Facilitator's Guide · Powerbuilding Experience #1

Facilitator's Guide

Powerbuilding Experience #1: What Would It Take?

Organization: [Organization Name]

Community: [Community Name]

Format: Virtual, interactive

Duration: 90 minutes

Invited Guests: ~12

Member Guides: 12 (one per guest)

Facilitation Team: 2 facilitators

Total Participants: ~26

Organization Name

Community

Purpose of the Experience

What Would It Take? brings people from the same community together to explore the lives they want to build, discover the people and possibilities around them, and experience what becomes possible when they begin connecting and organizing their knowledge, relationships, abilities, and resources.

The experience begins with individual aspirations and gradually introduces a larger question: What could become possible if the people in this gathering began working together?

Participants should leave with a stronger sense of their own possibilities, an appreciation for what other people bring, and a reason to continue building relationships. The experience also introduces an important principle of powerbuilding: Movements require commitment, not moments. Through the personal testimony of an existing member, participants hear how someone has chosen to make building power part of their monthly budget.

The experience concludes with each guest meeting privately with their assigned Member Guide to reflect on the gathering and schedule an individual follow-up conversation. There is no financial solicitation during the group experience. The personal financial invitation takes place during the subsequent one-on-one conversation.

Central Principle

People should experience collective power before we ask them to believe in it. The experience should feel like an unfolding discovery, with participants making connections in their own words.

What Success Looks Like

By the end of the experience, participants should have had an opportunity to:

Share something they genuinely want for their lives.
Get to know other people who live in their community.
Discover useful knowledge, experiences, relationships, and abilities among participants.
Experience how connecting and coordinating those capacities can create new possibilities.
Explore the difference between helping one another and building the collective influence to change conditions.
Imagine what people in their neighborhood, city, or county could build together.
Understand that sustaining collective work requires ongoing commitments of different kinds.
Hear why an existing member has chosen to include powerbuilding in their monthly budget.
Develop a personal relationship with an existing member.
Have the opportunity to schedule a one-on-one follow-up conversation before leaving the virtual gathering.

The Member Guide Model

Each invited guest is paired with an existing member of the organization. That member participates in the entire 90-minute experience alongside their assigned guest and becomes their personal point of connection to the organization. The Member Guide serves three purposes.

Conversation Catalyst

People entering a gathering of strangers may be hesitant to speak, especially when the questions become personal. Member Guides help establish the kind of conversational environment in which people feel comfortable participating. They model openness, curiosity, and genuine sharing. When a facilitator asks participants about their aspirations, a Member Guide might be among the first to share something real about their own life. When someone shares an experience, a guide might recognize a connection or ask a thoughtful question. When the conversation becomes quiet, a guide can help it move forward. The purpose is to demonstrate what participation looks like, making it easier for others to join.

Relationship Builder

The guide participates as a fellow community member rather than an observer. Throughout the gathering, they have opportunities to learn about their assigned guest's interests, experiences, aspirations, and questions. The guide should also share authentically about their own life. The relationship is reciprocal.

Follow-Up Owner

During the final portion of the experience, each guide meets privately with their assigned guest in a virtual breakout room. The guide listens to the guest's reflections and offers to schedule a 15–20-minute follow-up conversation. The same guide conducts that conversation, introduces opportunities for continued participation, and makes the invitation into sustaining membership.

Member Guide Principles

Participate as a fellow community member.
Share genuine experiences rather than rehearsed conclusions.
Help guests feel comfortable speaking.
Notice connections between people.
Ask questions that open up conversation.
Avoid dominating discussions.
Respect disagreement and different perspectives.
Do not make a financial solicitation during the 90-minute experience.
Take responsibility for offering and conducting the personal follow-up.

Member Guides are introduced openly as existing members helping welcome participants. They should not conceal their affiliation or pretend that prepared talking points are spontaneous discoveries. The guide's job is to help other people speak, not to make sure they say what the organization wants them to say.

Before Participants Arrive

Lead Facilitator

Welcomes participants and guides the experience.
Introduces activities and manages transitions.
Helps participants connect their experiences to one another.
Guides reflection and collective discovery.
Ensures the experience remains conversational.
Invites the member storyteller to share their experience.
Introduces the final one-on-one breakout conversations.

Co-Facilitator

Manages the virtual meeting, breakout rooms, chat, and timing.
Supports participation and accessibility.
Captures themes and connections on the shared board.
Watches for people who have not had an opportunity to contribute.
Coordinates Member Guide assignments.
Supports the live scheduling process.
Confirms follow-up appointments.

