Facilitating Connection

Facilitators lead in the responsibility for curating, creating, and caring for the shared space occupied by participants, so that participants can be fully present in dialogue with each other. Sometimes we call this shared space the “container”. Some engagements happen live, while others happen virtually. There are also asynchronous spaces, such as pre-recorded training sessions and discussion forums, or Facebook groups. In all of these cases, some work is needed on the part of the facilitator to set the tone, guide a process for co-creating norms for engagement, build community, and ensure a safe and equitable environment.