Info about Sunday, Jan 8th: PLEASE READ
Hello !
What started out as an idea to have about 15 people meet in my living room to sip tea and talk —deeply — about the world we now find ourselves in, has turned into a real live EVENT.
The reason for this is because of you.
I have heard this over and over again:
“I saw the list of everyone who was going to be there, and I knew I had to be there too.”
So thank you.
It’s because of you that this is becoming “the thing to do” on Sunday, Jan 8th.
There is a lot I need to cover, so PLEASE READ THIS ENTIRE EMAIL,
Top to Bottom:
Here goes:
1. We will meet at 4:30pm at Nevei Kodesh: 1925 Glenwood Drive on Sunday, Jan 8th
Email me to confirm you will be there: joanna@joannaanadtheagitators.com
2. You are getting this email because you have signed on to be a “facilitator” for this event.
You have been invited to be a “facilitator” because you are an:
Activist
Artist
Community and/or Religious Leader
Elected Official
Scientist
All of the above.
I am working under the assumption that you are committed to creating a world where everyone has the opportunity to be safe, healthy, and free, and that you are dedicated to keeping our community thriving, growing, and flourishing in the wake of this most recent election.
This is the list of you all, as of today, Dec. 31st at 1pm:
Farah Afzal, The Islamic Center of Boulder
Elena P. Aranda, Directora del Programa Compañeras
Amy Kopkin Atkins, New Vista High School, Service Learning
Rabbi Sarah Bracha Gershuny, Nevei Kodesh
Mike Butler, Chief of Police/Fire/Safety in Longmont
Rabbi Tirzah Firestone, Founding Rabbi, Nevei Kodesh
Stan Garnett, District Attorney for Boulder County
Lauren Gifford, Human Relations Commissioner, City of Boulder
Rabbis Victor and Nadya Gross, Pardes Levavot
Marda Kirn, Founding Director of EcoArts Connections
Charlotte LaSasso, Executive Director at Boulder County Arts Alliance
Rusty Low, Climate Scientist
Nikhil Mankekar, Musician and Human Relations Commissioner
Andrew Marcus, Dancer and Visual Artist: The Disappearance Project
Bob Norris, Immigration Justice Task Force
Joe Pelle, Boulder County Sheriff
Jennifer Rose, Executive Director of PSN-Boulder
Kalee Salazar, Native American Rights Foundation.
Ann Scaritt, Director, Leadership Residential Program at CU
Shirly White, Human Relations Commissioner, City of Boulder
Kirsten Wilson, Artistic Director of Motus Theater
Mary Young, City Council Member and Director of the One Action: Arts + Immigration project
Jeff Zayach, Director of Boulder County Health
There are still some people I am waiting to hear from, so it is possible this list will get a little bit bigger by the time we meet on Sunday, January 8th.
If there is someone who should be on this list that has not been included, please let me know so I can get in contact with them ASAP.
3. Many of you have asked about what the objectives are for this event.
They are quite simple, and are as follows:
To be in conversation with people we don’t know.
To share, connect, and learn from one another.
To slow down and listen.
My hope is that those who attend this event will:
Be excited to take action in a way that activates their strengths and talents.
Consider new and innovative ways to look at and approach civic engagement.
Begin to perceive the world through a slightly different lens by listening and taking in another’s experience.
The original idea for this event was to have all of the “community leaders” bring their various experiences and perspectives to the conversations they are being asked to lead.
For example, a climate scientist will approach her group differently than a Rabbi, and the District Attorney will have a slightly different sort of conversation with his group than a choreographer will, and so on and so on.
What all these individual groups come up with — the insights they discover, the new perspectives on how to move forward — that’s where the juice is.
4. This is how it’s going to go:
4:30pm:
Facilitators (that’s you!!) meet in the Sanctuary at Nevei Kodesh to introduce yourselves and to ask any last minute questions.
4:45pm:
Everyone else starts arriving.
4:45-5:00pm:
Everyone mingles, drinks tea, says hello.
5:00pm:
Quick intro by me so everyone knows what’s going on and how the evening will be run.
5:15pm:
Small group discussions begin:
You will be assigned a group of about 8-10 people, depending on how many people show up.
This is your discussion group that you will be with for the next hour. When people arrive, they will be given a number. You will also be given a number. If their number matches your number, they are in your group that you will be facilitating.
I have said the word “facilitator”, but in some ways that is too strong of a word.
All I am asking is that you are present with your group. That you listen. That you gently make sure each person in your group is seen and has a chance to speak, if they wish.
You are holding the space so that a conversation organically unfolds among the 10 or so people in your group.
You are part of this group, which means you get to share too, however you want, and only if you wish.
It is really important to me that you come to this gathering as a human being first — job titles and roles second (maybe even third…or fourth).
Everyone in the group is an equal. You are there to be yourself, to listen, and to share.
There are 3 questions that you will present to your group:
1. What brought you to this gathering?
2. What are you hopes and fears for the next 4 years?
3. What strengths/gifts/talents do you have that you could activate in response to the election, and do you want to activate those strengths/gifts/talents?
(Me and my crew will make cards for you with these questions on them so you don’t have to remember the questions. You’ll have them with you on Jan 8th. The questions may change slightly between now and then, just so know).
Each conversation will be different.
Some will be more awkward then others, possibly even strained at some points, while others will flow quite easily, and the hour will fly by.
Both are good.
If you can stay curious and open about what is transpiring, those in your group will feel permission to do the same.
If there are uncomfortable pauses, then there are uncomfortable pauses.
You don’t have to fix that.
Wait and see what comes out of that pause…usually that’s where the gems are.
Let your conversation be whatever it is, and stay curious.
6:10pm:
I will give a 5 minute warning to start wrapping up the conversation.
6:15pm:
Conversation ends.
6:15pm-6:30pm:
Each person, including you, is given an index card, and is asked to write down their answer to the following question:
“What’s important to us as a community?”
They (and you) may choose to write their (your) name and email on the card, but nobody has to do that if they don't want to.
Cards are collected in a hat.
The hat is then passed around and everyone pulls out someone else's card.
Each person now has someone else's longing and hope that they get to hold onto and keep.
The idea for listing a name and email on the card is so that if people want to be in contact with the person whose card they have, then they can do that.
Maybe a conversation between two people begins about what we value, as a community.
Obviously we don’t know if that will happen, but the opportunity is there if someone wants to take it.
6:30pm-6:45pm:
I’ll close our circle and the event will officially be over.
6:45pm-7:30pm:
The space is reserved, so if people want to continue to chat and hang out after the official ending, we can do that.
NOTE: This is an outline of what is going to happen, and it may change slightly, especially the timing of things.
5. To Do’s:
Email me to confirm you will be at Nevei Kodesh, 1925 Glenwood Drive, on Sunday, Jan 8th at 4:30pm.
If you would like your name and “title” changed in anyway, please let me know.
If you have any concerns or questions between now and Sunday, you are free to email me as well.
That’s it!
You made it through.
Yay.
I’ll see you on Sunday, Jan 8th at 4:30pm at Nevei Kodesh,
1925 Glenwood Drive in Boulder.
Happy New Year!
With Warmth,
Joanna
303-413-8002