MAFN 2020-2021
Online Workshops
The MAFN Professional Development Team is pleased to announce the opening of the 2020-2021 online workshop season. Given expectations for continued physical distancing, we will offer online workshops of 90 to 180 minutes starting September 25, 2020 through June 2021. MAFN will consider holding in-person workshops on an “a la carte” basis once conditions permit, likely in 2021.
We anticipate convening at least one 90-minute workshop per month and will offer longer (120-180 minute) workshops throughout the year. All online workshops will be scheduled on Fridays starting at 12 pm Eastern.
Content Focus for 2020-2021 Series
Content for MAFN workshops will cover a wide range of skills, techniques, and processes related to facilitation. In response to member interest and our commitment to helping groups reflect, converge, and act, we will offer sessions that focus on:
- Convening virtual sessions
- Facilitation methodologies and techniques
- Rethinking our roles and behaviors in furthering racial and social justice
- Managing your facilitation business
Member Registration and Pricing
Unlike in prior years, we will not offer a season in-person workshop subscriber package this year. Instead, we will offer one complimentary 90-minute online workshop per month to MAFN members who are current on their dues payment. Additional online workshops will require separate registration with a separate fee for members.
September 25th Opening Online Workshop
Our first online workshop, Racial Justice Foundations: Tips and Tactics for All Facilitators, is scheduled for Friday September 25th, from 12 pm - 1:30 pm Eastern.
As facilitators, our role is to engage the diverse perspectives and experiences of the groups with which we work. No matter the focus of your facilitation practice, having a grounding in how racial dynamics can impact a group is critical to honoring the diversity within groups. Join us for a discussion focused on the foundations of what all facilitators need to know in order to bring awareness of racial dynamics to your facilitation approach. We'll review realistic scenarios and how to facilitate unexpected conversations in small groups. Registration is now open for this workshop. (insert registration link)
We will post the October and November online workshops by the end of September.
Roundtables, Networking Opportunities and Communities of Practice
This year we will also convene a variety of alternative learning and gathering opportunities, such as virtual lunches or roundtable discussions covering a facilitative practice topic. Some MAFN members are forming communities of practice (CoPs) with other interested facilitators to focus on a particular platform, such as Mural, or other facilitation-related topics, such as racial and social justice facilitative practices. We invite your engagement in these peer-to-peer learning opportunities and will post events and learning / practice opportunities, including registration fees when applicable, on a rolling basis.
Interested in a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Community of Practice? Join us after the September 25th workshop from 1:30-2:15 to discuss ideas and next steps for starting this community of practice. Open to all who are interested.
Opportunities Still Available for Online Workshop Presenters / Facilitators
Opportunities are still available for facilitators who would like to facilitate/speak to our MAFN audience. We welcome MAFN members and non-members to propose an online workshop of 90-180 minutes for our 2020-2021 year. You may propose an online workshop that you would like to develop, or one that you have presented in other venues. To express interest or to learn more about our MAFN audience and desired topics please access this link to our website where you will find more details and a link to Google Forms to complete the Professional Development submission process. All submissions are welcome and will be considered. If you have questions, please contact Linda Howard at workshops@mafn.org.
We look forward to seeing you again later this month!
Sincerely,
MAFN Professional Development Committee