CD Practitioner Gathering: Discussion Topics
Please ‘Rename’ yourself to have the room number you would like to go to, your name, your pronouns, and your organization. e.g. “4 Amanda she/her CDLI”
Note: CDLI’s February 25 Meet Up (6:00-7:30 p.m.) will be focusing on this conversation!
Check In: What is one selfcare/wellness practice you have found helpful in 2021? (transcribed from the Zoom chat)
Zoom meetings with friends and family
Fires in my backyard!
Polyphasic sleep schedule - lots of short sleeps
Bubble baths & exercise
Turning off the computer...not just putting it to sleep after work
Sleep
Daily Walks
Acceptance
Taking breaks when working from home
Standing desks
Limit extra working hours
Stretch
Zoom Room 1: Developing a ‘COVID Grief’ Toolkit (click to type)
>Discussion about the development and intention of the grief toolkit.
>Potential partners could include:
>CMHA (offer many courses, creative activities-for example: when you get to know your neighbours, you get envelopes with people’s name and you write what you admire/appreciate about them. You can only open it when you need a “pick me up”)
>Alberta Men’s Network (normalizing expression of feelings, crying..)
>Involve an element of surprise and complement with activities that are more strength based, positive, looking forward.
>Activities involving catharsis.
>Lasting/sustainable protection of being able to socialize as the situation may change.
>The term “grief” could be misunderstood-make it clear that you can mourn a spectrum of things, micro to macro losses.
>The mentality is that you can’t shouldn’t grieve the smaller things and/or this is just associated with death, which is not the case. As we market this, we need to lead with this idea.
>ITS OKAY TO CRY-normalize emotions and feelings! Or to release, express, and welcome emotion. Except the feelings, sadness. (*lots of Ted Talks)
>What to watch for when it comes to emotional release (ex. persistence).
>Tools/questions or reflections to start conversations around grief-across all ages. >Build skills so we can have active reflection, listening, participating.
>Normalize change-what CAN we do instead of what we cant (“not just about what we have lost, but what have we gained”-BUT we are not downplaying anyone’s loss or situation.
>Include ideas and understanding about growth mindset (many people cannot get out of a negative cycle-how can we get them out of this loop?-find the silver lining after you have been able to
>How to support family and friends when your cup is also empty-how to grieve together? How do you motivate one another? WHAT WORKS FOR YOU in case you can't find another to fill your cup. Venting to one another only goes so far.
>How to promote positive self-talk.
>Activities based on circle practices, talking with one another, sharing. How to feel connected to people online?
>Stages of grief in an easy to understand diagram.
>Caregiver burnout tips (what to notice and how to bounce back).
>How to promote unity with the community and others.
>Challenge the language of “new normal” > “new now” as a sign of hope, knowing things we miss will come back.
>How can we bring some “fun” releases (screaming into a pillow) as we also pursue the more serious conversations on this topic.
Key Messages/ Aha moments:
1. Understanding and acknowledging both micro and macro losses.
2. Validating and normalizing the release of emotions in many different ways, shapes, and forms.
3. Using a strength-based/growth mindset-finding the positives/gains within the losses.
Next Steps/Actions to take:
Adapted from a Training for Change template, as experienced through Decolonize First
Zoom Room 2: How can we support our coworkers and fellow practitioners during these difficult times to prevent/address burn out? (click to type)
Notes: NO CONVERSATION
Key Messages/ Aha moments:
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2.
3.
Next Steps/Actions to take:
Adapted from a Training for Change template, as experienced through Decolonize First
Zoom Room 3: How can we be stronger together amidst COVID-19, as we navigate Zoom fatigue while still being restricted to mainly online, as well as we begin to plan and prepare for community building once the majority of people are vaccinated? (click to type)
Notes:
Yay - I can type here :)
Coming together to share resources
Recognizing that we are ALL going through the experience together
Creativity being sparked as we relate ourselves to this experience
Regular contact and check ins; gain insight
Scheduling lunch and informal ways to catch up with the team
Phone to phone contact - having real conversations
Reflective practice as an agency (Reflecting on what we are thinking about! What, so what, now what) - doing this once a month as an agency
Recognizing that Zoom fatigue is real and that there are other options for connection; giving ourselves permission not to ZOOM!
Recognizing that the crisis still exists and that there is no return to ‘normal’.
Look at the ways that people on low income have been surviving during this time; what can we learn from the ways that people have survived
Observe and pay attention to what we are seeing in the people we are connected to
Using the great outdoors when we can as a way to connect with people in community - being creative in the ways that we can embrace the seasons; What can you do in the community when there is snow? “Using winter”
Create new structures, new schedules
Slow down and watch our assumptions about each other
Key Messages/ Aha moments:
1. Use the great outdoors as a way to connect and be IN community! No matter the season.
2. Being creative! Don’t do things the same way and think outside the box on how to accomplish things
3. There is no return to normal - have real conversations about people’s contexts and how/what they are doing.
Next Steps/Actions to take:
Adapted from a Training for Change template, as experienced through Decolonize First
Zoom Room 4: How can we find sustainable solutions to food security? (click to type)
Notes: NO CONVERSATION
Key Messages/ Aha moments:
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3.
Next Steps/Actions to take:
Adapted from a Training for Change template, as experienced through Decolonize First
Zoom Room 5: How might existing and future virtual tools like Next Door be used to help advance community building efforts? (click to type)
Notes:
Key Messages/ Aha moments:
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2.
3.
Next Steps/Actions to take:
Adapted from a Training for Change template, as experienced through Decolonize First
Resources / Information to Share
Resources / Information to Share
Join one of CDLI’s Learning and Action Teams and help us make gatherings like this possible!
Meet Up LAT: Meets a few times a year to decide on Meet Up topics and how we might host them (e.g. conversation, panel). Also looking for people to help actually plan/organize/delivery the Meet Ups (1-2 meetings per Meet Up)
CD Practitioner LAT: Meets a few times a year to assess how we’re coming together, and explore opportunities for special gatherings that explore a particular topic or theme. Help us to identify those and plan them!
Anti-Racism & Decolonization LAT: Join our collaborative of community members and community organizations seeking to deepen our own anti-racism and decolonization journeys and practices as people, organizations, and communities. Together we identify shared priorities for projects, and we come together monthly to deepen our learning and practice.
Contact Amanda (AmandaPr@caryacalgary.ca or 403-919-3072) for more info or to express interest in joining!
Join us next time on Wednesday, March 10 from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.!