Cohorts
- Scripts for speaking up when someone says/does something discriminatory
- Developing strategies for long term social change
- Finding people who will listen to feel less alone
- Rigorous discussions about issues of the day with people who are willing to take positions and argue for and against them
- Finding people to recharge and to find the strength to fight another day
- Managing conflict without people getting hurt
- Developing ideas to make classrooms/dorms/public spaces on campus more equitable
Agenda for Initial Cohort Meeting
Wednesday 31 March
5:45-6:15 pm
Goals of this session:
- Cohort introductions
- Assign roles
- Make a date, time, and zoom address for your next meeting
- Decide what you are going to read/watch for your next meeting
1) Cohort Introductions
The person whose displayed first name comes LAST in the alphabet will start and you will go in reverse alphabetical order by first name. Each person should answer these questions:
- The name you preferred to be called
- The pronouns you use (if you are ready to declare them)
- Your role in the school (e.g. student, staff, faculty, alum, etc.) and if relevant, what departments/majors you are in
- What are you most interested in getting out of this summit?
2) Assign Roles
- Zoom host
- Facilitator 1
- Facilitator 2
- Chat Monitor 1
- Chat Monitor 2
- Notetaker 1
- Notetaker 2
- Reporter 1
- Reporter 2
Zoom host: this is the person who agrees to host the cohort meetings.
Facilitator: this person is the keeper of the agenda and person who asks questions that keep the conversation moving. This is a good role for someone who feels comfortable talking to anyone and also knows when to pause to have other people talk. Each group should have two people in this role who can take turns.
Chat Monitor: this is someone who keeps track of what is happening on chat and helps to open spaces in the conversation for people who may prefer to listen but still have things to say. Monitors help ensure that assertive talkers leave space for people who find it harder to interrupt or get attention.
Notetaker: there will be a lot of good ideas shared in the group. The notetaker is responsible for keeping track of the conversation and occasionally reminding people of earlier ideas when the conversation wanes or goes full circle without the group realizing it.
Reporter: For the closing ceremony, each cohort will need to prepare a short (under five minutes) video describing their cohort commitments. Reporters will take the lead in this effort, and should be someone who feels comfortable recording zoom projects to the cloud and editing in Panopto (or alternatively, comfortable working with more powerful video/editing software)
3) Make a date, time, and zoom address for your next meeting
If you want to, you can also set your second cohort meeting.
4) Decide what you are going to read/watch for your next meeting
Last step: Go to the DEI Summit Moodle page and look at the materials for your assigned topic. Each person should take about 5 minutes to poke around and write down the top 3 readings/videos you think are worth watching. Then discuss as a cohort which one you want the whole group to read/watch before your next meeting.
Agenda for Cohort Meetings 1 and 2
Dates to be determined by cohort; second meeting should take place before April 14; one “meeting” could be structured around Dr. Destin’s talk
What happens at meeting 1?
Discuss your chosen reading/video as a group. How does it affect your perspective on the question of (name of cohort)?
Make a plan for what your cohort needs to do to prepare for your next meeting, where you will develop your cohort commitment.
Set the date/time for your next meeting.
What happens at meeting 2?
Brainstorm and clarify a cohort commitment. What can the members of you cohort commit to doing differently, or commit to doing more of, in your time at the College? What would be the most effective way for you to produce a short (2-5 minute video) explaining your cohort commitments and why you've made those commitments? You may decide to use part of meeting 2 to actually create part or all of your video, or you may do that outside of the meeting time.
Agenda for Final Summit Meeting
Wednesday 14 April
4:30-6:00 pm
All Summit participants will gather to watch videos, discuss, and debrief.