My Role in Creating Change
Kate
MikeGoal
This activity is designed to engage learners in a dynamic discussion to identify the roles they resonate with most in creating change in their communities. Through dot voting, participants will collectively discover their shared interests and discuss the significance of roles in social change.
Attachments
Materials
Instructions
Setting Up (5 minutes):
Write down the ten social change roles (page 4 in the attached Social Change Ecosystems Map) on a whiteboard, flip chart or prepare a shared digital whiteboard where participants can see the roles clearly.
Distributing Dots (5 minutes):
Distribute a set number of dots (e.g., three dots per participant) to each learner. If it's a virtual session, participants can use digital stickers or a similar feature to place their votes.
Review the roles and their descriptions with learners (page 4). If possible, provide them with their own handout.
Descriptions are listed in Appendix A as well.
Voting (10 minutes):
Instruct participants to place their dots next to the roles they feel most connected to or passionate about. They can choose to put all three dots on one role or distribute them among multiple roles based on how they resonate with them.
Discussion (15 minutes):
After everyone has voted, gather the group for a discussion.
Begin by identifying the roles that received the most votes.
Discuss why these roles resonate with the participants and how they relate to the group's collective interests.
What made them choose certain roles – is it based on their own prior experiences, roles they’ve seen loved ones/family take on, qualities they believe they have?
Invite the group to look at the roles that have the most votes. What makes those roles more popular choices?
Help the group explore the roles that weren’t chosen as much. Encourage participants to share their reasons for choosing roles that received fewer votes. These unique perspectives may uncover hidden talents or unexplored potential within the group.
Wrap-Up (5 minutes):
Summarize the key takeaways from the discussion, emphasizing the importance of recognizing the diverse roles in social change efforts and why all of the roles are important for communities.
Background
Preparation
Prepare a board, whiteboard, or a shared digital space with the ten roles listed clearly.
Ensure you have a sufficient number of dots (or digital stickers) for each participant.
Familiarize yourself with the ten roles and their descriptions.
It is recommended that you complete the “10 Roles” with learners before doing this activity.
Technology Considerations
For virtual sessions, use digital tools that allow participants to place virtual stickers or dots.
Additional Context
This activity is a quick and effective way to engage participants in reflecting on their preferred roles in social change efforts.
It can be used as an icebreaker or a deeper discussion activity depending on the context of your session.
It is also an activity that can be revisited at different times, as learners continue to grow and explore their entrepreneurial identities.
Tips for Localization
When reviewing the roles, use local examples to make the roles more relatable to participants. It’s recommended that any roles you present as examples are also confirmed by the people you are presenting, to ensure they resonate with the role(s) you’ve assigned to them, or to allow them the opportunity to share with you what role(s) they believe they take on, in advance .
Debrief Questions
What were the roles that received the most votes, and why do you think they resonated with the group?
How do your individual choices relate to the collective interests and strengths of the group?
What happens if a community is dominated by only 1-2 role types?
Did you discover any unique perspectives or talents within the group when discussing less popular roles?
Have you personally experienced a situation where multiple roles were crucial in addressing a specific social issue? What did that experience teach you about the interconnectedness of these roles?
Think of an example when you’ve had to take on one of these roles. How did you navigate which role to take on?
What tools or resources do you think could support people in finding a healthy balance and avoiding burnout when juggling multiple roles?
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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