Plan Your Own Solidarity Session
What is an action session?
Solidarity Action sessions are designed to mobilize teammates to take a specific set of direct actions in support of a specific cause or multiple causes. Actions typically include, but are not limited to, calling and emailing elected officials, signing petitions, joining upcoming events, becoming engaged in your local community, and making donations.
This format is designed to create a safe space for everyone involved, and a venue for taking meaningful actions to support causes.
Facilitate a Session
Here is a sample agenda of how a session could go:
2 minutes: Introduction, what is an Action Session, welcome
3 minutes: Intentional exercise (TBD - sign a petition together, watch a video, ask for reflections on the pre-read?)
20 minutes: Async time to sign petitions, call/email elected officials, donate to organizations, or read educational resources
It's recommended that you share your video audio and play a playlist during async time - here are some past playlists we've used (remove explicit songs):
5 minutes: Debrief - prepare some reflection questions
What is a solidarity learning session?
Solidarity Learning sessions are for individual reflection within a small group setting, focused on pondering important questions related to a specific topic. This format is designed to create a safe space for everyone involved, and a venue for reflection, introspection, learning from one another, and building empathy.
Facilitate a Session
If you'll be using Zoom Breakout Rooms for the first time, we highly recommend reviewing this overview and testing it out before the session.
You should plan to have at least 1 small group facilitator for every 8 attendees to ensure we maintain small group sizes. Keep an eye on RSVPs, and recruit facilitators as needed.
Using a deck for your session is optional but recommended, so that you can give a brief introduction to the topic, the session format, and expectations for small group discussions.