A: After the program ends, consider establishing channels for ongoing communication with your group. We have found that many youth like to stay in touch, receive additional opportunities, or for references or support to add Agenda Gap to their resume or CV. They will also be invited to complete a post-survey six months after the program wraps. If your site plans to offer Agenda Gap again next year, some youth [...]
A: From the very beginning, motivation grows when youth feel their expertise, creativity, and capacity to create positive change are recognized. Our research shows that when facilitators intentionally uphold young people’s strengths and potential, youth feel more empowered and better equipped to take action. Aim to recognize each young person’s unique skills and play to them, breaking tasks into manageable pieces, setting tangible goals, and celebrating wins along the way. [...]
A: Explore your community network (there are activities in the program that do just that) to identify people with whom you or the youth have a good relationship or around whom they would feel comfortable. Think about the type of ally the group would most benefit from. Introduce allies that value and respect young people, who will treat them as equal partners, and provide the support they need to speak [...]
A: As youth consider their change tactic options, encourage them to: Consider what feels realistic and achievable within their timeline, resources, and capacity. Test out different approaches (there is no single “right” tactic. Exploring different possibilities is an important part of the learning process.) Draw on allies’ advice and expertise. Identify existing opportunities and aim to leverage current momentum. The curriculum is designed to guide youth (and you!) through exploring [...]
A: At the core of encouraging participation is ensuring a space where youth feel heard, valued, and supported. To foster an environment where youth are empowered to create change, be sure to review the principles of meaningful youth engagement, Trauma and Violence Informed Approaches, and the Developmental Relationships Framework in the Facilitator’s Guide. Several helpful strategies facilitators can employ during workshops to encourage participation in discussion or group activities include: [...]
A: This seldom happens but here are some approaches we find helpful: Acknowledge the situation and check-in with the group on what might be going on. Ask for their recommendations on how they would like to move forward in the workshop - suggest movement, a short break or a debrief depending on the context, adjusting the workshop plan where needed. Revisit their community agreement to refresh the group’s intentions for [...]
A: As a community facilitator, your role involves initiating and modeling activities, moderating discussion, and ensuring workshops run smoothly. Encouraging participation through a warm, compassionate approach and by communicating that you recognize and value the multiple ways people might engage (including verbal, written, artistic, anonymous) is also part of the role. Other practices facilitators regularly implement include: Offering validation and encouragement Modeling empathy, conflict resolution, active listening, and respectful communication [...]
A: Community facilitators' main tasks include... Creating respectful, equitable partnerships with youth using a trauma- and violence- informed approach Committing to getting to know each youth and creating a comfortable and fun environment – This space should feel different from school or the workplace. Establishing boundaries for sharing personal beliefs, stories, and different cultural backgrounds. Supporting meaningful youth engagement and addressing participation barriers Show knowledge of and respect for each [...]
A: Yes, Agenda Gap is designed to be flexible and adaptable in order to reflect the interests of the youth involved. Pacing, mode of delivery (offered in-person, hybrid, or virtual), and execution of activities to better manage individual and group dynamics can all be adjusted. We do recommend that the activities in each workshop are completed, and in the suggested order, as they often build capacity for the next series [...]
A: Agenda Gap uses a Train-the-Trainers model: the first year of program delivery is co-facilitated with experienced Agenda Gap staff and allows community facilitators to decide how much or how little of the workshop content they wish to deliver. All facilitators will also attend a 1.5-hour orientation session.
