Get people involved!
While delivering 175+ projects this way, we also wrote 12 engagement and facilitation guidebooks (up to 125 pgs).
Another area of strength is involving often underserved/marginalized people and their perspectives in projects whenever possible. Supporting values-based processes with/for indigenous people is among our most compelling areas of practice.
Having coordinated three major university-based engagement and facilitation programs, our work draws on relevant applied theory. We maintain an extensive digital library, supporting our Dialiogic Facilitation approach, drawn from 20 years of consulting and activism.
Committed to capacity building, we share knowledge in projects, courses, workshops, & free publications. See below.
Original resources:
1. Poster for Open Space Technology, co-created by Avril Orloff (artwork), Vince Verlaan, Myriam Laberge, & Brenda Chaddock.
https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:931ebd4a-6039-4f85-b793-6fe52d2402f9
2. Thinkpiece: The Engage For 2030 Eight-Level Model for Transformative Change
3. Project Summary & Insights: The Speak, Listen & Learn Process for the District of Squamish
https://engagefor2030.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Squamish-LNG-case-study-Modus-Verlaan.pdf
4. Digital Engagement Toolkit (created with the MODUS Engagement Team)
https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:6bc4a82c-16c7-49d6-8819-7cc4c169613b
Recently shared resources:
Liberating Structures methods
https://www.liberatingstructures.com/
Art of Hosting methods
https://artofhosting.org/what-is-aoh/methods/
Session Lab library of facilitation methods
https://www.sessionlab.com/library
Digital Facilitation overview
https://www.workshopper.com/post/digital-facilitation-tools-for-online-workshops-and-meetings
Dialogue for Capacity Development
https://reospartners.com/resource-library/dialogue-capacity-development
BC Guide on Building Aboriginal Relations Capacity
https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:14a1cfce-b86f-4bb5-8d40-378f4fec7fa5
International Association for Facilitation (IAF) methods library
https://www.iaf-world.org/site/pages/methods-library
National Charrette Institute – Tools for Collaborative Design and Placemaking
https://www.canr.msu.edu/nci/resources/
Frameworks for Complex Systems Change
https://www.sfu.ca/complex-systems-frameworks.html
Beth Kanter facilitation resources:
https://bethkanter.org/resources/
Chris Corrigan facilitation resources:
https://www.chriscorrigan.com/parkinglot/facilitation-resources/
Resources shared earlier:
For 20 years we have been part of the Art of Hosting (AoH) movement & network, & part of the International Association for Public Participation (IAP2). We are members of the Africa chapter of the International Association of Facilitators (IAF). To access their resources:
https://www.iaf-world.org/site/
https://artofhosting.org/
https://www.iap2.org/mpage/Home
An overview of climate change in BC & the implications for all of us. What does the reality of the “climate emergency” mean to you? We see it here/now, so let’s plan & act accordingly.
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-canadas-climate-reckoning-is-upon-is-the-costs-of-ignoring-the/
Much of BC burned from a “heat-dome” effect in 2021; devastating rain & flooding later cut Vancouver & region off from the rest of the Canada for weeks. Radical rethinking on clomate is needed.
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-these-bc-storms-are-not-the-new-normal-we-cant-even-see-that-from-here/
Mayors from around the world were recently awarded a major prize for taking action locally on climate & sustainability.
https://www.globalcovenantofmayors.org/press/gulbenkian-prize-for-humanity-awarded-to-the-global-covenant-of-mayors-for-climate-energy/
Podcast “Climate Curious: Why fossil fuels are the new weapons of mass destruction” with Tzeporah Berman.
https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/climate-curious/why-fossil-fuels-are-the-new-XoU4uKLNvpS/
A wildly popular, free online course on Indigneous History and Culture in Canada. Promoted by Dan Levy of Schitt’s Creek. Offered by the University of Alberta. https://www.coursera.org/learn/indigenous-canada
A solutions-focused book from Paul Hawken, author of The Ecology of Commerce & founder of Project Drawdown (laying out the top 100 solutions for the climate crisis). Amazing resource. https://paulhawken.com/
An important initiative in Canada to begin dealing with indigenous reconciliation & residential schools.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/first-national-truth-reconciliation-day-1.6188540?fbclid=IwAR3ONOJWj9s3DGB3PmALpKphcInNCVABKZBouQOyw2MXpHLouah5xjPWGu4
How it became the world’s most trusting country – and why that matters
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/article/2024/may/22/the-denmark-secret-how-it-became-the-worlds-most-trusting-country-and-why-that-matters?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other
Testimonials
In three critical projects, you worked closely with us to greatly enhance collaboration and relationships. These efforts started with our executive team, broadened to include our leadership team, and finally involved our entire organization. You did a wonderful job of collecting sensitive information thoughtfully while still ensuring that input had an impact. As a final step in each contract, you helped us develop action steps to address critical issues. We thank you and strongly recommend these services to organizations navigating similar conflicts or challenges.
Stephanie Hallett, People &Culture Manager, Credit Counselling SocietyThank you for the excellent approach and facilitation work on our recent “user/resident conflict” over recreation courts. The thoughtful interventions with us and the concerned parties calmed things down and generated a path forward better than would have occurred otherwise. You presented a great tone, calm demeanour, creative ideas, were cost-effective, and helped us handle a sensitive situation at a very busy time…all of which was much appreciated. Getting thanks from the participants at the end of the process was doubly satisfying!
Gary Buxton, Community Planner, District of Squamish, BC, Canada