Member Guides

Welcome their assigned guest.
Participate throughout the experience.
Model authentic sharing and curiosity.
Help make connections visible.
Participate in small-group discussions.
Meet privately with their guest during the closing breakout.
Schedule and conduct the subsequent follow-up conversation.

Member Storyteller

One existing member shares a three-minute personal reflection about why they have chosen to include powerbuilding in their monthly budget. The storyteller may also serve as a Member Guide.

Materials

Video meeting link with breakout rooms enabled.
Participant roster and confirmed attendance.
Member Guide assignments.
Opening slide with the experience title.
Shared digital board with three areas: What We're Working Toward, What We Bring, What's Becoming Possible.
Individual reflection worksheet or private note-taking option.
Follow-up appointment windows for every Member Guide.
Scheduling links or calendars accessible to guides.
Facilitator observation and debrief form.
Follow-up tracking system.

Preparation

The facilitation team should meet beforehand to review the participant list, confirm roles, and agree on how to manage timing. Prepare the shared board with empty sections. Do not prepopulate it with community problems, predetermined goals, or organizing terminology. The content of the experience should emerge from the people participating.

Member Guide Preparation — 15 Minutes Before

Guides should arrive early for a brief orientation. Review the five major conversation areas: Personal aspirations, What it takes to achieve them, What people already bring, What becomes possible together, and What it takes to sustain collective work. Each guide should be prepared to share authentic examples from their own life.

"We want people to feel comfortable participating, and sometimes the hardest thing is being the first person to speak. That's part of why you're here. If a question is asked and the room is hesitant, you can help by sharing something real from your own life. If someone shares something meaningful, acknowledge it. If you hear a connection, help make it visible. But remember that our guests need room to discover things for themselves. We're not trying to get everyone to arrive at the same answer. We're trying to create a space where people can explore what's possible together."

Before guests enter, the co-facilitator should verify that every guide knows their assigned guest and has appointment availability within the following several days.

The 90-Minute Experience

Time	Section	Duration
0–8	Welcome: Why We're Here	8 min
8–20	Part One: The Lives We Want	12 min
20–32	Part Two: What Would It Take?	12 min
32–50	Part Three: Discovering the People in the Room	18 min
50–62	Part Four: What Becomes Possible Together?	12 min
62–72	Part Five: What Could We Build Here?	10 min
72–80	Part Six: How Do We Commit Together?	8 min
80–90	Closing: Member Guide Connections	10 min

0–8

Welcome: Why We're Here

Objective

Create an inviting atmosphere and establish the purpose of the gathering.

"Welcome, everyone. I'm really glad you're here. We're bringing people together from [Community Name] because we believe there are possibilities that open up when people get to know one another. Every person here has their own story. We have things we're working toward, things we care about, experiences we've had, and things we've learned along the way. Today, we're going to spend some time getting to know each other, exploring what we want for our lives, and discovering what might become possible when we start connecting what we know, who we know, and what we can do. We're calling this experience What Would It Take? And that's the question we'll keep coming back to."

Introducing Member Guides

"You'll notice that we also have some existing members of [Organization Name] joining us today. They're participating in the experience alongside everyone else, and they're here to help us get to know one another. Each of you has been paired with one of these members, and you'll have a chance to connect personally with them before we finish."

Participation Agreements

"We want everyone to have an opportunity to participate. Let's make room for different perspectives, listen with curiosity, and respect what people choose to share. You can participate by speaking or using the chat. And if there's something you'd rather keep private, that's completely fine."

Opening Question

"Before we get started, I'd love for each person to share their name and what part of [Community Name] they call home."

Keep introductions brief. With 24 guests and guides, allow approximately 15 seconds per person.

Member Guide Cue

Guides model brief, welcoming introductions. They should not give extended organizational biographies.

"Now that we've met each other a little, I'd love to learn more about the lives we're all working toward."

8–20

Part One: The Lives We Want

Objective

Give people space to name their own aspirations without deciding in advance what should matter to them.

Individual Reflection — 2 Minutes

"Think about your life over the next few years. What's something you'd really love to accomplish, experience, or make possible? It could be something for yourself, your family, or someone you care about. Take a minute to think about it."

Participants can write their answers privately.

Sharing — 8 Minutes

"What's something you'd really like to make happen in your life?"

The facilitator should not steer people toward particular answers. As participants speak, the co-facilitator records short phrases on the shared board, with permission.

