Mid-Atlantic Facilitators Network upcoming events

MAFN Online 3-part Series: Inclusive + Participatory Strategic Planning (09/10/2026)

Thu, 10 Sep 2026 15:00:00 GMT

About the workshop:

Have you ever worked with a group that wants a strategic plan (yesterday!) but also wants high participation?

Have you ever facilitated a strategic planning process, but someone said, “Nobody asked me!”

If this is true for you, this cohort learning series is for you.

Inclusive + Participatory Strategic Planning (IPSP) is a 12-step process that centers engagement, transparency, and intentionality from beginning to end.

Join Dr. Shaunna Payne Gold, Founder & CEO of Gold Enterprises, LLC, as she braids together change management, DEI, and dialogue principles to produce strategic plans that value as many voices as possible.

Learning Objectives

In this session:

Participants will become familiar with the IPSP and how it differs from traditional strategic planning processes.
Participants will apply dialogue, change management, and IPSP principles to a past or present facilitation opportunity.
Participants will build a personal “IPSP Cheat Sheet” for using IPSP in their industry niche, while indirectly creating an informal IPSP networking group.

Best suited for: Mid-Level Facilitators

NOTE: This workshop will be recorded for distribution to all who register (breakout rooms will not be recorded)

Each session is 90 minutes. It will take place at 11:00am - 12:30pm EDT on the following dates:

Session 1: Thursday, September 10, 2026
Session 2: Thursday, September 24, 2026
Session 3: Thursday, October 8, 2026

Speakers:

Dr. Shaunna Payne Gold is the CEO of Gold Enterprises, LLC, which helps organizations become better places for everyone to work, learn, grow, play, and thrive. A fourth-generation educator, she has 28 years of experience improving diversity, equity, and inclusion through organizational health audits, designing participatory strategic planning processes, and delivering high-impact professional development and training for nonprofits, higher education, and mid-sized businesses. As a 2025 Trinity NYC Wall Street Fellow, upon completion of her social action project, Dr. Gold will be inducted into the Trinity Society of Fellows – a global network of leaders faithfully serving society. Gold Enterprises is in its 10th year of excellent work.

ONLINE WORKSHOP REMINDERS:

MAFN does not offer refunds for events. Anyone who registers for an event will receive a credit that can be applied to any other MAFN event, or to MAFN membership. Credits must be used within 2 years.
Registered participants will receive instructions for joining the live session and any additional details 1 day in advance and the morning of the event. Please be sure to look for the link in your email.

Workshops begin promptly at 11:00AM Eastern. Please log on at least 5 minutes in advance to ensure your internet connections, audio and other settings are functioning properly.

For registration or membership questions contact info@mafn.org.

(Partnership Event) MAFN & NOVA Scribes: AI Facilitation Design Dialogue (09/18/2026)

Fri, 18 Sep 2026 16:00:00 GMT

Duration: 60 minutes

MAFN & NOVA Scribes Partnership Event

AI Facilitation Design Dialogue

Join MAFN and our partner, NOVA Scribes, with our guest speaker, Andy Pearson from SessionLab, for an inside look at how the latest AI-powered features are transforming the way facilitators design workshops, meetings, and learning experiences.

Even if you’re not a SessionLab user, Andy will share how to build agendas faster, generate activity ideas, improve session flow, and incorporate proven facilitation practices with less effort. Andy will demonstrate how AI can support inclusive design, strengthen group dynamics, surface best-practice recommendations, and free facilitators to focus on what matters most.

Whether you're new to SessionLab or already use it regularly, you'll leave with practical techniques for designing smarter, more effective sessions in less time.

Free and open to anyone who plans group events and workshops. No prior experience required.

ONLINE WORKSHOP REMINDERS

Registered participants will receive instructions for joining the live session and any additional details 1 day in advance and the morning of the event. Please be sure to look for the link in your email.
Workshops begin promptly at 12:00PM Eastern.
This workshop will NOT be recorded.
For registration or membership questions contact info@mafn.org.

