Sample Greeting and Discussion Guidelines

Suggested greeting for Jan 20th Community Conversation

Good afternoon/evening on behalf of the organizers of the Middletown Community Conversation and (HOST ORGANIZATION) we wanted to welcome you all for joining us today.

All across Middletown groups just like this one are coming together to focus on making this a better community for all. And in doing so we hope to allow all of our neighbors to come together and discuss opportunities, identify priorities, and generate new ideas on what’s next for Middletown as we enter this historic new chapter in our nation’s history books.

To help us stimulate discussion we will provide some questions that we will share with you shortly as well as the opportunity to view President Obama’s inaugural address. However, before we do that I would just like to go over some housekeeping and set some ground rules.
(HOUSEKEEPING-note if food is available and that they should help themselves, note if you have name cards, where are the bathrooms???, hopefully you can create an email list-you may note that this is for follow up and will not be shared for any other purposes, add anything else you think might be helpful to ease people into the discussions and make them comfortable)

As for some general guidelines, first we’d like to note that although the focus is on Middletown, we do not want to limit any idea from being shared, so if it includes something that is regional, state-wide or national please feel free to share. We also ask that we focus on solutions and although problems and concerns may come up in our discussions, let’s try to drive this conversation toward our individual and shared community assets and how they
can be deployed to make Middletown a better place.

Additionally, and in keeping the end in mind, we want everyone to know that each conversation will be recorded and the information will be put into one collective document that will help us identify what’s next for this community. And finally, there are additional guidelines specific around sharing during our conversations but we will wait until after we watch the speech….so without further delay…(speech may be started here).

The following guidelines may be shared as you are about to start the conversations….

• Sharing is voluntary.
• We want to create a safe, loving, and respectful atmosphere.
• Sharing is about one's own feelings, experiences and perceptions, etc
• We are not always going to agree, or see everything the same way, and that's okay
• Each person has a right to and responsibility for his or her own feelings, thoughts and beliefs
• It is important to avoid criticism or judgment about another person's sharing and point of view of his/her feelings.
• Avoid debate and argument. It rarely changes anything or anyone, and tends to ultimately inhibit the sharing.
• All ideas are valuable.
• Refrain from singling out any individual as "representing " their group, gender, race, etc.
• It is important to give full attention to who ever is talking.
• Feelings are important
• No cross talking or debate
• No talking to person next to you while someone else is being talking.
• Hopefully, we will leave these meetings with a deeper sense of community and a renewed hope for the future of Middletown


MIDDLETOWN COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS
JANUARY 20, 2009

GUIDELINES FOR SHARING

• SHARING IS VOLUNTARY.
• WE WANT TO CREATE A SAFE, LOVING, AND RESPECTFUL
ATMOSPHERE.
• SHARING IS ABOUT ONE'S OWN FEELINGS, EXPERIENCES AND
PERCEPTIONS, ETC
• WE ARE NOT ALWAYS GOING TO AGREE, OR SEE EVERYTHING THE
SAME WAY, AND THAT'S OKAY
• EACH PERSON HAS A RIGHT TO AND RESPONSIBILITY FOR HIS OR
HER OWN FEELINGS, THOUGHTS AND BELIEFS
• IT IS IMPORTANT TO AVOID CRITICISM OR JUDGMENT ABOUT
ANOTHER PERSON'S SHARING AND POINT OF VIEW OF HIS/HER
FEELINGS.
• AVOID DEBATE AND ARGUMENT. IT RARELY CHANGES ANYTHING
OR ANYONE, AND TENDS TO ULTIMATELY INHIBIT THE SHARING
• ALL IDEAS ARE VALUABLE.
• REFRAIN FROM SINGLING OUT ANY INDIVIDUAL AS "REPRESENTING " HIS OR HER GROUP.
• IT IS IMPORTANT TO GIVE FULL ATTENTION TO WHOEVER IS TALKING.
• FEELINGS ARE IMPORTANT
• NO CROSS TALKING OR DEBATE
• NO TALKING TO PERSON NEXT TO YOU WHILE SOMEONE ELSE IS
TALKING TO THE GROUP.
• HOPEFULLY, WE WILL LEAVE THESE MEETINGS WITH A DEEPER
SENSE OF COMMUNITY AND A RENEWED HOPE FOR THE FUTURE
OF MIDDLETOWN

Middletown Community Coversations, Sample Questions and Response Form

Middletown Community Conversations

Sample Questions and Response Form

Several groups have asked for example facilitating questions with which to start their community conversations as well as an example of a response form to report out their conversation results.

