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Crossing Lines: Anti-Oppression Dialogue Facilitation (Virtual)

In our polarized world, how can we use facilitated dialogue to increase equity and support people in working through difference? How can we use virtual facilitation to connect us across physical distancing?

Please read below for information about our sliding-scale prices before purchasing tickets. REGISTER HERE BEFORE SEPT. 14th!

In this interactive virtual* workshop, we’ll explore and practice techniques for facilitating dialogue (in both virtual and in-person settings) that promotes social justice.  

Workshop Overview: Dialogue goes far beyond just talking; this workshop will incorporate awareness of power dynamics and positionality, especially when connecting people (virtually or in-person!) from different political, cultural, national, linguistic or other backgrounds. Using case studies and discussions, we will examine the role of identity, approaches to conflict, and ways to facilitate anti-oppression dialogue. Our approach aims to move beyond “just talking,” to concrete behavior change and actions for social justice.

You will leave this workshop with a more nuanced understanding of:

  • The varied roles and responsibilities a facilitator holds during dialogue

  • How bias, identity, privilege, and power impact group dynamics

  • Techniques to make space for challenging conversations, disrupt power dynamics that reinforce historic oppression, and move people from talking to action around social justice issues

Who should participate? Whether you facilitate dialogue in formal settings, are looking to strengthen your virtual facilitation practice, or are seeking ways to connect with others from different backgrounds, this workshop will expand your toolkit with techniques and skills to engage people meaningfully with an anti-oppression lens. This is the ideal workshop for anyone who engages people from diverse backgrounds in their work, either in intentional facilitated dialogue, or more informal spaces of connection and collaboration.

Ongoing Support and Accountability: After our workshops, we provide ongoing support to participants over several months, to help with your continued planning or implementation of ideas, including tangible goal-setting and accountability checks.

*What does this virtual workshop look like? The virtual workshop will take place online, using Zoom and Google Documents (and breaks !) To participate you will need:

    • a (free) Zoom account

    • computer with an Internet connection, microphone, and video camera

    • the ability to access Google Docs throughout the workshop.

Please reach out if you have any questions about technology needs or if you’d like to schedule a quick test call with us before the workshop to make sure you’re all set up.

What have past participants said?

"[Crossing Lines] was easily the most thought provoking workshop that I have attended in years." — Rowan Powell, Training Specialist, On Our Own of Maryland, Inc

"This was a great workshop! It helped me to understand different ways to create more inclusive and diverse environments” — Maria McQuade, Program Associate, Tanenbaum Center for Interreligious Understanding

"These are life skills adaptive to a tremendous range of applications. This workshops is an opportunity for coalition building. Excellent and urgent work.” — Angela Kariotis, Seton Hall University

Who we are: Seachange Collective is a women-led training collective that supports groups committed to social, racial, gender, and economic justice. Our collective draws on our combined decades of expertise in the non-profit and social change sectors, including work in community organizing, education, policy and advocacy, case management, research, mediation, professional development, grant and individual giving. As facilitators, we are highly participatory, drawing on participants’ own expertise, real-life case studies, and a mix of theory and practice. We are experienced in dealing with a range of needs, creation of spaces for difficult conversations, and incorporation of trauma-informed practice.

Pricing: We run our workshops on a sliding-scale model, to ensure we remain accessible for organizers, non-profit staff, and public servants across a spectrum of roles and budgets.

  • Community Rate $25: A limited number of spots are available at this discounted rate for students or individuals who are currently without steady income.

  • Subsidized Rate $75: For those who are self-employed or employed at smaller organizations and do not have access to professional development funds.

  • Standard Rate $150: For those with the capacity to pay the full rate, especially individuals who are employed in organizations that will cover full or partial costs of registration.

  • Solidarity Rate $300: For those employed in organizations with an annual budget over 10 million that will cover the rate, or individuals with access to intergenerational wealth, this rate allows us to offer more scholarships and subsidized participation rates.

Please contact info@seachangecollective.org if you are unsure of which rate is right for you, if you need an invoice, and/or if you prefer to pay by check (without the processing fees).

REGISTER HERE BY SEPT. 14th

Please note that space is limited to ensure an interactive learning community!