MAFN Online 3-part Series: Inclusive + Participatory Strategic Planning (09/24/2026)

Thu, 24 Sep 2026 15:00:00 GMT

About the workshop:

Have you ever worked with a group that wants a strategic plan (yesterday!) but also wants high participation?

Have you ever facilitated a strategic planning process, but someone said, “Nobody asked me!”

If this is true for you, this cohort learning series is for you.

Inclusive + Participatory Strategic Planning (IPSP) is a 12-step process that centers engagement, transparency, and intentionality from beginning to end.

Learning Objectives

In this session:

Participants will become familiar with the IPSP and how it differs from traditional strategic planning processes.
Participants will apply dialogue, change management, and IPSP principles to a past or present facilitation opportunity.
Participants will build a personal “IPSP Cheat Sheet” for using IPSP in their industry niche, while indirectly creating an informal IPSP networking group.

Best suited for: Mid-Level Facilitators

NOTE: This workshop will be recorded for distribution to all who register (breakout rooms will not be recorded)

Each session is 90 minutes. It will take place at 11:00am - 12:30pm EDT on the following dates:

Session 1: Thursday, September 10, 2026
Session 2: Thursday, September 24, 2026
Session 3: Thursday, October 8, 2026

Speakers:

ONLINE WORKSHOP REMINDERS:

MAFN does not offer refunds for events. Anyone who registers for an event will receive a credit that can be applied to any other MAFN event, or to MAFN membership. Credits must be used within 2 years.
Registered participants will receive instructions for joining the live session and any additional details 1 day in advance and the morning of the event. Please be sure to look for the link in your email.

Workshops begin promptly at 11:00AM Eastern. Please log on at least 5 minutes in advance to ensure your internet connections, audio and other settings are functioning properly.

For registration or membership questions contact info@mafn.org.

MAFN Online Workshop: Designing Neuroinclusive Team-Building Activities & Retreats (09/25/2026)

Fri, 25 Sep 2026 16:00:00 GMT

Duration: 90 minutes

About the workshop:

This workshop introduces participants to the principles of neuroinclusive team-building, and how to create team-building activities —such as team retreats, staff appreciation events, and group exercises— that are accessible and engaging for neurodivergent individuals.

Through interactive discussions and small-group exercises, attendees will explore how to adapt common team-building event formats to accommodate neurodiverse team members. Ideal for HR professionals, team leaders, and DEI practitioners, this workshop provides practical tools to create team-building activities that maximize engagement, boost morale, and strengthen team dynamics for all team members.

Learning Objectives

In this session, participants will:

Understand foundational concepts of accessibility, neurodiversity, and neuroinclusion
Apply design principles to create neuroinclusive team-building experiences.
Learn how to increase the engagement of neurodiverse team members in team-building activities

Best suited for: Beginner / New Facilitators

NOTE: This workshop will be recorded for distribution to all who register (breakout rooms will not be recorded).

This is a 90-minute online workshop. It will take place at 12:00pm - 1:30pm EST.

Speakers:

Alysse Rodriguez, SHRM-CP is the founder and principal consultant of Alta FWD Consulting, where she partners with nonprofits to navigate change and build resilient teams. Prior to transitioning to consulting, Alysse led Operations and HR teams for advocacy and member-based nonprofit organizations. Her work is grounded in inclusion, accessibility, and equity so that plans, systems, and processes are human-centered, mission-aligned, and adaptable for sustainable growth and long-term impact.

ONLINE WORKSHOP REMINDERS

MAFN does not offer refunds for events. Anyone who registers for an event will receive a credit that can be applied to any other MAFN event, or to MAFN membership. Credits must be used within 2 years.

Registered participants will receive instructions for joining the live session and any additional details 1 day in advance and the morning of the event. Please be sure to look for the link in your email.

Workshops begin promptly at 12:00PM Eastern. Please log on at least 15 minutes in advance to ensure your internet connections, audio and other settings are functioning properly.

MAFN Members have access to all online workshop recordings via the MAFN website.

For registration or membership questions contact info@mafn.org.

