Partnering with Existing Groups to Hold Conversations
There are a lot of advantages to using existing groups and institutions
to conduct your conversation project. Organizations in your community
often have the experience and structure to handle the many details
involved. Also, they offer a built-in audience, and an established
network for getting the word out and attracting even more people.
The range of potential groups is vast. Several possibilities
are noted below. It may be particularly fruitful to partner with
two or more organizations or institutions, representing people
with different interests or backgrounds. This will ensure the
range of opinions, insights and points of view that will produce
a rich discussion.
Consider involving the following:
- advocacy groups;
- book clubs;
- colleges and universities;
- employers;
- ethnic clubs;
- farm, business, and professional associations;
- law firms;
- libraries;
- neighborhood groups;
- newcomers clubs;
- PTAs;
- religious groups;
- service organizations;
- social clubs;
- unions; and
- youth and community centers.
Among the many benefits of holding your conversations with support
from these existing programs are:
- Ready-made programs. A community group may have an existing
program that is just right for your conversation. Many libraries
sponsor regular discussion groups, for example.
- Help with publicity. Most organizations have newsletters and
other ways of staying in touch with members. Many have websites.
Many have established relationships with media outlets, and
people on staff who can help with press releases, media alerts,
and the like.
- Help with logistics. Community groups may have access to convenient
meeting spaces that they could make available for your conversations
free of charge. They may have video and audio equipment, in
case you want to tape the proceedings to make them available
to a wider audience.
- Help with venues. Local high schools, colleges, universities,
libraries, and museums might provide you with a place for your
conversation.
- Help with discussion leaders and experts: the local schools
and institutions listed above might help you find teachers,
curators, or other people for your discussion leaders and experts.
They might also be able to find readings, books or objects of
interest to enrich the conversation.
- Help with funding and other support. Your conversation program
need not cost much, but there may be expenses. You might seek
funding or other support—such as for printing announcements—from
local businesses, radio and TV stations, newspapers, organizations,
and philanthropic foundations.
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