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

Input Phase

FACILITATOR 1: Introduction

• Welcome everyone.
 
• Facilitators introduce themselves, perhaps say a little of your background and experience with PA’s and Community Organising or Projects - Brief but inspiring! If you want to bring people into the space, perhaps do a short visioning exercise, inviting people to imagine something or think about what brought them to the space.
 
• Explain that People’s Assemblies have three ‘phases’:
• Input (includes introduction)
• Deliberation (discussion)
• Integration (Feedback)

• Input Phase
  During the input phase, we explain the process and structure of the assembly, we introduce the hand signals, and frame the focus of the assembly, as well as what will happen with the outcomes from the assembly.

   

  [If you are having more input here than just presenting the topic for discussion, such as speakers, video etc you will explain that here too]

 
• Deliberation Phase
  During the Deliberation (discussion) phase, you will be placed in small groups for [insert chosen length of deliberation phase] minutes and discuss the question/topic of this assembly.
 
• Integration Phase At the end of the Deliberation phase, the groups will come back into the full assembly and feedback what was generated in their small discussion group.

Facilitator 2: Hand Signals

[Demonstrate the hand signals used in assembly to allow people to use them during the introduction and input phase of the assembly.]

 
• We use hand signals to facilitate a discussion in which all voices get heard, no one dominates and we don’t speak over each other. We will outline the hand signals you will need to take part today. Don’t worry if you can’t remember them as they will be repeated later in the session.

HAND SIGNALS
[As you verbally outline the hand signals, physically show them to ensure people fully understand them].

Make a point: One index finger pointed upwards.

The facilitator will stack, but they can choose to stack out of order to ensure RADICAL INCLUSIVITY and ensure all voices are heard.

Agreement: Wavy hands for agreement. This is to help note taker, who can record the level of agreement, and to make sure people are not interrupting others...remember it’s all about ACTIVE LISTENING.

Clarification: Create a c shape with one hand. This is to ensure all are able to fully participate. It is useful if people do not understand anything, particularly important if unfamiliar terms and acronyms are used.

Direct point: Two index fingers pointing upwards. This is not for responding, this is just for extra added information that is directly relevant to what is being said – people must be careful not to misuse this to jump ahead in the queue!

Technical point: Create a t-shape with your hands. This is used for technical information such as breaks or timings.

Round up: Create a circle with both hands. Do this after 2 minutes to make sure that those who are more comfortable speaking don’t go on and on...remember: RADICAL INCLUSIVITY.

Speak up: Move your hands upwards with their palms facing upwards.

Temperature check: Jiggle fingers at a level that corresponds with feelings i.e. upwards - support, horizontally - ambivalent, downwards - don’t support. This can be used to quickly check the feelings of the group.