MAFN Online 3-part Series: Inclusive + Participatory Strategic Planning (10/08/2026)

Thu, 08 Oct 2026 15:00:00 GMT

About the workshop:

Have you ever worked with a group that wants a strategic plan (yesterday!) but also wants high participation?

Have you ever facilitated a strategic planning process, but someone said, “Nobody asked me!”

If this is true for you, this cohort learning series is for you.

Inclusive + Participatory Strategic Planning (IPSP) is a 12-step process that centers engagement, transparency, and intentionality from beginning to end.

Learning Objectives

In this session:

Participants will become familiar with the IPSP and how it differs from traditional strategic planning processes.
Participants will apply dialogue, change management, and IPSP principles to a past or present facilitation opportunity.
Participants will build a personal “IPSP Cheat Sheet” for using IPSP in their industry niche, while indirectly creating an informal IPSP networking group.

Best suited for: Mid-Level Facilitators

NOTE: This workshop will be recorded for distribution to all who register (breakout rooms will not be recorded)

Each session is 90 minutes. It will take place at 11:00am - 12:30pm EDT on the following dates:

Session 1: Thursday, September 10, 2026
Session 2: Thursday, September 24, 2026
Session 3: Thursday, October 8, 2026

Speakers:

ONLINE WORKSHOP REMINDERS:

MAFN does not offer refunds for events. Anyone who registers for an event will receive a credit that can be applied to any other MAFN event, or to MAFN membership. Credits must be used within 2 years.
Registered participants will receive instructions for joining the live session and any additional details 1 day in advance and the morning of the event. Please be sure to look for the link in your email.

Workshops begin promptly at 11:00AM Eastern. Please log on at least 5 minutes in advance to ensure your internet connections, audio and other settings are functioning properly.

For registration or membership questions contact info@mafn.org.

MAFN Online Workshop: Facilitating Strategic Planning: What You Love and Hate About It (10/16/2026)

Fri, 16 Oct 2026 16:00:00 GMT

Duration: 90 minutes

About the workshop:

This workshop is for facilitators who have worked on at least one strategic planning project–including folks who feel jaded about strategic planning. Through small group conversations and large group debriefs, we will make use of collective intelligence to explore what makes for a successful strategic planning project and what you might want to avoid.

This online session combines a networking and a workshop approach, allowing facilitators to connect and learn from each other around the work of facilitating strategic planning.

The session is designed around these two thoughts:

It’s easier to start talking to each other (to network) when there is a task at hand.
In theory, we think strategic planning is important, but in practice it doesn’t always feel like it’s useful.

How can we learn from each other what makes for a successful strategic planning process?

Learning Objectives

In this session, participants will explore:

How to design a strategic planning process that results in a useful, actionable plan
How to appropriately streamline a strategic planning process
How to figure out who should be involved at which steps

Best suited for: All Levels

NOTE: This workshop will be recorded for distribution to all who register (breakout rooms will not be recorded).

This is a 90-minute online workshop. It will take place at 12:00pm - 1:30pm EST.

Speakers:

Naomi Bénéteau Goldberg is a dialogue facilitator. She brings a decade of experience as an organizer, facilitator and logistical mastermind in social movement organizations, community sector work, and arts and culture.

ONLINE WORKSHOP REMINDERS

MAFN does not offer refunds for events. Anyone who registers for an event will receive a credit that can be applied to any other MAFN event, or to MAFN membership. Credits must be used within 2 years.

Registered participants will receive instructions for joining the live session and any additional details 1 day in advance and the morning of the event. Please be sure to look for the link in your email.

This program begins promptly at 12:00pm Eastern. Please log on 5 minutes early to ensure your internet connection, audio, and other settings are working properly.

For registration or membership questions contact info@mafn.org.

MAFN 3-part Series: Becoming a Heart-Centred Facilitator: A Learning Journey in Presence, Connection, and Meaningful Facilitation (11/05/2026)

Thu, 05 Nov 2026 16:00:00 GMT

Duration: 90 minutes

About the workshop:

Exceptional facilitators are shaped through practice, reflection, and continuous learning. In this three-part interactive learning journey, participants will deepen their understanding of facilitator presence, psychological safety, meaningful engagement, and navigating group dynamics.