Member Guide Cue

When the room is hesitant, a guide may share an authentic aspiration. Guides should model the level of openness being invited without dominating the available time.

Reflection — 2 Minutes

"Look at everything people have shared. There are a lot of different people here, each with their own ideas about the life they want. And I imagine some of us heard things that sounded familiar. Maybe somebody wants something you've wanted. Maybe someone is working toward something you've already done. Did anything someone shared stand out to you?"

Allow a few brief responses.

"Let's explore what it would actually take to make some of these things happen."

20–32

Part Two: What Would It Take?

Objective

Explore what achieving an aspiration requires, while keeping personal agency at the center.

Reflection — 2 Minutes

"Think about the goal you just shared. Imagine that a year from now, you've made real progress toward it. What would have needed to happen? What would you have needed to do, learn, find, or change?"

Group Conversation — 8 Minutes

Invite several participants to share. Possible follow-up questions:

"What do you think your first step would be?"
"What's something you already have that could help?"
"Is there something you need to learn?"
"Is there someone whose experience or advice could make a difference?"
"Are there things outside your control that affect what's possible?"

As people respond, the facilitator begins noticing different kinds of needs: knowledge and information, skills and experience, relationships and introductions, money and material resources, time and opportunity, decisions made by other people or institutions.

Member Guide Cue

Guides may share something they had to figure out or a resource that helped them accomplish a goal. The purpose is to normalize uncertainty and demonstrate that everyone has experiences worth sharing.

Reflection — 2 Minutes

"Something I'm noticing is that making things happen often involves several different pieces. Some things we can do ourselves. Some things become easier when we have the right information or relationships. And sometimes there are circumstances or decisions that shape the opportunities available to us. Now I want to try something a little different."

"Instead of talking only about what each of us needs, let's find out what we already have among us."

32–50

Part Three: Discovering the People in the Room

Objective

Help participants discover the real capacities already present in the group. This is the central interactive exercise.

Step One: What Do You Bring? — 3 Minutes

"Think about the things you've learned through your life. Maybe it's something from your job, something you've accomplished, a challenge you've navigated, people you've gotten to know, or a skill you've developed. What's something you know, have experienced, or could help somebody else figure out?"

Emphasize that ordinary life experience counts.

Step Two: Small-Group Discovery — 9 Minutes

Divide participants into four breakout rooms of six people. Each room contains three invited guests and their three assigned Member Guides.

"Each person has about a minute to share something they know, something they've experienced, or something they could help another person with. As you listen, pay attention to what surprises you. See if you can discover any connections between what people want and what others bring."

Guide Prompts

"Has anyone else experienced something like that?" · "Does anyone here know something that might help?" · "Would you be interested in connecting with someone who has experience with that?" Guides should not make promises or share someone's contact information without permission.

The co-facilitator sends a reminder when two minutes remain.

Step Three: Bringing the Discoveries Together — 6 Minutes

Return to the main room. Ask:

"What did you discover about the people in your group?"
"Did anyone hear something that could help them with a goal or interest?"
"Was there anything someone shared that surprised you?"

"Did any possibilities emerge that weren't obvious when we started?"

Facilitator Note

Avoid turning this into a public exchange of contact information. If participants want introductions, ask permission and arrange them afterward.

"We started with people who each have their own stories. Now we're beginning to see that there are connections between those stories. Let's explore what could happen if we started building on those connections."

50–62

Part Four: What Becomes Possible Together?

Objective

Move from individual connections toward coordinated action and collective influence.

Opening Reflection — 2 Minutes

"Think about what we've discovered. What's something that might be easier, faster, or more possible because of a connection someone made today?"

The Next Question — 4 Minutes

"Now imagine we didn't just help one another individually. Imagine we decided there was something several of us wanted to accomplish together. What could we do with our combined knowledge, relationships, time, abilities, and resources?"

From Cooperation to Power — 4 Minutes

"Sometimes the thing we want isn't just about finding the right person or getting better information. Sometimes there's a decision being made that affects all of us. Maybe it's a decision about housing, transportation, schools, utilities, or opportunities in our community. What changes when people who are affected by those decisions know one another and can act together?"

Possible follow-up questions:

"Who makes decisions that affect what we're trying to accomplish?"
"What would make those decision-makers listen?"
"What could a group of people do that one person might struggle to do alone?"
"What would it take for a group to actually follow through?"

Member Guide Cue

Guides may contribute genuine examples or ask clarifying questions, but should not supply predetermined conclusions about political institutions or decision-makers.

