Offering Workshops and Reflection Groups at Sessions
Are you led to offer a workshop or Reflection Group at this year's Annual Sessions? Our 90-minute workshops and Reflection Groups provide an opportunity for adult and teen Friends to grow in their faithfulness and make meaningful connections through the facilitated exploration of a specific topic or activity.
While workshops may take many forms, Reflection Groups are generally facilitated worship sharing opportunities gathering Friends around a shared theme, topic, or experience (e.g. “Parents of younger children”, “Friends called to climate witness”).
The format for these opportunities varies. Some are on-campus at UMass and some will be offered online via Zoom. We do not have the capacity to offer hybrid choices at this time.
Priority will be given to proposals submitted by the June 5 deadline. Please note that space is limited. Please review the criteria below before submitting your proposal. Here is the form to submit a proposal. If you have questions, please email Program Director Nia Thomas.
Criteria for workshops
We look for workshops and Reflection Groups which:
- Support Friends in their pursuit of faithfulness
- Connect Friends more deeply with the Quaker faith and Quaker movement
- Have an impact on daily life after the gathering
- Create spaces that can’t be easily created in local meetings (the opportunity should be something that it makes sense to have with a smattering of Quakers from different meetings engaging in on a single occasion)
- Clarify “who” the opportunity is for
- Are facilitated by people able to connect with and respond to the needs of participants; facilitators should be aware of learning needs (for example: visual learners) and potential group dynamics (for example: different backgrounds of participants)
- Offers participants a way to meaningfully connect with each other
Priority will be given to proposals that:
- Encourage leadership development (for example: are co-led by a newer leader and more experienced facilitator; are a space for building leadership capacity of individuals or meetings)
- Are interactive, experiential, and/or hands-on (not merely presentations with a Q&A)
- Are a rare opportunity or won’t be available at other times
- Help us provide a balance of topics, facilitators, and modes of engagement
Submit a proposal here.
Questions? Contact Program Director Nia Thomas.