Each session builds on the last, combining experiential activities, peer learning, guided reflection, and practical application between sessions.

Participants will leave with greater self-awareness, increased confidence, and a deeper understanding of how they can intentionally create learning experiences where people feel safe, connected, and inspired to contribute.

Learning Objectives

In this session, participants will:

Cultivate greater self-awareness and presence by recognizing how their mindset, emotional regulation, and personal habits influence the groups they facilitate
Intentionally design and facilitate experiences that foster psychological safety, meaningful participation, trust, and authentic connection across a variety of group settings.
Strengthen their facilitation practice through reflection, peer learning, and real-world application, leaving with greater confidence, practical strategies, and a personalized plan for continued development as a facilitator.

Best suited for: All levels

NOTE: This workshop will be recorded for distribution to all who register (breakout rooms will not be recorded)

Each session is 90 minutes. It will take place at 11:00am - 12:30pm EDT on the following dates:

Session 1: Thursday, November 5, 2026
Session 2: Thursday, November 12, 2026
Session 3: Thursday, November 19, 2026

Speakers:

Shiham Mahroof is a facilitator, leadership coach, and founder of HeartCulture Catalyst. He believes meaningful facilitation begins with the presence of the facilitator, not just the process they follow. Shiham designs engaging, experiential learning that helps people connect more deeply, navigate challenging conversations, and build healthier workplace cultures. He has facilitated workshops with corporate teams, healthcare organizations, nonprofits, educational institutions, community groups, newcomers, and youth across Canada. Drawing on more than 15 years of mindfulness and heartfulness practice, Shiham creates interactive learning environments where people feel safe to participate, reflect, and grow together.

Shiham has spent more than 15 years studying and practicing mindfulness and heartfulness, combined with several years of designing and facilitating interactive workshops, leadership development programs, and team learning experiences for diverse audiences.

ONLINE WORKSHOP REMINDERS:

MAFN does not offer refunds for events. Anyone who registers for an event will receive a credit that can be applied to any other MAFN event, or to MAFN membership. Credits must be used within 2 years.
Registered participants will receive instructions for joining the live session and any additional details 1 day in advance and the morning of the event. Please be sure to look for the link in your email.

This program begins promptly at 11:00am Eastern. Please log on at least 5 minutes in advance to ensure your internet connections, audio and other settings are functioning properly.

For registration or membership questions contact info@mafn.org.

MAFN 3-part Series: Becoming a Heart-Centred Facilitator: A Learning Journey in Presence, Connection, and Meaningful Facilitation (11/12/2026)

Thu, 12 Nov 2026 16:00:00 GMT

Duration: 90 minutes

About the workshop:

Each session builds on the last, combining experiential activities, peer learning, guided reflection, and practical application between sessions.

Learning Objectives

In this session, participants will:

Cultivate greater self-awareness and presence by recognizing how their mindset, emotional regulation, and personal habits influence the groups they facilitate
Intentionally design and facilitate experiences that foster psychological safety, meaningful participation, trust, and authentic connection across a variety of group settings.
Strengthen their facilitation practice through reflection, peer learning, and real-world application, leaving with greater confidence, practical strategies, and a personalized plan for continued development as a facilitator.

Best suited for: All levels

NOTE: This workshop will be recorded for distribution to all who register (breakout rooms will not be recorded)

Each session is 90 minutes. It will take place at 11:00am - 12:30pm EDT on the following dates:

Session 1: Thursday, November 5, 2026
Session 2: Thursday, November 12, 2026
Session 3: Thursday, November 19, 2026

Speakers:

ONLINE WORKSHOP REMINDERS:

MAFN does not offer refunds for events. Anyone who registers for an event will receive a credit that can be applied to any other MAFN event, or to MAFN membership. Credits must be used within 2 years.
Registered participants will receive instructions for joining the live session and any additional details 1 day in advance and the morning of the event. Please be sure to look for the link in your email.

