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August 4, 2020

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Accomplice Resources, Trainings & Guides

People’s Supper Guidebooks

The People’s Supper in the Age of Physical Distancing

This guidebook contains everything you need to gather virtually, in response to COVID-19: suggestions on how to reach out to your community (and what to do if you’re feeling alone), facilitation tips and suggested conversation-starters, guidelines for successful online gatherings, and resources for how you can help those most in need right now.

People, Politics, & Reweaving the Social Fabric

This guidebook contains everything you need to know to host a supper of your own, whether you’re inviting friends and neighbors over for a casual night of conversation and a chance to meaningfully connect, or inviting people across identity or ideological difference to sit down around a shared table.

Additional Resources

RESOURCES AND SUPPORT FOR HEALING IN THE WAKE OF VIOLENT TRAUMA

Originally compiled by the Faith Matters Network in 2017 in the wake of events in Charlottesville, VA, this resource list has been updated as of June 2020, in the wake of the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery and an uninterrupted history of racism in America. It includes helplines, articles, organizations, and even Spotify playlists, particularly for Black communities and others on the frontlines in the fight for racial justice.

AN INVITATION TO BRAVE SPACE

For those who’ve been most marginalized, there is no such thing as a safe space. And too often, we confuse a safe space with a comfortable space. Learning to sit with each other’s truths means we have to learn to sit with discomfort. We use this poem to set the tone for each supper. Read it out loud once folks are sitting down, or simply place a quarter-sheet on each place before folks arrive.

WE AGREE.

A few Communal Agreements you can print off and leave on each plate, or do a read-aloud. In effect, they mean: 1.) If you wish to be fully welcomed, you have to agree to extend that same sense of welcome to others. 2.) We’re choosing to tune out the noise of the outside world, and to be present and able to fully listen to one another. 3.) Assume best intent.

RITUAL ZINE

A compilation of opening and closing rituals, crowd-sourced by and for hosts.

Additional Guidebooks

FAITH-BASED SUPPER ADD-ON

As a special add-on to our primary Host Guidebook, this resource is intended for members and leaders of faith communities who would like to make the most of a People’s Supper.

MUSLIM-JEWISH INTERFAITH SUPPER GUIDEBOOK

Created in partnership with the NYC Muslim-Jewish Solidarity Committee, the goal of this guidebook is to deepen the bonds between Jewish and Muslim communities in the wake of increased discrimination and violence against people of Jewish and Muslim faiths.

COLLECTIVE CARE IN THE FACE OF VIOLENT TRAUMA: A GUIDEBOOK FOR GATHERING

Created in reaction to the 2017 events in Charlottesville, VA., this guidebook provides tools and tips to support folks’ need to gather and provide collective care in a time of crisis caused by violence.

#METOO: RESOURCES FOR SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE

Created in response to the rise in public conversation around sexual harassment and assault, spurred by the viral social media hashtag “#MeToo”. This guidebook provides tips and resources to support survivors who wish to gather.

THE OPPOSITE OF HATE: DISCUSSION CARDS FOR DINNER-TIME (OR ANYTIME)

You’ve heard of Cards Against Humanity: Consider these “Cards FOR Humanity”. Inspired by The People’s Supper and the book THE OPPOSITE OF HATE, these cards can help spark a conversation with family, friends, students, or co-workers about hate and the ways you can be a beacon for connection instead.

Additional Resources

AUTHENTIC RELATING GAMES

Not an organization, but rather a set of tools for learning to listen & communicate more effectively.

CAL HUMANITIES’ SEARCHING FOR DEMOCRACY

A statewide initiative in California to activate public conversation about the meaning of democracy. The series concluded leading up to the 2012 election, but there are an array of materials online.

Services they provide:

Resources and recorded webinars from their Teaching Democracy series, which brought together a university professor & a primary school teacher to lead conversation about citizenship.
Reading lists & tools for facilitating book discussions.
Book & exhibit Wherever There’s a Fight, about Civil Rights in California.

