2013-10-16_packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

Conversation agenda: This is the complete conversation agenda. For groups with limited time, at least complete the steps highlighted in the text boxes. 1. Icebreaker: What's in a Name? (15 min) Objective: To allow participants to get to know each other better. Instructions: This is a good activity to do while people arrive, sign in, get food, and start eating. Make sure everyone has name tags and that all the tables have at least one copy of the "What's in a Name ?" questions. Ask participants to share the story behind their name with their group. They can use the following questions on the handout as prompts: o Where does your name come from? o Do you like your name? Why or why not? o Do you know the meaning of your name? o How did you get your name? o What nicknames have people given to you? o Does your name hide or show your heritage? 2. Introduction /Context: Introduce the One Voice Minnesota Monitoring Project and explain the agenda for the evening. Make sure participants know that whatever is discussed at the event will be used anonymously. No one's name or other identifying information will be connected with the information gathered during the conversation. Answer any questions the participants have about what will happen. (5 min) 3. Large Group Brainstorm: What does a welcoming community mean to you? (in other words, What things should we be measuring to decide if Minnesota is a welcoming state ?) (5 -10 min) Objective: To start the conversation and identify areas to discuss in the small groups. Instructions: The moderator will ask the question "What does a welcoming community mean to you ?" and write down the group's responses on a piece of flip chart paper or a white board. Try to get as many different kinds of answers as you can. Some people will focus on interpersonal factors (a smile, saying "hello "), while others will focus structural factors (laws that discriminate against immigrants, inequality in funding for minority or poor neighborhoods), and others will look to cultural or societal factors (racism, ignorance of other cultures). All of these are important for the discussion. After people have discussed the question, ask them to pull out their abbreviated UDHRs. Have people connect the elements of a welcoming community with the human rights they see in the Declaration, and write down their answers on the flip chart in a different color. Point out that one way we can create welcoming communities is to ensure that everyone's human rights are respected and fulfilled.