This program begins promptly at 11:00am Eastern. Please log on at least 5 minutes in advance to ensure your internet connections, audio and other settings are functioning properly.

For registration or membership questions contact info@mafn.org.

MAFN Online Workshop: Elephants, Dead Fish, and Hairballs: How to Untangle the Most Difficult Conversations (11/13/2026)

Fri, 13 Nov 2026 17:00:00 GMT

Duration: 90 minutes

About the workshop:

Every team has them — the elephants in the room no one wants to name, the dead fish that quietly stink up the culture, and the hairballs of confusion and frustration that stifle creativity and contribution. In this workshop, you’ll learn a practical, compassionate framework for naming and transforming the toughest conversations. Combining Airbnb’s Elephants, Dead Fish, and Vomit model with Jim Rough’s Dynamic Facilitation, we’ll learn how to move groups from conflict to action.

Learning Objectives

In this session, participants will explore:

A repeatable framework for addressing tough topics in teams or cross-functional groups
A visual method for separating emotion from information and possibility from blame
A practical understanding of how to use tension and conflict as a source of creativity and connection

Best suited for: Mid-Level Facilitators

NOTE: This workshop will be recorded for distribution to all who register (breakout rooms will not be recorded).

This is a 90-minute online workshop. It will take place at 12:00pm - 1:30pm EST.

Speaker:

Joran Oppelt is a Senior Consultant at The Grove Consultants International and has over a decade of experience in visual consulting, graphic facilitation, and executive coaching. He has helped shape strategy with clients in the fields of technology, sport, healthcare, and finance with a passion for leadership development and team alignment.

Joran holds a deep belief in the power of human potential and in art-making as a tool for healing and community building. Joran uses a strengths-based approach when coaching leaders and sees teams and organizations through a developmental lens. He enjoys creating safe spaces for groups to play with rigorous frameworks. These have included The Grove’s Team Performance and Strategic Visioning models, innovation/design thinking, OKRs, Integral Theory, Spiral Dynamics, Gamestorming, Storybrand, and more.

Joran is the author of Facilitation: A Human-Centered Guide to the Art of Collaboration; Visionary Leadership; and The Visual Meetings Field Guide

ONLINE WORKSHOP REMINDERS

MAFN does not offer refunds for events. Anyone who registers for an event will receive a credit that can be applied to any other MAFN event, or to MAFN membership. Credits must be used within 2 years.

Registered participants will receive instructions for joining the live session and any additional details 1 day in advance and the morning of the event. Please be sure to look for the link in your email.

This program begins promptly at 12:00pm Eastern. Please log on 5 minutes early to ensure your internet connection, audio, and other settings are working properly.

For registration or membership questions contact info@mafn.org.

MAFN 3-part Series: Becoming a Heart-Centred Facilitator: A Learning Journey in Presence, Connection, and Meaningful Facilitation (11/19/2026)

Thu, 19 Nov 2026 16:00:00 GMT

Duration: 90 minutes

About the workshop:

Each session builds on the last, combining experiential activities, peer learning, guided reflection, and practical application between sessions.

Learning Objectives

In this session, participants will:

Cultivate greater self-awareness and presence by recognizing how their mindset, emotional regulation, and personal habits influence the groups they facilitate
Intentionally design and facilitate experiences that foster psychological safety, meaningful participation, trust, and authentic connection across a variety of group settings.
Strengthen their facilitation practice through reflection, peer learning, and real-world application, leaving with greater confidence, practical strategies, and a personalized plan for continued development as a facilitator.

Best suited for: All levels

NOTE: This workshop will be recorded for distribution to all who register (breakout rooms will not be recorded)

Each session is 90 minutes. It will take place at 11:00am - 12:30pm EDT on the following dates:

Session 1: Thursday, November 5, 2026
Session 2: Thursday, November 12, 2026
Session 3: Thursday, November 19, 2026

Speakers:

ONLINE WORKSHOP REMINDERS:

MAFN does not offer refunds for events. Anyone who registers for an event will receive a credit that can be applied to any other MAFN event, or to MAFN membership. Credits must be used within 2 years.
Registered participants will receive instructions for joining the live session and any additional details 1 day in advance and the morning of the event. Please be sure to look for the link in your email.

