10 Roles
Kate
MikeGoal
Attachments
Materials
Instructions
Introduction (15 minutes):
Start by introducing the Building Movement Project's social change framework and the ten roles: guides, weavers, experimenters, frontline responders, visionaries, builders, caregivers, disrupters, healers, and storytellers.
Provide brief descriptions of each role. Descriptions of each role can be found on page 4 of the attached document titled What’s Your Social Change Role?
Additional information about each role can be found in the 10 Social Change Roles Explained mini-guide on Instagram.
Answer any questions learners might have about the roles.
Option: If reviewing the 10 roles is too ambitious, select 4-6 key roles to start.
Role Exploration (20 minutes):
Divide participants into small groups or pairs, depending on the size of the group.
Assign each group one of the ten roles.
Instruct participants to discuss and brainstorm how a person or organization might embody this role in a social change effort. Encourage them to think about real-life examples or even hypothetical scenarios.
Does a particular person or group come to mind when you read about this role? What does that person/group do?
How do they connect with the community to understand its needs and strengths? How do they talk to the people in the community?
What specific things have they done to solve community problems or challenges?
What qualities would someone have to have in order to be that role?
Give each group a large sheet of paper or a digital whiteboard if the activity is virtual. Ask them to illustrate or write down their ideas.
Option: Provide learners with a case study they could use to consider the social change roles – for example, a local person that most of the participants know, one of the SMEs featured in the curriculum videos, or a guest speaker who has been featured in one of the sessions already.
Role Rotation (15 minutes):
After a set time (e.g., 15 minutes), have groups rotate to the next role, passing their ideas to the next group.
Instruct the new group to build upon the previous group's work or to come up with new ideas for how they see that role being used to create change.
The Role Rotation stage can repeat as many times as needed, or as time allows.
Sharing and Discussion (15 minutes):
Bring all groups together for a plenary session.
Ask each group to present the role they explored at the beginning, and share the ideas they came up with.
Invite others to share what they added to that role during the role rotation stage.
Encourage participants to ask questions and discuss the different roles, their importance, and how they can complement one another in social change efforts.
Reflection and Debrief (10 minutes):
Lead a brief discussion on the lessons learned and insights gained during the activity.
Share a personal story that relates to one of the roles
Ask participants to reflect on which roles they personally resonate with and how they might apply these roles in their own social change work.
Background
Preparation:
Familiarize yourself with the Building Movement Project's social change framework and the descriptions of the ten roles.
Prepare sheets of paper, markers, and any additional materials needed for the activity.
Create small groups or pairs in advance if necessary.
Technology Considerations:
For in-person implementation, ensure you have physical materials like paper and markers.
In a virtual setting, use video conferencing platforms with breakout room features and virtual whiteboards if available.
Additional Context:
This activity is versatile and can be adapted for various group sizes and settings, such as workshops, team meetings, or community events.
Encourage participants to think creatively and expansively about each role.
Tips for Localization:
Tailor the discussion to focus on local or specific social change issues relevant to your group's context.
Use local examples and case studies to make the roles more relatable.
Profile SMEs, local leaders or community members who could be connected to each role.
Debrief Questions:
Which role resonated with you the most, and why?
How can these roles work together to create more effective and holistic social change efforts?
Did this activity change your perspective on how different people and organizations contribute to social change?
Can you identify a real-life situation where these roles are present or missing in your community's social change efforts?
How can you apply the insights from this activity to your own social change work or community involvement?
Appendix A: Summary Characteristics of the Roles
Weavers: I see the through-lines of connectivity between people, places, organizations, ideas, and movements.
Experimenters: I innovate, pioneer, and invent. I take risks and course-correct as needed.
Frontline Responders: I address community crises by marshaling and organizing resources,
networks, and messages.
Visionaries: I imagine and generate our boldest possibilities, hopes and dreams, and remind us
of our direction.
Builders: I develop, organize, and implement ideas, practices, people, and resources in service of a collective vision.
Caregivers: I nurture and nourish the people around me by creating and sustaining a community of care, joy, and connection.
Disruptors: I take uncomfortable and risky actions to shake up the status quo, to raise awareness, and to build power.
Healers: I recognize and tend to the generational and current traumas caused by oppressive
systems, institutions, policies, and practices.
Storytellers: I craft and share our community stories, cultures, experiences, histories, and
possibilities through art, music, media, and movement.
Guides: I teach, counsel, and advise, using my gifts of well-earned discernment and wisdom.
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