Try not to scroll past the current activity. You may get distracted from what is happening in the moment, or spoil a good surprise.
Stretch yourself. A good stretch takes you a little outside your comfort zone but not too far. If this feels like a brave space, try tackling roles you normally would not.
Your only opponent is the clock. The course of the next 90 minutes is up to you. This is a cooperative experience. Try to help your group end on time!
Arrange your chairs in a circle. Make sure that everyone in the circle can see everyone else.
Let's get started.
Note the time that the workshop will end (90 minutes from now). Then pick a volunteer to read the next step. Ready, set, go!🏁
Volunteer: Read this aloud
"We are now co-equal member-owners of this space. Our host is not the boss. Instead, we all share the responsibilities of leadership. Before we dive in, we should try to break the ice and feel more connected. Let's take 5 to 8 minutes for an icebreaker. What is a fun way to do that? I relinquish my role as volunteer."
Icebreaker
Phones down until the ice feels pleasantly broken. Afterwards, a new volunteer should read the reflection prompts from the box below.
New Volunteer
Read only the italicized parts out loud.
"Let's reflect on what just happened and spend a couple minutes on each of these questions. First...
How did the group choose an icebreaker activity? Did it happen quickly? Who in the room seemed to step up and get the activity started?" Pause for discussion.
Second prompt: "Did your group use a round and hear from each person in turn? Why or why not?"
Third prompt: "Is the idea of a student-led classroom a little unsettling? Do you have faith that this will go smoothly? Why or why not?"
After a brief discussion, read the following:
"In this situation, it would be unusual to take a formal vote on how to choose an icebreaker activity. Most groups will, however, instinctively choose to give each member a time to be heard by moving clockwise around the circle. Does everyone remember the difference between a round and open discussion? If not, discuss."
"Does everyone remember the consent voting style and hand signals used in sociocracy? (They are Agree, I can live with it, and strong objection.)"
"Let's elect a time keeper and a facilitatorfor the rest of the workshop. Remember, the facilitator is not a boss. They keep things moving forward and ensure that everyone has a chance to be heard. They should be comfortable with thinking on their feet, and a good listener.
A time keeper's role is to warn the group when time is running short. I relinquish my role as volunteer."
⏰ Time keeper's eyes only!
Congrats, you get a special emoji ⏰ to help you find time keeper reminders. Here are some tips for good time-keeping:
You share information. You don't control the flow of the workshop on your own.
A good rule-of-thumb is to give 2-minute warnings before a timer runs out.
Put your timer away when you are not checking the time. It can be distracting for others nearby.
On to the main course!
🧙 Facilitator's eyes only!
Congrats, you get a special emoji 🧙 to help you find your facilitator notes. Pro tip: don't read too far ahead. Let the instructions guide you one step at a time. Resist perfectionism.
Read the following aloud (instructions to be read aloud will always be italicized):
"There will be moments when I may need to end a discussion and get everyone's attention. To do this, I will raise my hand and wait for everyone to copy my hand signal"
Invent a hand signal.
Well done! Quick thinking. Beautiful. Now read the following and almost immediately stop everyone with your hand signal. 😄
"Let's give everyone who volunteered so far a round of applause."
Invite everyone to read the next expandable box silently and ponder. When they seem ready, start a round of quick reactions. Then make a proposal and facilitate a voting round on which path interests the group most. If there is a strong objection, consider the second most popular path.
Three paths appear before you
We had too many ideas to fit into one workshop. So we made it your problem! We're sorry. But not, like, a lot.
Unfortunately that means your group can only take one path forward. This choice will determine the games you play for the next 40-50 minutes.
Story Bridge: Your group will dig into your own real, lived workplace experiences and the experiences of your clients. After sharing these stories, common themes will emerge and your group will try to uncover the hidden forces behind them. This game is more relaxed and relationship-focused.
Pennybags: Your group will try to solve increasingly difficult challenges together through careful delegation and group decision-making. This game is more frantic and democracy-focused.
Atlas Hugged: Your group will try to create new solutions to systemic problems without excluding important stakeholders. This game is more focused on the big picture.
Scroll down to the path chosen by your group, or tap these links:
Invite everyone to read the instructions below while you read your notes.
