Session Host: Elissa Adair
Reporter: Joy Mayer
Post-it Flip Chart Notes
Like idea of pin-pointing how-to’s
Like the idea of moving toward concrete community outreach goals/accomplishments — be it literacy or changed health behaviors, etc.
Need to translate big ideas into a simple, clear elevator speech
Stories:
Activist journalism, Occupy Eugene, media is a powerful tool
Women’s motorcyclists, building ongoing connection to a community
Al in LA, following the conversion of a non-voter to a voter
Earthquake safety work leading to a coloring book
Topic Categories for a Field Guide
Setting Goals: How to set goals collaboratively, and if they are not collaborative, why not?
Listening: How to be a good listener, make someone feel listened to, distilling process
Information-Gathering and Producing: What info from where, on or off the record, what to do with what information
Tips for self-care
Successes and failures what’s working and what is not
Interpersonal skills
Interviewing: sample questions, practice exercises
Incorporating processes that understand the baseline experience/skills people they already bring to this work they want to be trained in
Incorporating self-reflection
Safety and privacy issues – both for the participant and for the “journalist/activist/recorder”
Ethical considerations
Setting expectations— for those you interview, those you produce content for
Technical resources and tools – platforms
Community — becoming acquainted, acquiring deep community knowledge and etiquette, geography, media outlets, leaders, etc. (not dissimilar to tools for conducting a community needs assessment).
Tools for fostering participatory discussions and dialogues (like world cafe)
Lab/Experiential learning exercises that require real doing this work (trial and error process) and reflection on success and failure.
Key Questions:
How embedded vs. distant engagement role is — there is a range with different pros/cons
Success Measures:
Ever-expanding circles of influence and participation
Challenges: Getting people to show up (need practical process for recruitment and attendance success)
Note: Building skills and also sharing tools
Curated resources