CENTER FOR COURAGE AND RENEWAL

Committed to help people find their true purpose through deep, open conversation and then, through many programs, give people the courage and clarity to follow that purpose.

Services they provide:

The core of their programs is The Circle of Trust® approach which they use to facilitate the open conversations needed to find someone’s purpose.
The Center has created over 140 videos based on their resources and programs across all their work to watch online.

CITIZEN UNIVERSITY

Promote and teach the art of powerful citizenship.

Services they provide:

Civic Saturday are monthly meetings to build community, learn skills, and feel inspired. It’s like a religious service for citizenship. You can also watch the past sermons online!
Educational videos made with TED-education on civic power, how to turn protest into powerful change, and a course from ITunesU on citizen power.
Annual conference bringing dozen of powerful change-makers to speak, and hundreds of attendees to learn about power, deepen their networks, and recharge their sense of purpose.

ESSENTIAL PARTNERS (FORMERLY PUBLIC CONVERSATIONS PROJECT)

esearch-based organization that teaches how to hold constructive, thoughtful and respectful conversations.

Services they provide:

A step-by-step guide to having difficult political conversations in a variety of settings.
An extensive resource library of free training guides, published articles, and dialogue resources.

EVERYDAY DEMOCRACY

Helps people of different backgrounds and views talk and work together to solve problems and create communities that work for everyone.

Services they offer:

Guidebooks for conversations about racism, religious difference, poverty, community, and more.
Activities for getting hands-on with exploring questions of difference, democracy, and community.
Anchor partners around the country, to support changemakers.
Informational resources organized by issues, to learn more and figure out how to take action.

MAPPING MAIN STREET

A collaborative documentary media project, photographing and interviewing people along the more than 10,000 streets called Main in the United States.

Services they provide:

View the documentation of Main Street America, and learn about everyday people across the country.
If you live near a Main Street, participate with the hashtage #mappingmainstreet

THE NATIONAL COALITION FOR DIALOGUE & DELIBERATION

A network of dialogue and deliberation innovators.

Services they provide:

An extensive resource library built and updated with research, guides, and videos from the organizers within their network.
NCDD Beginners Resource Guide provides a starting point for any type of public engagement and dialogue building.

ON BEING

A conversation-based organization seeking to renew common life and civil dialogue.

Services they provide:

On Being & Becoming Wise podcasts, hosted by Krista Tippett of conversations on the big questions of meaning.
The Civil Conversations Project offers conversation guides for unsettling times, and for reaching across differences.
Articles about common life & civil dialogue.
The Poetry Radio Project shares audio recordings of poetry that can be a site of understanding.
Public Theology Reimagined offers podcasts & articles on religion, service, and spirituality.

SPEAKING DOWN BARRIERS

Facilitates community dialogue, training, performances, and consultation to heal the wounds of difference.

Services they provide:

Reading & listening lists to learn about anti-oppression work & healing.
Monthly book club.
Community gatherings, education & support groups, and mediation gatherings.
Training to become facilitators, for individuals & organizations, and clergy.
National Network of trained facilitators, who receive resources and support.

STORYCORPS

Preserving and sharing humanity’s stories in order to build a connections between people and create a more just and compassionate world.

Services they provide:

Listen to stories from people around the world.
Record and share your own!

THE SUSTAINED DIALOGUE INSTITUTE

An institute that helps people to transform conflictual relationships and design change processes. They define dialogue as “listening deeply enough to be changed by what you learn.”

Services they provide:

They use a 5 Point Sustained Dialogue Process to transform relationships mostly on university campuses but also internationally and in workplaces.
Their list of resources include of public peace building, politics and peace, and international peace-building research.

US DEPARTMENT OF ARTS AND CULTURE

A grassroots action network inciting creativity and social imagination to shape a culture of empathy, equity, and belonging.

Services they provide:

Local organizing field offices, college hubs, and tools for creating your own outpost, a local organizing group.
National creative actions that people across the country can participate in.
Published discoveries from their research into how citizen artists can support cultural democracy.