Several times per year we offer workshops from our Building Our Movements Online series to the public. Since 2017, we've trained over 700 facilitators, organizers, and volunteers in best practices for online engagement, disability justice-informed facilitation, and Zoom tech support. Our trainings are designed for peer learning, skill-building, and real world application, with structured outlines and activities that honor different learning styles.
Dates and Times
Provided in Pacific Time (PT), Mountain Time (MT), Central Time (CT), and Eastern Time (ET).
The Power of Online Spaces
July 17th: 9am-11am PT, 10am-12pm MT, 11am-1pm CT, 12pm-2pm ET.
Still Zoomin'
July 8th: 10am-12:30pm PT, 11am-1:30pm MT, 12pm-2:30pm CT, 1pm-3:30pm ET.
Tech Support Clinics
Thursdays: February 20th, May 8th, August 21st, and November 20th.
- 12pm-1:30pm PT
- 1pm-2:30pm MT
- 2pm-3:30pm CT
- 3pm-4:30pm ET
Program Description and Takeaways
PeoplesHub's online workshops are grounded in radical hospitality, disability justice, and popular education — traditions that grassroots movements worldwide have used to build power and education.
You'll engage in hands-on activities, discussions and real world examples. Expect a mix of reflection, skill-building, and collaborative learning, as we learn to design and be technical hosts for online experiences that are both accessible and powerful.
The Power of Online Spaces
A 2-hour workshop designed for facilitators to improve their facilitation of online meetings and gatherings with impactful, generative, and energizing tools.
In the current movement moment, we often need to call our people together to do rapid response, group study, strategy, and mobilization. We know that online meetings are a fast and accessible way to gather, but they don't need to be chaotic or boring snooze-fests. When people show up, be prepared to offer them a space that will build on the momentum that's already there! This training will help you learn how to design for impactful, generative and energizing online meetings.
PeoplesHub trainers will share our methodology, which draws on years of learning and experimentation with building accessible, popular education spaces online. We'll dispel common myths about what is and isn't possible online through interactive practice. And we'll get familiar with tools for holding online spaces with confidence and clarity.
This program is ideal for…
- Those looking for more skills to strengthen the depth of their online connections.
- Those who feel overwhelmed by the barriers of online events or uncertain of what's possible.
- Those who are already working online and want to bring the participatory/popular education element to help them move past webinar-type or less participatory spaces.
- Community organizers who want to hold meetings online to be more inclusive to those observing COVID-19 precautions, folks without transportation, caregivers, etc.
Outcomes:
- Identify barriers to positive online experiences and ways to overcome them
- Understand what makes online learning effective and engaging
- Apply practices for creating restorative and supportive online spaces
- Adapt popular in-person facilitation exercises for virtual settings
- Design online spaces for different event formats
- Incorporate basic accessibility considerations to make your spaces welcoming to participants
Still Zoomin'
A 2.5-hour training that equips staff and volunteers with technical support skills, practice time, and a framework of radical hospitality so they can support facilitators and event attendees.
Key to every successful online gathering is tech support. We know that while many amazing groups are holding presentations and meetings on Zoom, those gatherings sometimes suffer because of tech issues. This workshop is for people who want the online gatherings they hold to run smoothly and move their group's work forward!
If your group or organization is convening people online, you've probably noticed that everything goes better when there’s someone handling the tech. Facilitators cannot do it alone. This workshop prepares staff or volunteers to provide tech support to your facilitators and your audiences. We applaud those who continue to do organizing work online. We want your online gatherings to go well!
Registrants to this workshop should…
- work (volunteer or staff) in groups or organizations that hold online gatherings
- have basic familiarity with Zoom, at least as a participant
- have access to a Pro Zoom account
- be prepared to engage!
PeoplesHub workshops are hands-on and highly participatory. We've found people learn new skills best when they are present and ready to practice. This workshop has room for a maximum of 12 participants, so register early and bring a comrade!
Outcomes:
- Hold space for your community by developing the technical skills needed to support effective and engaging online gatherings
- Understand your role of a Tech Support Lead (TSL) while providing radical virtual hospitality
- Use key functions and features of the Zoom video conferencing platform to foster interaction and connection between participants
- Consider and implement accessibility practices to ensure everyone can fully participate
- Build a practical template for organizing tech logistics
Tech Support Clinics
1.5-hour facilitated practice sessions available only to participants who have completed Still Zoomin'. These peer supported spaces take place throughout the year to help movement workers and volunteers maintain their tech skills, build solidarity and reinforce practices of online radical hospitality and access.
Additional Information
What is radical hospitality?
Radical Hospitality is a concept with deep roots in monastic Christian traditions, developed by liberation and social movements, and embraced by disability justice organizers. Radical hospitality is the discipline of acting intentionally and with care to create spaces where people — especially those most left on the margins — are welcomed and supported to fully participate as they are willing and able. Radical hospitality breaks down the barriers of unjust social norms with generosity of spirit, creative imagination, and an unwavering commitment to recognizing our shared humanity.
The Power of Online Spaces Preparation
Please choose a location with a strong internet connection, where you are able to share and listen comfortably. You'll need a laptop or desktop computer (you cannot do this training on a phone or mobile device), with Zoom meetings installed, video or webcam, and headphones. If possible, bring a recent or upbringing presentation from your group to practice with.
Still Zoomin' Preparation
Please choose a location with a strong internet connection, where you are able to share and listen comfortably. You'll need a laptop or desktop computer, with Zoom meetings installed, video or webcam, and headphones.
Tech Support Clinics Preparation
Complete the Still Zoomin' workshop.
Accessibility
AI captioning will be provided.
Access requests, including interpretation and captioners, can be made during registration or by emailing Dustin Gibson at dustin (at) peopleshub (dot) org. Requests for interpreters and captioners that are made less than 48 hours before the event typically are more difficult to meet. We will try and notify you if we cannot secure requested access.
Registration Cost
The Power of Online Spaces: Choose what to pay, starting at $40. The true cost of this workshop is $100 per person.
Still Zoomin': $200 per person. Tech Support Clinics will be free for those who qualify with the prerequisites.
At PeoplesHub we are committed to communication access, radical hospitality, supporting facilitators, and making our offerings financially accessible. This sliding scale allows us to continue offering programs like this one and pay trainers, interpreters, captioners, and other support staff a fair wage for their time and expertise. Like you, those who support our trainings work hard for change in their communities and have often developed the knowledge, skill and gifts that they are offering through many unpaid hours — let's support them to be sustainable in their work and craft!
Registration Portal
Issues with Registration? If you have questions about this offering or technical needs registering for this event, please contact registration support. Clicking the links will take you to external websites for registration:
- Registration is closed for The Power of Online Spaces and Still Zoomin' workshops.
- Tech Support Clinics email info (at) peopleshub (dot) org to register after completing Still Zoomin'.