Congrats! Your group chose a very play-full path and your role will be very exciting. Here are a few minor things to look out for:
If you have an odd number of people in the group, you should float around the room and observe the first several rounds. This will give you lots of time to listen to others and think of an example to share from your own life during the final round.
The group can get very chatty and carried away, so help the time keeper enforce time limits.
Ensure that stories are strongly connected to the theme.
This game has two parts: The goal of Part 1 is to find a true story that is A) interesting to this group, and B) filled with enough detail that a few actors could act it out.
The goal of Part 2 is to play a game similar to Theater of the Oppressed (TO). Based on the equalizing ideas of educator Paulo Freire, TO empowers an audience to alter a play as it happens on stage.
⏰ Time keeper instructions
The first part of this game is played in several 5-minute rounds. Depending on the number of people in the room, it may last a total of 15-25 minutes.
The second part should be limited to 20-minutes.
Help the facilitator use the hand signal to get everyone's attention as needed.
Pause here until the facilitator is ready to continue.
Part 1: The Story Search
🧙Facilitator: Break the group into pairs, then read the following out loud.
"Tell your partner a true story from your life or from a person you served. The theme of the story should be classism: how people from different social classes are stereotyped, valued, or unfairly impacted by institutions. You each have 2 and a half minutes, for a total of 5 minutes per round. Your time starts now."
🧙Facilitator: After this first round, read the following out loud:
"Each pair should pick the story that has the most detail and would most likely interest the group. Then merge with a nearby pair. The person who listened to the chosen story will share a summary of the story with the new group. Let's start another 5 minute round. Ready, set, go!"
🧙Facilitator: Repeat this process until the group has chosen a single story. If you are the odd person out, listen to the chosen story during the last round and then share your own. Have the group vote on the most interesting story.
Part 2: Theater of the Oppressed
🧙Facilitator: Identify the main characters in the story (usually an oppressor and an oppressed, but other characters may be needed). Ask for volunteers who are not the original person who told the story to act out the story. Have them try an initial "rehearsal" of the scene. Ask the person who shared the story to make suggestions and corrections afterwards.
🧙Facilitator's eyes only!
After the first rehearsal ask the group the following discussion prompt: "Where does power show up in this story? It probably shows up in many ways from many different sources."
After a good discussion, ask: "What would this scene look like if the power was completely different?"
Ask the actors to play through the scene again. But instead of waiting to comment at the end, ask the audience to interrupt the play and make suggestions. Time-permitting, rewind and revise the play as many times as the group desires.
⏰ Wrap up this activity when there are 20 minutes remining in the workshop.
⏰ Time keeper reminder
Wrap up this activity when there are 20 minutes remining in the workshop.
Reflection
🧙Facilitator: Lead the group through these reflection prompts:
What surprised you about the stories you saw and heard?
Was it challenging to imagine a different path for the story that was played out? Why or why not?
What is something you are taking away from this activity?
After the reflection period ends, everyone can scroll to the debrief section.
Prepare a 2-minute timer. Wait for the facilitator to say "Go."
🧙 Facilitator: Follow these instructions
Put a chair in the middle of the circle. This chair is now the chair.
If your room has multiple doors, pick the one with the fewest obstructions near it to be the door.
Give a post-it to everyone in the circle (except yourself) and as you do, have them count off 1-2-3, 1-2-3, and so on until everyone has a number.
Ask the group to read what is inside the box with their assigned number below. After everyone has done this, read the following:
"This is the chair in question. That is the door in question. Without speaking, complete your task as quickly as possible. The time keeper has set a two-minute timer. Ready, set, go!"
As you watch the chaos unfold, do not help the group in any way. If they manage to get all the post-it’s 1) in a circle, 2) on the chair and 3) move the chair next to the door, they win! After 2 minutes are up, read the following:
"You can now speak to each other. Complete your task as quickly as possible. Go."
The group should solve the puzzle quickly. At that point, everyone can return to their chairs
Everyone except the facilitator: Tap on the box below with the number you the facilitator assigned to you.
Do not look inside the other boxes! Do not share your instructions with others.
One
Arrange the post-its in a circle.
Two
Put all the post-its on the chair.
Three
Put all the post-its near the door.
