Introducing the Build Forward Together Conversation Guide
The last 18 months have required systems and organizations across the learning and development ecosystem to take a wide range of quick actions. We have seen that we can innovate quickly and stand-up solutions that are meaningful for young people and the adults who support them. And we have seen with more clarity the essential role that community and family play in a young person’s learning and development.
What the last 18 months haven’t allowed us much time to do is pause and reflect. Just as reflection is necessary for meaning making for young people, it is immensely critical for us as adults as we plan, improve, and shape learning and development in our communities.
As communities consider what it means to Build Forward Together, taking time to reflect together is a necessary step. The Readiness Projects Team has just released a tool to support communities in just this process.
The Build Forward Together Conversation Guide is designed for stakeholders from across the learning and development ecosystem in a community to come together and discuss their lessons learned over the last 18 months, their successes, and their challenges. And to consider the current landscape in the community. The Conversation Guide includes a general reflection map and four maps grounded in each of the Build Forward Together goals.
If you have been thinking about what it would take to continue to increase collaboration and coordination as you think, see and act differently in your community or if your community has already begun taking action to Build Forward Together, this tool is for you! Spend some time digging into the conversation guide and think about:
- Have you documented lessons learned? If so, the maps connected to the Build Forward Together goals might be the place to start. If not, check out the general reflection map first.
- Who are the stakeholders that should be part of your reflection to prepare to Build Forward Together? Where have young people been spending their time during the pandemic and who are the adults in those spaces? How might you include their voice in the conversation?
- Which of the Build Forward Together goals is the right starting point or leverage point for your community? Is the current focus really centered around school? Is there momentum around continuing partner engagement? Are efforts underway to more deeply support adolescents? Is this summer being used not just to serve kids, but to learn from?
And as you dig into the Conversation Guide, here’s a bit of advice from Tulsa Deputy Superintendent Paula Shannon and Opportunity Project CEO Caroline Shaw.
We would love to hear about how you use the Conversation Guide and the impact it has in your community. And we always welcome any feedback on the tool. Never hesitate to share with us at readinessprojects@forumfyi.org.
