Script For In-Person Community Assembly
This script has been written to help you organise a community assembly.
Please note that this script is written in such a way as to ensure that those who are new to people’s assemblies are fully supported throughout. If you are an experienced PA facilitator and are working with those who understand how PAs work, understand their history and the hand signals, you may wish to skip over certain sections. In short, please adapt this script to the needs of your situation and your audience.
Important Things to Consider
- Before you attempt to facilitate a People’s Assembly, please make sure you have at least attended one! But remember: it’s not rocket science. Give it a go! You’ll be great!
- This script is just a starting point. As you do more, you’ll figure out your own way of saying what’s here. Don’t feel that this is the only way in which a People’s Assembly can be facilitated, although this method is based on many years of experience in PA’s by people from all over the World.
- Other things to note:
- The two facilitators should be of different genders if at all possible.
- Ensure radical inclusivity! Allow time at the start of the assembly to get everyone familiarised with using the tech. Think about the language you are using. Is it academic or vernacular? Are you communicating in a way that speaks to everyone within your community?
- Remember that all voices are valued equally. Trust the process, and allow all people to speak, even if you are not sure you’re going to like what you hear!
- We welcome all people, but not all behaviours: if someone says something that makes you feel uncomfortable (i.e. they may have been racist or sexist), then name the feelings triggered by that behaviour… for example, ”what you said just then made me feel very uncomfortable”. Do not judge the person: saying “you are a racist” or “you are a sexist” or whatever in this situation is more likely to lead to an escalation, and is likely to put the person into a defensive mode that will make further conversation more difficult.
- People's assemblies are widely used in action groups and civic democracy groups. For example, the Peoples Assemblies book on the Rebel Toolkit, provides loads more hints, tips and background information on PAs.
Script
- Input Phase
- Introduction (Facilitator 1)
- Hand Signals (Facilitator 2)
- Introduce the Concept of a People’s Assembly (Facilitator 1)
- History
- Inclusivity Statement
- Testify
- Three Pillars (Facilitator 2)
- Framing the topic: What is the point of this people’s assembly? (Facilitator 1)
- Deliberation Phase
- Breakout Room - Technical Advice
- How Does a People’s Assembly Work? (Facilitator 2)
- Discussion
- Integration/Output Phase