TOOLKIT

Appendix 2: Hosting a Teach-In
Before your event
1. Reserve a venue and work out logistics.
a. Make sure you have a space reserved for your event. Libraries and community
centers are great options--but so is your living room!
b. Once you have the space lined up, think through what you'll need to do to have a
good event. Do you have enough chairs? Will you be serving food?
2. Recruit others to come.
a. Teach-ins are more fun with a few other folks! Reach out to your friends, family,
co-workers and anyone else who might be interested. The most tried-and-true
method of recruiting attendees is to call them.
3. Create a presentation and facilitators notes on the topic you chose
4. Invite experts in the area of your teach-in to present on the topic.
5. Think through action steps
a. A big goal of these teach-ins is to help folks get engaged in their community.
b. Please take a few minutes before your event to find some ways for your guests
to get involved locally.
6. Get your equipment ready
a. There are a lot of ways to run a teach-in. Here are a few suggestions of
equipment you may want to have ready:
i. A computer and a projector.
ii. A sound system connected to your computer.
During your event
Start on time. Don't wait more than 10 minutes after your advertised start time—then
start walking folks through the agenda
Some Tips for Successful Hosting:
o Get there early: There are often a few early birds at events like this, so make
sure you are at the meeting spot 30 minutes early.
o Be friendly: Many folks coming to the event won't know anyone else there.
So, make sure you say hello to everyone who comes and make them feel
welcome.
o Don't be afraid to be a strong facilitator. It's easy to get very passionate about
the topic. But, if someone is taking the teach-in off-topic, you have the right to
gently but firmly ask them to step back so that others can fully participate.
One tip is to tell folks that the group can talk about other topics at the end of
the teach-in.
After your event:
Follow the procedures for REPORTING throughout the Toolkit.
Adapted from http://rebuildthedream.com/resources/teachins/guide.html
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