Country Coordinator Resources

Country Rooms:

Country Cohort Small Groups

Small Group #1

Friday, March 15 - 11:30AM - 12:15PM

Care Notes: Volunteers will have just heard their Country Program assignment for the first time.

There will be high emotions—from excitement to frustration or disbelief. In this session, focus on introductions and time to voice feelings.

 

1.      Welcome to (Country Program!) I know we’ve just heard our assignments, and we’re still processing this new reality. Let’s take a minute to introduce ourselves – at a nice slow pace –and then we’ll chat about how we’re feeling.


Introduce names, pronouns, and where they’re from

o   Also have each person share their initial feelings about this assignment.

o   Encourage them that they’re in a safe space to share

 

NOTE: Emphasize that this is not a space to debate or contest your assignment.

 

2.    There have been a lot of touchpoints in this process, since you first applied. You had an alum call, an interview with a YAGM staff member, then your interviews with us Country Coordinators… How did you feel as you went through that process?

a.     When did you feel most seen or cared for?

b.    Any parts you felt in the dark?



3.     What parts of your self feel affirmed in (Country Program) being your final assignment? Any parts of you feel challenged or called out?

 

Country Small Groups #2

Saturday, March 16 - 11AM - 12PM

Care Notes: At this point, volunteers will have had the Race Power and Privilege session with the Indigenous Orientation and Gender and Sexuality sessions to take place later this weekend. The YAGMs of Color have also had a space for breakout last night for dinner. These are important spaces of care in our program, which attempt to address YAGM’s mixed history of inclusion and representation. It may be good to speak plainly about this in this longer session.

 

1.      You’ve had some time to process some of the plenary sessions in your alum-led small groups. Since each of us here are not all in the same small groups, let’s take a moment to share any insights or lingering tensions/lessons/take aways. Could you share any impressions from those sessions, or your small groups, that are sticking with you?


2.    What pieces of content from the past sessions do you see applying to your year of service, and how?


3.     What pieces of content from the past sessions do you see applying to the culture of this Country Program’s cohort, and how?


4.     What is a growing edge for yourself in either of this themes, and how can we as a cohort support you in that growing edge?


5.    What commitments would you like to see from YAGM as a program in order to feel safe and empowered to grow in these areas?