Our Programs
2023 Facilitator Training for Small Group Dialogue
Our most recent training Took place 1/29. If you are interested in being notified about future trainings, please fill out this interest form.
The City-wide Kitchen Table Conversations
We partnered with the City Council Committee on Media and Outreach to identify effective methods of communication and increase interest and participation in City government.
In July and August 2019 we facilitated 18 “Kitchen Table Conversations” throughout Watertown. These conversations took place in homes and public spaces around the city. Each conversation was hosted by a Watertown resident and was facilitated by a Watertown Community Conversation facilitator; many were attended by a City Councilor who served as a resource. The purpose of these conversations was to gather input from a broad, diverse group of Watertown community members about public engagement. They were lively, fun and informative!
On October 23, 2019 there was a Report Back Event for the City Council and everyone who participated to review the results. You can see the results and recommendations to the City Council here:
Overview of Kitchen Table Conversations Results
Detailed Summary of Kitchen Table Conversations
Survey Results - Engagement Tools Currently Used
Survey Results - Top 3 Engagement Tools Currently Used
Democracy Speaks
We were delighted to partner with The Watertown Free Public Library on their Democracy Talks series. In the Library's words, Democracy Talks "is a series of events designed to illuminate the democratic process and create space for conversation. Our expert speakers grapple with the thorniest issues of our time, providing much-needed context and suggesting paths to engagement."
Watertown Community Conversations facilitates the public dialogue session immediately following the selected presentations. Our goal is to help neighbors have thoughtful and productive dialogue about some of the most challenging issues facing our democracy. Through a facilitated conversation, participants explore what the topic means for them personally and for Watertown.
Watertown Community Conversations:FaciliTator Training
The first cadre of 12 new Watertown Community Conversation facilitators were trained in June of 2018. In the 2-day training participants learned skills to facilitate small group conversations as part of Watertown Community Conversations.
We will continue to hold two-day trainings for new Watertown Community Conversation facilitators. There is no cost to participate in the training and no prior facilitation experience is required. If you would like to receive information about future training opportunities please email us at wcc@watertownconversations.org.
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