Sample Questions

The following are two sets of three questions we found helpful.

What important issue or idea was brought to mind by the Inaugural Address?
What can we, as a community, do about it?
What can you as an individual do about it? If “yes we can”, then what will I do?
Related to what will “I do”, what can we do together?
What resources do we need to make this happen?

Conversation Reporting Form

If you do not use this form, when you report back, please be sure to include:

group/organization involved
location
date
time
number of participants.

This information should be forwarded to Justin Carbonella at either his e‐mail address:

carbonellaj@mps1.org

Or mailed to:

Justin Carbonella
Middletown Youth Services Bureau
370 Hunting Hill Avenue
Middletown, CT 06457

Middletown Community Conversations Held

by(organization):_____________________________________________________
on (date & time) ____________________
at (location)_________________________________
for (# of people)______________

For each of the topics discussed, please report out topics noted below. For example, the issue is picking up after your dog; group solution might be install pooper scooper bag kiosks and signs as well as submit grant application to dog food companies for signs and kiosks; individual solution might be pick up after your own dog and encourage family and friends to do the same; resources would be signs and kiosks.

Issue (please relate to Middletown): ____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________

Solutions: What can we do? ____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________

What can I do?__________________________________________
____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________

Resources needed (if any):_________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________


Issue (please relate to Middletown):
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________

Solutions: What can we do? _____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________

What can I do?___________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________

Resources needed (if any)__________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________

Inaugural Schedule as Provided to the Media (tentative)

For hosts planning Middletown Community Conversation events. It looks as if Barack Obama will speak for about 20 minutes, beginning at 12:01 p.m.


9:00 AM VIPs begin arriving
Former Presidents
Governors
Members of the House of Representatives
United States Senators
Cabinet designees

9:45 AM Platform seating begins

11:03 AM Former Presidents announced and seated

11:12AM Biden family announced and seated

11:14AM Obama family announced and seated

11:16AM Mrs. Bush and Mrs. Cheney announced and seated

11:18AM Mrs. Obama and Dr. Biden announced and seated

11:20AM President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney announced and seated

11:22AM Vice President-elect Joe Biden announced and seated

11:25AM President-elect Barack Obama is announced and seated

11:30 AM Senator Feinstein delivers opening remarks

11:34 AM Senator Feinstein introduces Pastor Rick Warren

11:35 AM Invocation by Pastor Rick Warren

11:37 AM Senator Feinstein introduces Aretha Franklin

11:38 AM Aretha Franklin – “My Country Tis of Thee”

11:42 AM Senator Feinstein introduces Senator Bennett

11:44 AM Senator Bennett introduces Associate Justice Stevens

11:46AM Vice Presidential Oath administered by Associate Justice Stevens

11:47AM Senator Feinstein introduces performers

11:48AM Yo-Yo Ma, Anthony McGill, Gabriela Montero, Itzhak Perlman –
“Air and Simple Gifts” composed by John Williams

11:53AM Senator Feinstein introduces Chief Justice Roberts

11:54AM Chief Justice and President-elect Barack Obama move to podium

11:56AM The Presidential oath is administered.

11:57AM Herald Trumpets perform 4 “Ruffles and Flourishes” and the U.S. Marine Corp
Band plays “Hail to the Chief.” Twenty one gun salute.

11:58AM Senator Feinstein introduces the President

12:01PM Inaugural address

12:21PM Senator Feinstein introduces poet Elizabeth Alexander

12:27PM Benediction given by Reverend Joseph Lowery

12:31PM Presidential party departs from platform

12:32 PM Departure ceremony

12:36 PM President and Mrs. Bush depart from the East plaza in helicopter

12:52 PM President’s Room signing ceremony

1:05 PM Statuary Hall luncheon

2:32 PM Review of the troops

2:36 PM President and Mrs. Obama, and Vice President and Dr. Biden leaves with parade

Locations for Community Conversations January 20

Middletown Community Conversations
On January 20, 2009, please join your neighbors at one of the following conversation locations so that we can speak and listen to each other as we ask questions and find answers.