Reflections
Once everyone is seated in the circle, the 🧙facilitator will ask the following questions:
What just happened?
Why did things turn out that way?
How can we relate what just happened to bureaucracy, inequality, and social change?
After a brief discussion, continue to round one.
Part One
🧙Facilitator: ask a volunteer to read the following out loud.
"Imagine a world where communication barriers didn't exist and it was easy to sit at a table with people who are very different from you, each with different motives but an equal vote. In this activity, each of us will pick one of these four roles:
Capitalist Cathy: Cathy needs to feel like her business will remain profitable.
Political Paul: Paul needs to feel that most people approve of his actions and will vote for him.
Neighbor Noah: Noah needs to feel like things are affordable for them and their neighbors.
Environmental Ellen: Ellen needs to feel like society is doing things sustainably.
Silently consider for a moment which role is most outside your comfort zone."
⏰ Time keeper: Get ready
Prepare a 15 minute timer. Start it when everyone breaks into small groups. Remember to give a 2-minute warning.
🧙 Facilitator instructions
Ask everyone to vote with their feet and self-organize into groups of 3 or 4. Join whichever group is smallest, then read the following out loud:
"Your group has 15 minutes to brainstorm a new solution related to climate change. First, make sure everyone in your group has a different role. Then, take a few minutes to share specific problems you might tackle. Here's an example: how can we re-use or re-purpose textiles to reduce the massive environmental impact of the clothing industry? Spend most of your time talking about solutions that can satisfy each different person. You do not need to create a co-op! That would be lovely, but any collaborative solution is just peachy. When you hear the time-keeper's 2 minute warning, prepare to describe your solution in a paragraph or less. If you feel stuck, read the tips for small groups. Ready, set, go."
Tips for the small groups:
Don't let your role stifle the brainstorming period, but feel free to strongly object during the final vote if your role is not satisfied.
Pick a narrow focus (Here are some key terms to get the juices flowing: transportation, pollution, climate inaction, renewables, reduce-reuse-recycle.)
Brainstorm many ideas, but vote on a solution that brings your best ideas together.
Part Two
⏰ Time keeper: Get ready
Prepare a 10-minute timer. Start it when the groups have merged.
Each Group: Read this
Just like the real world, many different groups have been solving different problems at the same time.
Prepare to merge with another group. You will have 10 minutes to brainstorm ways to combine your ideas. Your combined idea can be very different from your original ideas. You must still satisfy the desires of all the different stakeholders. Your combined idea might be shared on the Let's Play Co-op website alongside other workshop groups from across the country.
Ready, set, go!
After the activity, return your chairs to the big circle.
Reflection
⏰ Most groups have ~20 minutes remaining in the workshop at this point.
Once everyone is seated in the circle, the 🧙facilitator will ask the following questions:
Which role was the hardest to satisfy and why?
Did your groups create top-down solutions or bottom-up solutions? What was your reasoning?
These conversations often happen in elite circles. Do you think a group of average people can solve big problems themselves? What support would they need?
Debrief
🧙Facilitator: ask a volunteer to read the following out loud.
"Some of the forces that get in the way of democratizing our daily needs include:
Colonizing attitudes: When powerful groups encourage others to become dependent on them for their survival.
Alienation: The slow, persistent trends stopping us from spending more time with others.
Utopianism: When compulsive expectations of world-wide perfection get most of our attention, often at the expense of workable, often hyper-local solutions.
Our check-out question for today is: has this experience changed how you think about your professional role in your community? If so, how?"
🧙Facilitator instructions
After a thorough discussion, read the following:
"One goal of this workshop is to build a peer learning community of helping professionals including social workers, attorneys, and other civil servants. Anyone can join our Discord chat using the link at the bottom of the page.
Join to ask a quick question, or get help with a co-op project, or to share an idea for joining academic disciplines like economics and sociology together to promote cooperative research and education.
Check out the links provided in the pre-work to learn more on your own. But remember that learning is usually more fun together."
Pause for questions, then ask the group: "Based on the amount of time we have remaining, how could we ceremoniously end this gathering? I hereby relinquish my role as facilitator."
You're done!🎉 Your group has learned co-op 101 while practicing self-determination and peer support!
