young people involved in movements solve social and environmental problems.

Mission

The mission of this project is to guide youth organizers through the process of holding dialogues on collaboration.

Steps to Motivating Collaboration

In order to properly collaborate one must develop the right relationships. Begin by gathering the right people. Spend a couple of weeks emailing and phoning friends and “friends of friends” to trace a local network of young leaders and their relationships. Network these new people to one another and organize a gathering in a comfortable location. Gatherings that take place in nature and last for more than one day often have a lasting community building impact. Again, remember that the first purpose must be building relationships that are based on trust, respect, and a sense of community.

After gathering a committed group of people conduct your meeting with the following concepts in mind. There is not master blueprint for motivating collaboration or hosting meetings but the following ideas will help.

1. Introductions. Let everyone introduce themselves and their work.

2. Eat food. This resembles the "breaking bread" metaphor and builds trust between people in the group.

3. Do something fun. Sing. Do some ritual. Practice some kind of non-verbal communication. These kinds of activities access different parts of the brain and engage people in ways that dialogue does not.

4. Define the youth movement. What is it? Discuss why it is important to collaborate. Ask people why they chose to participate in the meeting. What are their expectations? What do they have to offer? What are they seeking? Consider creating a shared agenda of activities and discussion for the rest of the gathering.

5. “Barn-raise.” Sit in a circle. Invite people to say: "My group needs ..." Then offer advice/resources/connections/ideas etc.

6. Consider local-to-global connections and issues as a group. Single issue focused activism may show immediate results but may not change the system. Consider the interconnection of issues and discuss it as a group. “Fight pollution, but remember to vote.”

7. Keep minutes. Email them to the other activists and organizations that also might be interested in collaboration.

8. Consider scheduling future gatherings to discuss specific issues, to show videos, listen to a guest speaker, or make presentations

9. When discussing remember to “Touch the issue.” No one can inspire action around an issue as much as a victim of that issue.

10. Develop tangible proposals for collaboration. What can we do TOGETHER that none of us can do alone? Some ideas include: a. A city youth platform/council, b. Weekly retreats to help groups move beyond professional relationship and build personal relationships, c. A cultural exchange program on a local level - facilitate youth from different faiths, races, and socio-economic classes to visit each others communities.

11. Expand. These gatherings are great opportunities for new volunteers, organizers and funders to connect. Consider hosting more and more of them to involve more and more young people and their allies.

How to Facilitate a Meeting – Circle Building

The most effective meetings on collaboration happen in circles. “Circle building” is an art that helps inspire healthy conversations and healthy communities. Every conversation or circle is different but there are some common themes that contribute to circle purpose and strength. Some circle building basics are provided here to help guide and inform the process as well as facilitate productive, participatory conversations.

Moderator - One or more people (not too many) should act as moderator(s) of the circle. Moderators should be good listeners and try at all times to stay connected with everyone in the circle, involving everyone. Guiding the circle is more effective than leading the circle. Facilitating the process is wiser than directing the process. Moderators should be familiar with the purpose of the circle and are responsible for keeping track of time. Rotating the role of moderator helps distribute responsibility and keeps more people involved.

Purpose - It is important for a circle to have a purpose. Whether the purpose is as simple as "healing" or as specific as "deciding on a name" the purpose should be made clear to the participants.

Time - The ideal circle closes on its own but when time is a limiting factor it should be respected and tracked. Adjourning circles and reconvening at a later time is a good practice.

One Voice - Ensure that only one person speaks at a time. Perhaps a "speaking rock" or "talking stick" will facilitate this process. He/she who holds the rock has the right to speak. The moderator can facilitate the process.

Eye Contact - Make eye contact with everyone in the circle when speaking. Everyone is listening, not just a few people.

Breaks - Take breaks and do something fun (song, massage, etc.) at turning points in the circle or simply when people begin to zone out.

The process:

1. Remove objects that block the view of people in the circle e.g. tables, lamps, flowers etc. An open circle inspires openness among its participants.

2. Encourage all participants to be on the same "level". People sitting above, below, or outside the circle have a limited ability to participate.

3. Gather silence. There are many ways to gather silence including holding up two fingers, singing "Ohm," whistling etc.

4. Welcome everyone and explaining the "purpose" of the circle.

5. Create ritual to celebrate the group and build identity. Here are two suggested examples: A. Ask the group to find a word that means "You've got it", or "Yay" in a foreign language and use it to celebrate in the circle instead of applauding. B. Sing a song to open the circle; it should be short and easy to learn. "Cinquelela" (meaning: "blessed" in Zulu) is a favorite.

6. Create a brief opportunity for everyone to share. One simple way is to pick a question and invite everyone around the circle to answer it. This is important so that everyone has a chance to speak and participate. Limit time as needed. A good example is "What are good examples of making a difference?" Personal stories are usually the best contributions. Other exmaple questions are: "Why are you committed to this group/process/topic?" "What was your happiest moment?" etc.

7. Sanctify the circle. Explain to everyone the agreement "People can be open here. We will not share your stories without your permission. The people in this circle support each other. Your secrets are safe here. This is a safe place."

8. Consider a meditation. Before people begin to be open it can be helpful to hold a group meditation. Exmaple: "Think of a time or place in the past where you felt peaceful and comfortable. Be in that place. Breathe in and out of it. Do so for 20 seconds then open your eyes and look around the circle. These people will support you where ever you are and who ever you are."