American Association of Retired Persons (AARP)
St. Pius Church,
310 Westfield Street
1:30 pm
Members welcome

American Association of University Women
Wesleyan Wasch Center,
51 Lawn Avenue
7:00 pm
Members and students

Dunkin Donuts @ South Main
South Main Street
7 pm
The public

Eddy Shelter
The Connection Offices
955 South Main St.
11:30
Staff and clients

First Church & Jonah Center
190 Church Street
6 pm
Open to the public

Green Street
51 Green Street
noon
The public

Healing Racism Coalition
Firehouse Steakhouse
412 Main St.
11:30am
The public

Heritage Commons
38 Boston Rd
noon & 8pm
HC residents, their families and interested seniors

Middlesex Community College
Chapman Hall,
100 Training Hill Rd
noon & 6pm
The public

Middlesex County Community Foundation
Wadsworth Mansion
5pm speaker &
discussion
(this is a fund raiser - admission is $20)

Middletown City Hall
Dekoven Dr.
Council Chamber
noon & 6pm
The public

Middletown Public Schools
various
Students and staff

Parents Seeking Educational Excellence
Woodrow Wilson Middle School
370 Hunting Hill Avenue
7-8:30

PLTI and PTA
parents and friends.
All are welcome!
RSVP 638-1462

Public Restaurant
337 Main Street
7 – 10 pm
Jazz & discussions.
Donations to benefit the food pantry.

Russell Library
Hubbard Room
123 Broad Street
Noon & 6pm
Open to the public

Senior Affairs Senior Center,
150 Williams St.
Noon
Seniors

Village at South Farms
645 Saybrook Rd
Residents

Wesleyan
Usdan Center
Wyllys Avenue
10 am
The public





 The following groups were involved in planning Middletown Community Conversations, and while they will not conduct separate conversations, they encourage their members to be involved in conversations at other locations.

Altrusa

American
 Legion

Arts
 Community
 Groups

Aware

Boy
 Scouts 
of
 America

Buddhist
 Community

Chamber
 of
 Commerce

Civitan
Coalition
 for
 Affordable
 Housing

CT
 Coalition to
 End
 Homelessness

CT
 Housing 
Coalition

CT
 Partnership
 for
 Strong 
Communities

Cross 
Street
 A.M.E. 
Zion
 Church

Girl 
Scouts
 of
 America

Hindu
 Community

Latino
 Policy
 Institute

League
 of
 Women
 Voters

Lions
 Club

Mercy
 Housing

Middlesex
 Coalition
 for 
Children

Middlesex
 County 
Branch
‐
NAACP

Middlesex
 County
 Ten 
Year
 Plan
 to
 End 
Homelessness

Middletown 
Clergy 
Association

Middletown
 Ministerial
 Alliance

Middletown
 Public
 Housing

Middletown United Fathers
Multicultural
 Committee

Nehemiah
 Housing


Parent
 Leader
 Training
 Institute

Partnership
 for 
Strong 
Communities

People
 with
 Disabilities

Rotary

St.
 Luke’s


St.
 Vincent
 DePaul

Village District
Westfield
 Residents
 Association


Host/Facilitator guide

Provided by Justin Carbonella

Middletown Community Conversation
Inaugural Celebration (Jan. 20, 2009)

Additional Information Session for Host of Community Conversation
Thursday, January 15, 2009, Russell Library




Introductions
Who are you, what agency do you represent?
Why did you decide to be a part of this initiative?

Principles of the Community Conversations
The idea is for the community to watch President Obama's inaugural address at 12 noon or at 6pm (or some other time) and participate in a facilitated community conversation. This gathering is not a political event. It is grassroots initiative to identify the assets that we all have and how we can deploy them in these difficult times.

We will record the discussion and work to prioritize ideas that may help Middletown proactively contribute to and take advantage of this current moment in history.

