Invite a few (3 or more) likeminded friends over to your house for a meeting. The more diverse (age, gender, race, first language, sexual orientation, gender identity, immigration status, etc) the group can be within the same political orientation the better. You will learn so much from each other
Make sure to tell everyone what the purpose is: to help each other figure out what to do in the current political situation.
It is not just for expressing outrage, although some of that may be important to do.
Provide some food and beverages you know they will like
Gather some background info
My Weekly Resistance
Indivisible Guide
MoveOn.org
www.thesixtyfive.org/home
Southern Poverty Leadership Center’s Guide to Ending Hate
Other resources you have discovered
Socialize when everyone first arrives. Provide nametags if the group is large and folks might not know each other.
Bring the “meeting” to order gently
Take a minute or so of silence for everyone to take a few deep breaths to center themselves and connect to the reason they accepted your invitation
Lead a connection circle in order to build or strengthen the personal relationships in the room.
Use a small (hand sized) physical object as a talking piece to pass around and identify whose turn it is to talk. Only the person with the talking object speaks until everyone has spoken.
Each person speaks in turn (passing is OK)
When everyone has spoken or passed it is OK to invite connections to what other people said. Don’t force it.
Pick a prompt that seems appropriate:
Why did you come today?
What are your thoughts and feelings about the situation we are in?
What issues do you care most about?
What actions have you heard about that inspire you?
Have someone in the circle quietly take notes about issues and actions
Share info from the resources you have gathered about other possible actions.
Discuss whether the group wants to act together OR is forming to help everyone be accountable for individual action. There is no right answer! It’s OK for subgroups to form and come together periodically or stay separate.
Decide on next steps and don’t leave without a next meeting scheduled.
Closing circle: go around with the talking piece. Prompt: what do you commit to doing after the meeting?
Use a similar format each time you gather:
Food/beverages
Socializing
Silence and settling as a transition to the meeting
Connection Circle – prompts at subsequent meetings can include:
What do you need to get off your chest to focus on moving forward
What have you done since the last time we have met
How are you taking care of yourself so that you are not overwhelmed by what is outside your control
Business meeting – strategy and logistics about whatever you have decided to do. This may not be needed if the participants want the group to help them be accountable. A group that starts as an accountability group may morph into a common action group around selected events – e.g. visit to a Senator’s office, attending a march or protest, etc.
Set next meeting time
Closing circle of individual commitments
Meetings can also be used for Post Card writing parties or phone calling to members of Congress or making yard signs or window posters that express what your stand for.