This program begins promptly at 11:00am Eastern. Please log on at least 5 minutes in advance to ensure your internet connections, audio and other settings are functioning properly.

For registration or membership questions contact info@mafn.org.

MAFN 3-Part Series: The Restorative Facilitator: A Toolkit for Conflict, Culture & Justice (01/12/2027)

Tue, 12 Jan 2027 18:00:00 GMT

Duration: 90 minutes

About the workshop:

We've all been in the room when something shifts, a disagreement sharpens, a silence gets heavy, and the group looks to us to do something. This three-part cohort gives facilitators a restorative, justice-grounded toolkit for exactly those moments.

Across three weeks, we move through facilitating through conflict, designing for belonging, and holding the room when conversations turn toward racial and social justice

This is a working cohort, not a lecture series: you'll practice live in breakouts, build facilitation moves against real scenarios, and leave each session with a tool you can use the next time you're in front of a group.

Learning Objectives

In this session, participants will:

Facilitate through conflict using restorative moves. Participants will gain concrete techniques for working with tension rather than smoothing it over; naming what's happening without taking sides, de-escalating in the moment, and structuring a restorative process to reopen dialogue when a group is stuck.
Diagnose group dynamics and design for belonging in real time. Participants will build the ability to read the unspoken dynamics in a room, set and re-set norms mid-session, and design interventions that establish psychological safety and genuine belonging from the first ten minutes..
Hold the room when conversations turn toward racial and social justice. Participants will develop the self-awareness and skill to examine their own roles and behaviors as facilitators, respond rather than react when harm surfaces, and hold a group in productive discomfort. Participants will be equipped to move past performative gestures toward honest, structural practice.

Best suited for: Mid-Level Facilitators

NOTE: This workshop will be recorded for distribution to all who register (breakout rooms will not be recorded)

Each session is 90 minutes. It will take place at 1pm - 2:30pm EST on the following dates:

Session 1: Tuesday, January 12, 2027
Session 2: Tuesday, January 19, 2027
Session 3: Tuesday, Januray 26, 2027

Speakers:

Stephanie Cuevas is an Organizational Consultant and Leadership Coach and the founder of Cultivating Joy Consulting, a Denver-based practice grounded in restorative justice, equity-centered design, and a "joy as resistance" philosophy. Drawing on 10+ years in higher education and mission-driven organizations, she designs and facilitates conflict-resolution, culture, and equity processes that help groups move from avoidance to action. Her facilitation centers on cultural humility, participation over performance, and the belief that the hardest conversations are where the most growth lives. She brings a deep library of interactive, field-tested facilitation tools and a warm, grounded presence to every room she holds.

ONLINE WORKSHOP REMINDERS:

MAFN does not offer refunds for events. Anyone who registers for an event will receive a credit that can be applied to any other MAFN event, or to MAFN membership. Credits must be used within 2 years.
Registered participants will receive instructions for joining the live session and any additional details 1 day in advance and the morning of the event. Please be sure to look for the link in your email.

This program begins promptly at 1:00pm Eastern. Please log on at least 5 minutes in advance to ensure your internet connections, audio and other settings are functioning properly.

For registration or membership questions contact info@mafn.org.

MAFN 3-Part Series: The Restorative Facilitator: A Toolkit for Conflict, Culture & Justice (01/19/2027)

Tue, 19 Jan 2027 18:00:00 GMT

Duration: 90 minutes

About the workshop:

Across three weeks, we move through facilitating through conflict, designing for belonging, and holding the room when conversations turn toward racial and social justice

Learning Objectives

In this session, participants will:

Facilitate through conflict using restorative moves. Participants will gain concrete techniques for working with tension rather than smoothing it over; naming what's happening without taking sides, de-escalating in the moment, and structuring a restorative process to reopen dialogue when a group is stuck.
Diagnose group dynamics and design for belonging in real time. Participants will build the ability to read the unspoken dynamics in a room, set and re-set norms mid-session, and design interventions that establish psychological safety and genuine belonging from the first ten minutes..
Hold the room when conversations turn toward racial and social justice. Participants will develop the self-awareness and skill to examine their own roles and behaviors as facilitators, respond rather than react when harm surfaces, and hold a group in productive discomfort. Participants will be equipped to move past performative gestures toward honest, structural practice.

