{"id":3718,"date":"2012-10-27T14:25:33","date_gmt":"2012-10-27T22:25:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/chriscorrigan.com\/parkinglot\/?p=3718"},"modified":"2012-10-27T14:25:33","modified_gmt":"2012-10-27T22:25:33","slug":"practice-notes-cafes-for-taking-a-conference-to-action","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.chriscorrigan.com\/parkinglot\/practice-notes-cafes-for-taking-a-conference-to-action\/","title":{"rendered":"Practice Notes: Cafes for taking a conference to action"},"content":{"rendered":"

This week I was hosting at a moderately sized conference in Victoria BC with 100 regional public sector union members. \u00a0The purpose of the gathering was to increase the number of active members and to inspire members to engage and improve local communities. \u00a0These union members all work in the public service and so they have a close ear to the ground on the issues facing communities from homelessness to addictions to environmental degradation to service levels in health and education. \u00a0Many of them took public service jobs in the first place because they are caring and committed people, intent on making a better world, especially for the most vulnerable.<\/p>\n

This is the fourth year we have done this conference, and the structure has remained pretty much the same over the past four years. \u00a0The first evening there is a keynote from the union president (who then stays and participates through the whole two days) and a special speaker, in this case a well-known progressive lawyer who is currently running for office in a local federal by-election. That is usually followed by a plenary panel, which this year featured some provincial politicians from the labour movement and the current legislature and a journalist.<\/p>\n

Day two begins with morning workshops on community organizing. \u00a0in the afternoon we begin with a World Cafe. \u00a0This year we took the Cafe through the following flow:<\/p>\n