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Facilitator’s are professionally trained “neutral” third parties. As a facilitator, I will not align myself with any one person or smaller click within the larger group I’m facilitating. For this reason I can hold a viewpoint that encompasses the needs of everyone involved. This is a critical requirement for successful group process. We all want our input to matter; and when we feel like it does we become more amenable to hearing the viewpoint of others, and (where necessary and possible) compromising to assist in co-creating mutually beneficial results.
It is not my job to be a content expert. I’m not there to tell people what to do or how to do something. My job is to advocate a process that enables everyone to achieve their stated goals in ways that will hold up in the moment and to the test of time.
It is my responsibility to keep the group focused on meeting their goals, and reduce the impact of challenging behaviors that can derail a process. This results in a strong sense of focus and optimism.
Facilitated sessions minimize conflict and personal attacks, increasing productivity. This is especially true when a facilitator is trained as a mediator. As an experienced mediator, I can handle anything from people rubbing each other the wrong way to deeply rooted, ongoing conflict. My role as a facilitator includes proper preparation for meetings, ensuring that:
- All necessary decision-makers will be present.
- There is clarity regarding: expectations, meeting structure, and the parameters of the participant’s influence.
- The presentation of materials includes all styles of communication and learning.
- All relevant and appropriate options are considered.
- Challenging behaviors are managed and reframed in ways that better ensure the participation of all community members.
- Recommendations and decisions are tracked and reality-tested to ensure that the group is doing the best possible thinking on the subject and being realistic about goals and action plans.
- Information generated at meetings and action plans are created and disseminated to all appropriate parties; and action items are tracked to better ensure completion.
I facilitate for:
- Non-profits.
- Small businesses.
- Educational institutions.
- Departments within a company and/or the whole company.
- Communities, including: intentional communities, neighborhood associations, city, county, and state-wide planning.
- Governmental bodies, including: city, county and state governments, and Tribal governments.
Some of my projects include:
- Facilitation, process design, and Master Recording for a variety of New Mexico First statewide and citywide Town Halls.
- Facilitation of focus groups for the University of New Mexico Library Department .
- Facilitation and process design of a curriculum development process in the Pojoaque, New Mexico schools (K-12).
- Facilitation and process design for the blending of academic achievement standards with technical career education in the Albuquerque Public Schools.
- Facilitation of municipal anti-hate crimes round tables for city of Santa Fe.
- Facilitation of municipal police/activist dialogues for city of Santa Fe.
- Strategic planning for Moving People Dance Theater Company.
- Staff retreat/communications training for the New Mexico Coalition Against Domestic Violence.
- Initial planning and preparation for the North Forth Sector Development project, city of Albuquerque.
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