How do you run community assemblies? - tips, tricks, sensitivities

Thanks, it's a fascinating video full of inspiration :)

I just realized another piece of advice in response to Vishal's question - What are the particular sensitivities, nuances and focuses you think someone running a community assembly should pay attention to? - is "use the GroupWorks group process pattern language cards". This card deck isn't about "tips and tricks" but it IS about "sensitivities, nuances, and focuses". One could say that the cards point to "things to pay attention to if you want a gathering or conversation - dialogue, meeting, conference, deliberation, etc. - to be enjoyable and productive." I've seen them used by planning teams before a gathering and by facilitation/organizing teams reviewing a just-completed gathering.

Often the 91 cards are dealt into the planning/review group and a question is asked, like "What should we pay particular attention to at this point in our planning?" or "What did we do well in the conference?" & "What do we need to attend to more and do better at our next gathering?" People hold up and read aloud a card from their "hands" that they think speaks to the question. There can then be a discussion about that (short or long, or even - if there's energy around it - assigned to a committee to explore in greater depth) or simply an acknowledgement and moving on to the next person's suggested card. You can browse over the cards' patterns/topics on the alphabetical or category lists (with live links). Thousands of these open source/grassroots-created card decks are in use around the world by facilitators and engagement planners. They are available for purchase or free download.

A companion deck is the Wise Democracy Pattern Language. They serve the same purpose (and are used similarly), but for "generating collective wisdom" (with very extensive resources for each pattern). They overlap with GroupWorks and are useful for group work, but their center of gravity is principles for designing wisdom-generating social systems. Alphabetical list / Category list / Purchase / Free download.

Both pattern languages can be used in many ways, from browsing their surfaces to in-depth curricula study.

If I was facilitating an Assembly and conflict arose would I immediately set up a conflict resolution process?

Nadia, would love to invite you to say more. What kind of People's Assembly, and what kind of conflict?

Starting conversation with those who's views seem so divergent

(Sorry this is perhaps a bit wider than running community assemblies, but seemed a good place to ask)

I see there's lots of helpful info here, which is great, but I'd like to focus on a question it seems to me is largely unasked so far. It doesn't seem catered for in External: Democracy Mobilisation & Municipalism Plan, for example, beyond an acknowledgement that "Community Assemblies... will require extra sensitivities for facilitators and they will be supported with trainings to do."

It does however get a mention in @Indra Adnan's recent post to this thread: "Many people - possibly the majority - will have no interest or be actively against what we are trying to do." So my question is (more please on, 'cause Indra follows with "We try to...", ) how can we engage with these "Many people"? Challenging, yes of course, but as often rewards great if we can.

I personally don't have much by way of answer, though I'll share, but it does seem to me to be an important question. I may be wrong but it seems to me that this is not primarily about conflict resolution (though of course such skills are very useful anyway), it seems more about reaching out in the right sort of way in the first place. (eg if one starts out with an expectation of conflict does that make conflict more likely?)

So for example if I myself feel conflicted before I even start maybe I'm not in the right place to start? One of the potential (internal) conflicts is the feeling that if I'm listening too empathetically (is that possible?) to what comes across as supportive of 'business as usual' (for want of a better summary), am I in some way condoning or even supporting the perpetuation of such views?

Where I live feels very conservative (both small and big c). People's concerns include overdevelopment. Their answers to this tend to involve yet more car dependency, which is to some extent very understandable in a rural area with poor public transport, especially for the elderly. In cases like this I try instead to raise awareness of questions of water scarcity. Similarly people's concerns may include pollution, simply because even the press talk about this. Then challenging but possible to mention health (ideally benefits, and link with personal experiences involving different generations) rather than transport (options, about which many may feel they don't really have).

Just a couple of further points on why this might be a useful question:
1. If we're honest aren't views supportive of 'business as usual' (for want of a better summary) still quite pervasive in our society, especially in some areas? So if we're serious about inclusivity we have to reach out in these areas as well?
2. If the concept of tipping points has some validity here, perhaps tackling the difficult questions can help with the "urgency/breakthrough" thing?

Similarly to you Phil I would like to know the best way to start s convo with someone in say a cafe that would potentially lead to me inviting them to a local assembly...do people have any ideas? This is a big part of the way that I meet people 🙂

When you meet people generally, do you ask them who they are and what they do? My guess is that will always lead to entry points. I'm less in favour of pulling people into my agenda as a way of connecting. And a bit more into going to meet people where they gather, hearing what they are into and then introducing what we do through that lens. My experience is that there needs to be connection before invitation.

Kathryn Hayhoe's talk on finding the common values with other people is very good (and dont open with the science cos that typically alienates people).

Also stories and "public narratives" a la community organising can be a great way of building relationships based on common humanity

Thanks. That makes sense

Hi @Stefan Haselwimmer , @Indra Adnan and @Nadia Franchi , thanks very much for all your replies. Very much appreciated, and very much enjoyed, and would recommend, Kathryn Hayhoe's talk.