RootSkills offers a choice between two daylong workshop tracks. We work with highly skilled workshop facilitators who understand the specific challenges of volunteer community groups and tailor their content to the grassroots. Each workshop track is designed to be very interactive and allows for a lot of peer-to-peer sharing among participants. The goal with each of these workshop tracks is for participants to come away with practical tools and ideas that are easy to adopt and use in our work right away.
We ask that participants stick with their track as information and exercises build on each other throughout the day. We encourage multiple people from one group to attend RootSkills so that each can attend a different track. You can indicate your first and second choice track during registration and we do our best to match your preference, though each track is limited to a maximum number of participants as there is a lot of interactivity.
Workshop Track 1: Leadership Skills for Networked Work
Workshop facilitator: Beth Tener, principal of New Directions Collaborative, works with leaders in local energy, local food, education, & community development to build skills in working collaboratively to catalyze change.
Many people sense the potential of working in networked ways to achieve greater impact and resilience, yet working in a network is different than working in an organization. It calls for different leadership approaches and skills, focused more on enabling people to self-organize and connect, find common purpose, and cultivate emergent ideas and outcomes. This workshop will build participants leadership skills and capacities to work in networked ways and to create and strengthen network initiatives. We will explore:
What does it mean to lead with a network mindset, e.g., in convening, connecting people, and creating strategy?
- How can our network find shared purpose and generate the value that keeps people engaged and contributing?
- How can we convene meetings in ways that strengthen networks and create positive results on multiple levels?
- What are keystone habits to create a culture that supports a thriving collaborative network?
The format will be participatory and offer a chance to try some of the techniques for convening networks, as well as offering opportunities to discuss and share experiences and learning with peers. Participants will also learn about network mapping tools that support people in “seeing the system” and mapping relationships.
Those serving in a leadership/coordinating role in networks or other collaborative initiatives are encouraged to attend.
Workshop Track 2: A Crash Course in Effective Communications & Relationship-Building
Workshop facilitators: Laura Simões, partner at Louis Karno & Co. Communications, and of counsel at Jackson, Jackson and Wagner, has been building and executing strategic communication and advocacy plans for more than 15 years. Her clients are champions of affordable healthcare, community economic development, clean energy and conservation, safe housing and philanthropy. Together they stay focused on behavior change and best outcomes.
Communicating about your cause in a way that motivates others to join you takes more than simple sharing of facts and enthusiasm. It takes being able to identify those who have an underlying readiness to share your passion and communicating your issue in a way that cuts through the clutter surrounding their lives. Good communication is both and art and a science that a grassroots organizer must master to be successful.
In this interactive session, “A Crash Course in Effective Communications & Relationship-Building”, participants will learn:
• How to apply communication and behavior change theory to the task of rallying support for their cause
• The strategic use of communication tools and techniques – on a shoestring budget
• How to cultivate an opinion leader network that advocates for key issues
• How to craft and deliver key messages that motivate
• Research basics that help participants understand their target audiences
• The elements of a communication plan, including how to measure success
Participants will be asked to answer a pre-session survey, complete pre-reading and should come prepared to participate in role play and small group work.