Facilitator Training Applications Open

January 12 – 13, 2023

Colorado Humanities is hosting a Facilitator Training in Denver for individuals interested in facilitating community conversations on the topics of race, ethnicity, dying and grief, war and veteran experience, and change in rural Colorado.

This free training prepares people to plan and facilitate conversations across differences, beliefs, and backgrounds about vital issues and questions to help build understanding and strengthen relationships within organizations and communities. Coloradans who complete the training will be certified to facilitate community conversations with our organization throughout the state and be paid for those services.

Training participants will learn about conversation facilitation, have an opportunity to practice new skills and techniques, reflect on and share their own beliefs and assumptions, and listen to beliefs, backgrounds, and experiences differing from their own. Upon completion of the training, participants will leave feeling more confident and better equipped to observe and respond to group dynamics as well as design and facilitate a conversation that allows people to learn more about themselves and each other. Participants will then use the framework and tools to facilitate conversations in their workplace or community.

Potential participants should complete an application by December 26, 2022.

Trainers

Jason McNeal Graham is a multiethnic, multimedia, multivitamin artist living in Central Oregon. Writing, painting, and music are his three main channels. He was recently selected for the group exhibition “Black Matter,” curated by Tammy Jo Wilson. His work in music and writing has been featured on TEDx, NPR, the NBA, and several other three letter acronyms. Graham (who often presents as MOsley WOtta) was an invited resident scholar at Goddard College, a skittish alum of Diverse Intelligences Summer institute, and a humble brag Slam Poetry Champion for the State of Oregon. Graham is finishing his tenure as Bend, Oregon’s first Creative Laureate, the third such position in the nation.

Jennifer Alkezweeny has been Oregon Humanities’ program director since 2020. She supports the team of folks making Oregon Humanities programs happen, provides leadership for the organization’s vision, and connects with organizations and communities to explore new initiatives. She is focused on connecting people to their communities and pursuing their goals while centering social justice. She has created learning spaces around the country and globe and loves that moment when the people in a room begin to harmonize. Jennifer is a deep believer in experiential learning, harnessing the knowledge in a room, finding your learning edge, and the power of silence. She’s a longtime volunteer facilitator with the Dougy Center for Grieving Children and Families. In her free time she can be found experimenting in the kitchen, looking at the world from behind a macro lens, or floating around in her kayak.