A Guide to NeighborCircles at
Lawrence CommunityWorks
Alma Couverthie, Presenter
Audrey Jordan, Co-presenter
October 26, 2010
GRGM Webinar
Welcome!
Agenda
• NeighborCircles-Overview
• 1st Dinner
• Lunch- Conversation with NeighborCircle
hosts and facilitators
• 2nd Dinner
• 3rd Dinner
• Next Steps
Desired outcomes
Quick Guide to
NeighborCircles
What is a
NeighborCircle?
• 3 dinners where neighbors get to:
– Know each other
– Talk about the quality of life in the
neighborhood, and
– If the group wants, plan a small action or
event that can help make and strengthen new
relationships, while addressing an issue that
the neighbors care about.
What a NeighborCircle
is not
• A neighborhood association/club/crime
watch generator-form follows function
• A project/activity generator
• A strategy to deliver an already set
agenda - NeighborCircles is the process
and participants put the content
Why we do
NeighborCircles?
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To rebuild the fabric of our communities
To connect and support each other
To identify leaders or potential leaders
To make friends
To act together around a common purpose
To have fun!
Who is a
NeighborCircle?
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The Facilitator
The Host
The Neighbors
The Organizer
Getting ready
Organizer:
• Recruits and trains Facilitators and Hosts.
• Secure the necessary equipment.
• Meets with Organizer and Facilitator to set
date and prepare logistics.
Host:
• Invite neighbors.
• Send reminders or do reminder calls.
• Set up the room (with Facilitators help.)
• Prepare light appetizers.
Getting ready (cont)
Facilitator:
• Works with the Organizer to identify and
recruit hosts.
• Work with Host to recruit participants.
• Helps host get ready to host.
Neighbors:
• Showing up and being present!
1st. Dinner
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Welcome
Logistics
Map exercise
Food, fun, good conversation
Assign “homework” for next dinner
Prepare for 2nd Dinner
• Debrief with Facilitator, Host and
Organizer
• Do reminder calls
• Prepare for dinner (or potluck)
2nd Dinner
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Welcome
Review of last dinner
Brainstorming activity
Good discussion about quality of life
Find common ground
If the group wants, decide on an issue to work
together to be planed at the third dinner (or they can
plan a social activity)
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Issue should be very specific
The group can do something to address it
Can be done in a short period of time
The group has, or can identify where to find resources.
Consensus
• Consensus means finding a proposal or
solution that everyone is willing to
support, even if they don’t agree with it.
Consensus is not a unanimous vote
“It isn’t exactly what I want but I can live with
the decision and support it.”
Prepare for 3rd dinner
• Debrief with Facilitator, Host, and Organizer
• If there is willingness from the group to
continue, review issues identified by the
group as possible action items
• Look for information of resources that may
help the group
• Do reminder calls
• Prepare for dinner or potluck
3rd Dinner
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Welcome
Object exercise
Review notes from last dinner
Smaller groups develop an action plan
Groups come back together, present and
choose the best option.
• Set next steps
• Celebrate new friendships and pledge to
continue the relationships
Q&A