Best suited for: Mid-Level Facilitators

NOTE: This workshop will be recorded for distribution to all who register (breakout rooms will not be recorded)

Each session is 90 minutes. It will take place at 1pm - 2:30pm EST on the following dates:

Session 1: Tuesday, January 12, 2027
Session 2: Tuesday, January 19, 2027
Session 3: Tuesday, Januray 26, 2027

Speakers:

ONLINE WORKSHOP REMINDERS:

MAFN does not offer refunds for events. Anyone who registers for an event will receive a credit that can be applied to any other MAFN event, or to MAFN membership. Credits must be used within 2 years.
Registered participants will receive instructions for joining the live session and any additional details 1 day in advance and the morning of the event. Please be sure to look for the link in your email.

This program begins promptly at 1:00pm Eastern. Please log on at least 5 minutes in advance to ensure your internet connections, audio and other settings are functioning properly.

For registration or membership questions contact info@mafn.org.

MAFN 3-Part Series: The Restorative Facilitator: A Toolkit for Conflict, Culture & Justice (01/26/2027)

Tue, 26 Jan 2027 18:00:00 GMT

Duration: 90 minutes

About the workshop:

Across three weeks, we move through facilitating through conflict, designing for belonging, and holding the room when conversations turn toward racial and social justice

Learning Objectives

In this session, participants will:

Facilitate through conflict using restorative moves. Participants will gain concrete techniques for working with tension rather than smoothing it over; naming what's happening without taking sides, de-escalating in the moment, and structuring a restorative process to reopen dialogue when a group is stuck.
Diagnose group dynamics and design for belonging in real time. Participants will build the ability to read the unspoken dynamics in a room, set and re-set norms mid-session, and design interventions that establish psychological safety and genuine belonging from the first ten minutes..
Hold the room when conversations turn toward racial and social justice. Participants will develop the self-awareness and skill to examine their own roles and behaviors as facilitators, respond rather than react when harm surfaces, and hold a group in productive discomfort. Participants will be equipped to move past performative gestures toward honest, structural practice.

Best suited for: Mid-Level Facilitators

NOTE: This workshop will be recorded for distribution to all who register (breakout rooms will not be recorded)

Each session is 90 minutes. It will take place at 1pm - 2:30pm EST on the following dates:

Session 1: Tuesday, January 12, 2027
Session 2: Tuesday, January 19, 2027
Session 3: Tuesday, Januray 26, 2027

Speakers:

ONLINE WORKSHOP REMINDERS:

MAFN does not offer refunds for events. Anyone who registers for an event will receive a credit that can be applied to any other MAFN event, or to MAFN membership. Credits must be used within 2 years.
Registered participants will receive instructions for joining the live session and any additional details 1 day in advance and the morning of the event. Please be sure to look for the link in your email.

This program begins promptly at 1:00pm Eastern. Please log on at least 5 minutes in advance to ensure your internet connections, audio and other settings are functioning properly.

For registration or membership questions contact info@mafn.org.

MAFN Online Workshop: Building Your AI Sparring Partner: Authentic Facilitation in the Age of Intelligent Tools (02/19/2027)

Fri, 19 Feb 2027 17:00:00 GMT

Duration: 90 minutes

About the workshop:

This hands-on workshop helps you design your own AI sparring partner—a customized system prompt you can use in any AI platform to get facilitation support that matches your authentic style and ethical boundaries.

We'll explore where AI extends (not replaces) facilitator value, draft a working system prompt that includes your approach and boundaries, and see practical examples from enterprise facilitation practice. Leave with a draft system prompt ready to refine, clear personal boundaries for AI use, and confidence articulating your practice to clients. No prior AI experience or special accounts required.

