Co-Creating
Community Agreements
AKA “Ground Rules”
Adults self-check
1
How to Co-Create Agreements
ASK youth to lead & support them
2
Post & use the agreements regularly
3
Get clear on the difference between “rules” of the space (facility and program policies created by adults) and Group Agreements that participants establish. Agree to abide by the agreements the youth say they need, and communicate your agreement with participants.
Ask open-ended questions about what youth want and need in a space to participate fully, feel comfortable and not judged. For preteens & teens, invite them to create an activity that solitics their peers’ input. Support them by providing examples, materials, and enthusiastic participation in their activity. For younger youth, offer an activity that solicits their wants and needs. Invite youth to scribe for themselves and ask how they’d like to be supported.
Display the group agreements in the program spaces. Revisit them regularly, add as needed. Ask what the group is living into and where the group wants to adjust.
(Details on next pages)
This Works
In virtual and in-person spaces.
Supplies needed:
Self-check
1
Clarify the difference between policies and group agreements. Commit to listening.
When we create space for youth to say what they want and need in a program space, and show them we honor their voices by abiding by and advancing their rules, they are accountable to each other and to the community.
Know the difference …
Agreement
Examples
Policy Examples
Guardian permission is required for enrolment
Participants must sign in upon arrival.
Rule of 3: adults may not be alone with youth 1:1
“One Mic” - take turns speaking
& when one person is speaking
others are listening.
“Don’t yuck my yum” - We don’t have to like the same things, but we won’t put each others’ ideas down
Ouch/Oops: Anyone has the right to say “ouch” when feelings are hurt. The offender can be forgiven by acknowledging “oops”
Ask Youth
2
Invite youth to create their own rules…
Here’s how…
Activities for co-creating agreements
WIBYT
Acrostic
Get creative
Write it before you talk.
Each participant writes down 1 thing they want and need in a space & then shares on a larger board for all to see. (Normalize that all handwriting & spelling are welcome!)
Youth identify a word that’s meaningful to the group (e.g. the name of the program or a shared goal) and invite participants to propose a “rule” or “agreement” that starts with (or uses) the first letter of that word.
Asking youth to come up with interactive games and activities to solicit their peers’ input works! We’ve seen freeze dance, passing a beach ball, scrabble boards & more. Someone can scribe – or folks can write for themselves.
Invite inquiry
Adults’ roles in co-creating
Make & Hold Space
Explain clearly
Carve out time during program sessions & ask youth how they’d like to co-create.
Provide examples & materials.
Listen.
When there are topics you know need to be addressed, ask youth how they want to address them (e.g. resolving conflict, cell phone use)
With an eye on developmental stage and understanding, explain clearly why something may need to be the way it is. E.g. limits to confidentiality
3
Post & Use
Keep Group Agreements alive by posting them in the space & using them regularly.
Techniques for ongoing use …
Revisit regularly
Solve problems together
Participants review what’s there and reflect on:
1 thing you’ve been living into,
1 thing you need to recommit to
Or does something need to be added?
This can be done at any interval that works for your program (monthly meeting, start of each new cycle, weekly check-out, etc.)
Look to the Group Agreements to determine how to move through a challenge. E.g. Saying “One mic” or “Share the air” is a strengths-based way to remember to take turns speaking.
Thanks!
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