Agenda & Script

• Make brief introductions 
• Brief overview of Mothers Out Front 
• Give a brief overview of our National Priorities and how listening sessions are a component that helps guide our movement.

• Explain that the purpose of the session is to hear directly from community members
• Explain how the information will be used
• Review the agenda
• Climate Lingo (Explained Lite) 

• the restrooms and refreshments 
• the Area for adding comments or questions
• Social distancing standards

Give an overview of the content and flow (refer to the flip chart sheet or poster board)

• Direct off-topic questions to the Parking Lot flip chart sheet or poster board

• Let the participants vote 
• Identify the groupings
• Discuss “why” the priorities were selected

• Hear the final comments of the participants
• Remind them how the information will be used 
• Ask people to complete QR code Event Review
• Present the gift cards (optional)

• An opportunity for participants to meet each other to build community

Introduce yourself as the facilitator. 

Provide a couple of brief sentences on your background. 

Introductions should be brief. 

Introduce Mothers Out Front 

Model an introduction for others, then open it up for someone in the group to start the introductions and to call on the next person. 

Remind people to state their name, neighborhood & years in the community.

Good Evening/Afternoon My name is ___________________ and I will be the facilitator (momintator) for today’s community listening session. 

[Add a few sentences here about your introduction to MOF, your climate issue, and why this listening session is important to your “campaign/process)..] 

Thank you for joining us and for your interest in sharing your insights on how _________ [community name] can become more livable for everyone. 

I am an organizer with Mothers Out Front. Mothers Out Front is a group of moms fighting for a liveable climate for all. 

We’ve scheduled __<insert length of event>for this session and will end no later than _________________ [insert end time]. Before I provide you with context for today’s session and review the agenda, let’s take a moment for brief introductions. We’ll go around the room and say our name, neighborhood and how long we’ve lived in the community.

——————————– [Introductions] ——————————–

It’s great to have you all here.

The purpose of this community listening session is to hear directly from community members. We want to learn what you love about <insert city here>  and about what you don’t like and hear your ideas for making your community more livable in the future. 

At the end of today’s session, we will have learned your opinions and ideas about your community — what you love, what you need and what you would like to change. 

We’ll spend the majority of today’s session talking about the community, the climate issues impacting the community, and what we each can do to change it.

We’ve covered introductions and the purpose of this session. 

Next we’ll quickly establish agreements for how we’ll interact and provide an opportunity for questions. 

As I said, the majority of our time will be spent engaging in a discussion about the community. After the main discussion, we’ll identify some top priorities. We’ll end with the next steps.

Now for some quick housekeeping items. 

1. <insert meeting norms here>

1. There won’t be a scheduled break, but participants are encouraged to take care of any needs they might have throughout the session. 

1. Refreshments are located [insert location] and your restrooms are located [insert location]. 

1. I want to encourage anyone who might have difficulty seeing any of the posted charts or hearing the conversation to speak up so we can make adjustments. 

———————— [Pause to assess needs] —————————–

1. For anyone who wishes to leave a written question or comment, 4” x 6” sticky notes have been provided to capture them. You can stick them to the Parking Lot Board if it’s a question or the Comment sheet at any time during the session or afterward. 

1. For reference, I have posted a definition of the term “Listening Session, .”

Give an overview of the content and flow (refer to the flip chart sheet or poster board)

Before we can begin listening we have to make sure WE ALL have a common understanding of these common terms.

We will go through three questions written on post it’s,  then have a discussion. As everyone rsvp’d online and upon entry you were asked what Climate issues mattered most to you, we will review this group’s top selections together.

• Direct off-topic questions to the Parking Lot flip chart sheet or poster board

As you arrived you passed a board that said group agreements, they are as follows <insert here> . 

Any disagreements or additions folks want to add, please speak now or write on a post and add to the board (direct to board).

Everyone should have post its in your pack and a marker. 

Take this time to write “What do you love about your community?” once you are done:

Option 1: Take your written love and place it on the chart paper.

Option 2:  Stick post it on your table (until the end of all questions).

Virtual Option: Place post it on Jam and proceed to the next page.

What 3 Climate issues are facing your community?

Option 1: Take your 3 issues & place them on the two chart papers. Pick one to address now & put the remaining two issues for later.

Option 2:  Stick post it on your table (until the end of all questions).

Virtual Option: Place post it on Jam specifying which to issue to

• To address NOW? 
• In the future?

• Common issues like age of schools or traffic congestion,
• High asthma or skin issues
• Access to fresh produce and open spaces? 

Grab your post its for this last question “ What  local improvements would add to the quality of life in your community?”

Option 1: Take your 2 improvements & place them on the two chart papers. Pick one to address now & put the other for later.

Option 2:  Stick post it on your table (until the end of all questions).

               Virtual Option: Place post it on Jam specifying which to issue to

Compile a list of priority issues 

• Let the participants vote 
• Identify the groupings
• Discuss “why” the priorities were selected

Let’s review those issues that folks identified prior to today, which were <insert here>.

Let’s review what I see here today: “What were the top things yall loved about <insert city>”. I see <insert common love>. 

So why start with Love because we fight for things we love and protecting those things is where our activism lies.

Let’s see what our Climate Issue is for later, <insert common issues> give 3 examples. 

It’s easy to put certain things off but this NOW commitment is where we can see if we all are aligned. Let’s see what our top issue is now? <insert top 3 here>

So we could say that WE DEMAND <_________> in 2022?

Let’s not jump too fast to demand. 

Let’s reflect on this last question: what would improve your quality of life. 

Wow, we are all over the place, I see <example: electrification, lower utility costs, clean water> here. 

That’s ok, it’s normal for a city like ours with < insert loves> that we all want to fight for <insert top issue> and we need <insert many of the QOL examples>.

This is what I heard today. If that resonates with you, raise your hand or prop, or put + in the chat.

Remind them how the information will be used 

Ask people to complete QR code Event Review

Present the gift cards (optional)

The intention behind listening to “Like a Mom” is to be strategic in what we choose to mobilize behind, and ensure we are centering you and existing members in our movement.

Our Fall 21 Listening Session <insert city> report: which will include the final analysis of this event and our larger series will be available to everyone, as long as we have your cell phone number and email on file. If you are unsure visit our member table <point>. 

Review Us: Your feedback is so valuable please use the QR code in your bag or on your table to give us feedback.

Fun & GIFT CARDS !!!!! We have some lucky participants <insert name of winners> come up and get your gift cards for <insert dollar amount>. 

I hope you enjoyed sharing with us, and the food which was provided by <insert local company here>.  I want to thank you for your patience, your love of <insert city> and your commitment to <insert top issue>. 

Please enjoy the music, the food is now out and ready and if you haven’t visited the photobooth already please take some photos. Pictures help us push power.