Over 2019 and 2020, Build With facilitated a series of trainings with an interdepartmental team at the City of Philadelphia to support their community engagement work. Although we were initially focused on teaching the team Build With’s core curricula, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic changed our plans — and Philly’s needs. We adapted, designing and leading the team through additional, virtual trainings and discussion spaces for how to manage community engagement during a pandemic, and ran workshops on facilitating online meetings and events and caring for ourselves and others while navigating Burn Out.
Here’s what participants had to say about our sessions:
”In virtual meetings I now leave extra time for tech issues, and use the techniques Laurenellen taught us to help guide meetings, deal with awkward silences or too many people talking at once, and move the agenda along. I feel more confident when I facilitate these meetings now.”
”Navigating Burnout was excellent, and there were several strategies I'll be employing personally and professionally for facilitation. The discussion on intent versus impact really helped me, and I say that all the time now in my meetings.”
”All of the techniques and concepts are extremely helpful. The skills introduced for Burnout will definitely be applied more frequently.”