Reflection — 2 Minutes

"We've been exploring a few different possibilities. We can use our experiences to help ourselves. We can share what we know to help one another. And we can organize our relationships, resources, and actions to influence things that affect us collectively. Those are different possibilities, and they can build on one another."

"So what might that mean for the community we all share?"

62–72

Part Five: What Could We Build Here?

Objective

Connect the experience to participants' shared geography and create space for future possibilities.

Community Conversation — 6 Minutes

"We all live in or around [Community Name]. What's something you love about this community? What's something you'd like to see more of? And what's something you wish could change?"

"Did anyone hear something that connects to what you care about?"

"What would it take to begin making progress on one of those things?"

The facilitator captures emerging ideas. Do not ask the group to select a campaign or commit to an initiative during this first experience.

Member Guide Cue

Guides may share authentic perspectives about their community, but should not redirect the conversation toward a predetermined organizational campaign.

Looking Forward — 4 Minutes

"If we kept getting to know one another, and if more people from [Community Name] joined us, what might become possible?"

Acknowledge the range of ideas.

"There's a lot here worth continuing to explore."

"And that brings us to one final question: How do we keep something like this going?"

72–80

Part Six: How Do We Commit Together?

Objective

Introduce the idea that sustained collective power requires ongoing commitment and provide an authentic example of recurring financial participation.

Step One: Movements Require Commitment — 2 Minutes

"We've spent time talking about the lives we want, what it would take to make them possible, and what happens when people begin bringing their knowledge, relationships, experiences, and resources together. We've also started imagining what we might be able to build right here in [Community Name]. But there's something else worth thinking about. What makes those connections last? It's one thing to come together for an afternoon or an evening. It's another thing to keep showing up for one another. Commitment doesn't mean doing everything. Sometimes it means making one introduction. Sometimes it's giving your time, sharing what you know, bringing someone else into the conversation, or putting a small amount of money toward something you believe in. What's important is that people find ways of contributing that they can sustain. I'd like to invite [Member Name] to share something about how they've approached that in their own life."

Step Two: Member Testimony — 3 Minutes

The member shares their genuine experience. The following is an illustrative example. The member should use their own words and circumstances.

"Every month, I have a budget. There are things I have to take care of. My household, my responsibilities, and the things I want to do. And at some point, I started thinking about the things I wanted to make room for in my life. I realized that building power in my community was one of those things. So I decided to put it in my monthly budget. I chose an amount that worked for me, something I could sustain without putting pressure on myself or my family. And I like knowing that I'm contributing to something that continues even when I'm busy living my own life. For me, it's one way I stay connected to something bigger than myself."

Step Three: Reflection — 3 Minutes

"Thank you for sharing that. One thing I appreciate about that story is the idea of deciding what's important enough to make room for in our lives. We've talked about so many different things people bring: their experiences, relationships, skills, time, and resources. And I think it's worth remembering that the things we build together are sustained by people making different kinds of commitments. What's one thing from today's conversation that you're going to keep thinking about?"

Facilitator Note

This section introduces the practice of recurring giving. It is not a financial solicitation. Participants are not asked to pledge, disclose an amount, or enroll during the gathering.

"Before we finish, we'd love to give everyone a chance to continue the conversation personally."

80–90

Closing: Member Guide Connections

Objective

Give every guest a personal connection and the opportunity to schedule their individual follow-up conversation before leaving Zoom.

Step One: Introduce the Private Conversations — 2 Minutes

"Thank you for everything you've brought to this conversation today. We've talked about the lives we want, what it would take to make them possible, what we can learn from one another, and what we might be able to build together. Before we finish, we're going to give everyone a chance to spend a few minutes with the member they've been paired with today. This is a chance to talk about what stood out to you and what you'd like to explore further. And if you'd like to continue the conversation, you can find a time to reconnect while you're together."

Step Two: Private Member Guide Breakouts — 8 Minutes

The co-facilitator opens twelve breakout rooms, each containing one guest and their assigned Member Guide.

Member Guide Conversation

"What's something that stood out to you from today's conversation?"

Listen.

"Was there anything you heard that you'd like to explore a little more?"

Listen and respond naturally.

"I'd love to continue this conversation with you. We could spend another 15 or 20 minutes talking about what interested you and ways you might want to stay connected. Would you be open to finding a time for that?"

If the guest agrees, offer specific appointment windows and schedule while both are in the breakout room. Confirm the date, time, and method of contact. If the guest declines, thank them and respect their decision. No financial ask takes place during this breakout.