To do so, we are looking for locations all across the community to hold community conversations. Additionally, we are asking each site to adhere to the following principles:

• Set the context
• Create hospitable space
• Explore questions that matter
• Encourage everyone’s contributions
• Connect diverse perspectives
• Listen together for insights
• Share collective discoveries

Your role as hosts/facilitators
The role of each host and its facilitator will be to manage the community conversation at their site. We are allowing each site to determine what will work best for them as they follow the basic principles outlined above. You know your group and your constituents best while also understanding what resources you may have available to you. We also understand that these resources will change from site to site. The important thing is giving as many Middletown residents as possible a chance to join their fellow citizens and be a part of a conversation where everyone’s voice may be heard. Much of that comes with the ability of the host to create a comfortable environment that will allow for open and honest discussion. Imagine you were inviting a guest to your house, what you would do for them to make them feel welcomed?

What are the questions that matter?
“If I had an hour to solve a problem and my life depended on the solution, I would spend the first 55 minutes determining the proper question to ask, for once I know the proper question, I could solve the problem in less than five minutes.” – Albert Einstein

“Questioning breaks open the stagnant, hardened shells of the present, opening up options to be explored” – Fran Peavey, Strategic Questioning

Principals of Strategic Questions
• Be engaging, invite further learning, and assume the best of intentions in the hearer.
• Help the hearer move on the basis of their strengths, their logic about how change occurs, and their environment.
• Be asked at the right time, with a few simple words, and by someone whom the hearer truly respects.
• Be truly open (not be asked manipulatively, and/or in order to achieve a particular answer, and/or worded in a way that contains or suggests a solution)

Examples of strategic Questions
• How might we best get this done?
• What experiences are influencing how you perceive this issue?
• What might shift our situation for the better?
• What kinds of information, from what sources, do we value?
• How has change happened here in the past?
• How and why did this issue first surface? What’s change?
• How can we redesign “x” to be more efficient?

Sample questions for your conversations
If “yes we can”, then what will I do?
Related to what will “I do”, what can we do together?
What resources do we need to make this happen?

Recording the conversation and looking for outcomes
The goal is to collect results that will culminate in an unprecedented document of what Middletown's citizens feel are the priorities for our City. The collective statement of needs and concerns is the first step toward effective change in our community.

To do this we need a recorded document of what were the identified solutions and steps for a better Middletown at each conversation site. We are asking that a simple bulleted list of these solutions and steps is created for each question asked (or that come up at any point in the discussion). The information can be recorded as raw data and the host organization will not have to synthesis or analyze the material in any way.

Basic responsibilities for a recorder to consider:
• Record the group’s answers to each of the questions
• List key points (examples, elaborations) offered to flesh out or provide the rationale for the group’s answers to each of the agenda questions. Include name of person if they indicate they would like to be followed up with.
• Keep a parking lot list for issues that don’t directly address agenda topics
• Ask for clarification when something is unclear
• Review notes at the close of meeting, to clarify or fill in gaps in the record
• Record notes in a written document


For an example of what we are looking for feel free to visit the Youth Services website at www.middletownyouthservices.org click on “Developmental Assets Initiative” then “What’s Up With Our Kids Forum Series”. The 4/26 and 5/9 conversations have similar reporting forms to what we are looking for in terms of sharing data. Your group’s final document should include the following information as a heading to the document:

group/organization involved
location of discussion
date and time
number of attendees

If a group would also like to include a list of its attendees and their email addresses you include it in your final reports. Please note that the request for emails is so that the final document may be distributed back out to the community once complete.


Your recorded notes may be submitted to Justin Carbonella at carbonellaj@mps1.org or mailed to:

Justin Carbonella
Middletown Youth Services Bureau
370 Hunting Hill Ave
Middletown, CT 06457

Or be dropped off at the Youth Services Bureau offices located in Woodrow Wilson Middle School (located at the address directly above).

Welcome to Middletown Community Conversations

On Tuesday January 20, 2009, using the inauguration of Barack Obama to the presidency as a catalyst, there will be dozens of coordinated community conversations happening in Middletown.

We'd love to have you participate. We'd love to hear your ideas about the future of our community.

Information will soon be available right here, about the places where you can find your neighbors and fellow community members talking about change, and how to achieve it.