A Guide to NeighborCircles at Lawrence CommunityWorks

1. A Guide to NeighborCircles at Lawrence CommunityWorks Alma Couverthie, Presenter Audrey Jordan, Co-presenter October 26, 2010 GRGM Webinar

2. Welcome!

3. Agenda • NeighborCircles-Overview • 1st Dinner • Lunch- Conversation with NeighborCircle hosts and facilitators • 2nd Dinner • 3rd Dinner • Next Steps

4. Desired outcomes

5. Quick Guide to NeighborCircles

6. What is a NeighborCircle? • 3 dinners where neighbors get to: • Know each other • Talk about the quality of life in the neighborhood, and • If the group wants, plan a small action or event that can help make and strengthen new relationships, while addressing an issue that the neighbors care about.

7. What a NeighborCircle is not • A neighborhood association/club/crime watch generator-form follows function • A project/activity generator • A strategy to deliver an already set agenda - NeighborCircles is the process and participants put the content

8. Why we do NeighborCircles? • To rebuild the fabric of our communities • To connect and support each other • To identify leaders or potential leaders • To make friends • To act together around a common purpose • To have fun!

9. Who is a NeighborCircle? • The Facilitator • The Host • The Neighbors • The Organizer

10. Getting ready Organizer: • Recruits and trains Facilitators and Hosts. • Secure the necessary equipment. • Meets with Organizer and Facilitator to set date and prepare logistics. Host: • Invite neighbors. • Send reminders or do reminder calls. • Set up the room (with Facilitators help.) • Prepare light appetizers.

11. Getting ready (cont) Facilitator: Works with the Organizer to identify and recruit hosts. Work with Host to recruit participants. Helps host get ready to host. Neighbors: Showing up and being present!

12. 1st. Dinner • Welcome • Logistics • Map exercise • Food, fun, good conversation • Assign “homework” for next dinner

13. Prepare for 2nd Dinner • Debrief with Facilitator, Host and Organizer • Do reminder calls • Prepare for dinner (or potluck)

14. 2nd Dinner • Welcome • Review of last dinner • Brainstorming activity • Good discussion about quality of life • Find common ground • If the group wants, decide on an issue to work together to be planed at the third dinner (or they can plan a social activity) • Issue should be very specific • The group can do something to address it • Can be done in a short period of time • The group has, or can identify where to find resources.

15. Consensus Consensus means finding a proposal or solution that everyone is willing to support, even if they don’t agree with it. Consensus is not a unanimous vote “It isn’t exactly what I want but I can live with the decision and support it.”

16. Prepare for 3rd dinner • Debrief with Facilitator, Host, and Organizer • If there is willingness from the group to continue, review issues identified by the group as possible action items • Look for information of resources that may help the group • Do reminder calls • Prepare for dinner or potluck

17. 3rd Dinner • Welcome • Object exercise • Review notes from last dinner • Smaller groups develop an action plan • Groups come back together, present and choose the best option. • Set next steps • Celebrate new friendships and pledge to continue the relationships

18. Q&A