Learning Objectives

In this session, participants will explore:

Strategic AI Integration Framework – Identify which tasks AI can enhance (preparation, synthesis, resource generation) versus tasks requiring irreplaceable human judgment (emotional reading, trust-building, conflict navigation, meaning-making)
System Prompt Design – Draft a personalized AI system prompt that articulates their facilitation style, values, go-to methods, constraints, and ethical boundaries, using a structured framework they can implement in any free AI platform to receive context-appropriate, values-aligned session design support
Authentic Professional Communication – Confidently articulate their AI use practices to clients and stakeholders using the "transparency test," maintaining trust and authentic relationships while adopting intelligent tools in their facilitation practice.

Best suited for: All levels

NOTE: This workshop will be recorded for distribution to all who register (breakout rooms will not be recorded).

This is a 90-minute online workshop. It will take place at 12:00pm - 1:30pm EST.

Speaker:

Mirjana Barovic partners with teams and organizations across automotive, HR tech, and corporate industries to design events and large-scale workshops for strategic planning and team alignment. Passionate about learning, teaching, and facilitating, Mirjana blends Agile frameworks with next-generation learning tools (including AI-powered coaching and facilitating) to meet teams where they are. She is committed to creating space where conversations unfold authentically and thinking becomes visible.

ONLINE WORKSHOP REMINDERS

MAFN does not offer refunds for events. Anyone who registers for an event will receive a credit that can be applied to any other MAFN event, or to MAFN membership. Credits must be used within 2 years.

Registered participants will receive instructions for joining the live session and any additional details 1 day in advance and the morning of the event. Please be sure to look for the link in your email.

This program begins promptly at 12:00pm Eastern. Please log on 5 minutes early to ensure your internet connection, audio, and other settings are working properly.

For registration or membership questions contact info@mafn.org.

MAFN Online Workshop: The 10 New Liberating Structures (03/12/2027)

Fri, 12 Mar 2027 17:00:00 GMT

Duration: 90 minutes

About the workshop:

Liberating Structures has long provided facilitators with a versatile toolkit for engaging groups. Now, for the first time in many years, ten new structures have been officially added.

Join this interactive exploration of the newest Liberating Structures and key updates to existing ones. We'll examine when and why to use these methods, discuss practical applications, and consider how they complement other facilitation approaches. Whether you're new to Liberating Structures or a longtime practitioner, you'll leave with fresh ideas for helping groups think, connect, and work together more effectively.

Learning Objectives

In this session, participants will:

Explore important updates to several classic Liberating Structures, including new guidance for virtual and hybrid settings.
Gain familiarity with the ten newly published Liberating Structures and the purposes they were designed to serve.
Discover practical situations where the new structures can help groups connect, learn, make sense of complexity, and work together more effectively.

Best suited for: Mid-Level Facilitators

NOTE: This workshop will be recorded for distribution to all who register (breakout rooms will not be recorded).

This is a 90-minute online workshop. It will take place at 12:00pm - 1:30pm EST.

Speaker:

Lee Gimpel helps organizations design and lead meetings, retreats, and conferences that are more connected and productive. He is the founder of Better Meetings, a DC-based facilitation and training firm that often works on events with a high need for engagement, collaboration, and networking. Clients include the National Association of Realtors, Sodexo, and World Bank. He created the Conference Engagement Cards, leads the DC Liberating Structures community, and serves on the board of the Association of Meeting Professionals.

ONLINE WORKSHOP REMINDERS

MAFN does not offer refunds for events. Anyone who registers for an event will receive a credit that can be applied to any other MAFN event, or to MAFN membership. Credits must be used within 2 years.

Registered participants will receive instructions for joining the live session and any additional details 1 day in advance and the morning of the event. Please be sure to look for the link in your email.

This program begins promptly at 12:00pm Eastern. Please log on 5 minutes early to ensure your internet connection, audio, and other settings are working properly.

For registration or membership questions contact info@mafn.org.