One-on-One chats - Strengthen and Build your Movement

*Free Resource!*

This is a tool used in social justice organizations. I want to share it freely, because it does not belong to any of us. I created the "how to" guide, but do not wish to profit. Feel free to customize to fit your group's needs. Enjoy and share!

You're part of a nonprofit, social justice team, faith group, or coalition.

You look around you, and wonder:

“Who is this person?" "What has brought them to this point?”

“What experiences, background, biases, and interests do we share?”

“How do we differ?” “How can we empower and work with one another?”

This document guides you through a type of conversation you can use to strengthen your team and answer these questions about your collaborators.

If you want to build your movement, develop deep, meaningful relationships, and fully know the talents available within your team, doing one-on-ones is a savvy first step.

I had my first one-on-ones shortly after I joined ECCO (Essex County Community Organization), a huge multifaith coalition here on the North Shore. Led by POC / those closest to the pain, ECCO has been uniquely effective at writing legislation, pushing for co-sponsors, uniting congregations of different faiths, and activating our region in Direct Action for social justice. ECCO is part of the Massachusetts Communities Action Network (MCAN), which is part of our national network, Faith In Action. I wondered what made them so good at what they do.

Part of why ECCO is so effective is their focus on deep, meaningful relationships across cultures. We live in a very segregated region, especially in terms of race and economics, so it's especially important to intentionally make meaningful connections across economic, racial, and religious lines. One-on-Ones are an excellent way to do this life-saving work.

I had attended one or two ECCO events, and was interested in joining / helping / learning how to become an effective social justice changemaker.

“But how?”

Thankfully, two of the powerhouse-for-justice women in leadership, invited me out to coffee (back when that wasn’t lethal). On separate occasions, we met for this life-changing chat.

They explained - they wanted to get to know me. They have found that truly knowing their teammates helps us all be more effective.

“Tell me your life story. What has brought you to this point?”

They just listened.

What emerged, as we took turns sharing, was one of the most empowering experiences of my “activist career.” It helped me realize that I really *did* have a lot to offer – many things I’d forgotten about or not yet known about myself. I got to better understand the lives, passions, and talents these women leverage on behalf of the marginalized. It was life-changing.

I still remember some parts of our conversations, verbatim, they had such an effect on my life.

This can be used for a variety of teams, but works especially well when we share mission or problem to solve. You can use it with high school social justice clubs, college service teams, youth groups, mission trips, nonprofits, faith groups, leadership teams, and the like. Enjoy, and feel free to share. -Lauren