Co-Facilitator

Monitor breakout rooms and support guides with technical or scheduling issues. Guides should have access to their own calendars or scheduling links. Send a two-minute warning before the rooms close.

After the Experience

Immediately After the Gathering

The facilitation team should:

Confirm attendance.
Record which guides were paired with which guests.
Confirm follow-up appointments scheduled during the experience.
Identify guests who need scheduling assistance.
Record voluntary requests for introductions.
Capture emerging interests and opportunities.
Note facilitation observations for the debrief.

Within 24 Hours

Each Member Guide should:

Send a personal thank-you to their guest, where contact permission has been provided.
Confirm the scheduled appointment.
Provide the meeting link or phone details.
Follow up on any requested introductions.
Offer appointment options to guests who wanted to schedule but could not do so during the experience.

Guests who declined further contact should not receive additional recruitment outreach.

Preferred Follow-Up Windows

Offer a choice of convenient windows. Weekends: Saturday morning or afternoon; Sunday morning, afternoon, or evening. Weekday evenings: Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday. Weekday lunchtime: Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday. Ask for the preferred window first, then agree on a specific date and time.

The Individual Follow-Up Conversation

Facilitated by: The assigned Member Guide

Format: Phone or video

Duration: 15–20 minutes

Timing: Ideally within several days

The purpose of this conversation is to continue the relationship, understand what resonated, explore the person's interests, and offer an opportunity to become a sustaining member. See the Conversation #2: Powerbuilding Experience Follow-Up script for the full dialogue.

Facilitator and Member Guide Debrief

The facilitation team should hold a debrief within 48 hours, with a short immediate operational check after the gathering.

Experience Quality

Did guests seem comfortable and genuinely interested in one another?
Did Member Guides help establish trust and model authentic participation?
Did guests have sufficient opportunities to speak?
Did meaningful connections emerge?
Did the shared discovery exercise reveal actual knowledge, skills, and relationships?
Did the conversation move naturally from individual aspirations to collective possibilities?
Did participants have an opportunity to imagine what they could build in their community?
Did the member testimony feel authentic and relevant?

Relationship Development

Did every guest have a Member Guide?
Were guides able to establish a personal connection?
Did guests appear comfortable during the private breakouts?
How many follow-up conversations were scheduled before the gathering ended?
Were there any scheduling barriers?
Did any guests request additional introductions or opportunities?

Facilitator Reflection

Did the experience feel conversational or overly structured?
Were there moments of excitement, curiosity, disagreement, or discovery?
Did guides dominate any portion of the conversation?
Were any transitions rushed?
What should change before the next gathering?

What to Measure During the Pilot

Participation

People invited · People registered · Guests attending · Attendance rate
Member Guides present · Guests participating in discussions and activities

Relationships

Guest-guide pairings completed · New connections identified
Requested introductions · Guests expressing interest in staying connected
Follow-up conversations scheduled during Zoom · Follow-up conversations completed

Membership

Personal membership invitations made · New sustaining members
Monthly recurring commitments established · Average monthly contribution
Guests declining financial participation but expressing interest in other activities

Experience Quality

Participants reporting they learned something useful
Participants identifying a new possibility
Participants reporting a stronger sense of connection to their community
Participants expressing interest in another experience

Continuing Engagement

People participating in future activities · People making additional commitments
Members interested in becoming guides · Membership retention at 90 days and 12 months

Primary Operational Metric

Live Follow-Up Booking Rate = Guests who book during Zoom ÷ Total guests attending × 100

Secondary Operational Metric

Follow-Up Completion Rate = Follow-up conversations completed ÷ Follow-up conversations scheduled × 100

Financial participation is one part of the ongoing relationship, not the sole measure of the experience's success.

Final Facilitation Principles

Begin with the lives people want. Their personal aspirations are legitimate and important in their own right.
Let participants discover one another. The real people in the gathering are the most important resource for the experience.
Use Member Guides to create trust. Existing members help model openness and participation so that new guests can become comfortable sharing.
Make connections visible. Help people recognize opportunities that emerge when experiences, abilities, knowledge, and relationships come together.
Distinguish connection from organization. Knowing one another creates possibilities. Agreeing on goals, coordinating resources, taking responsibility, and acting together can turn those possibilities into power.
Allow discovery before explanation. Ask questions that help participants arrive at insights themselves.
Introduce commitment as a practice. Sustained participation can include time, skills, relationships, leadership, and financial resources.
Keep the financial invitation personal. The group experience introduces the idea of sustained financial participation. The one-on-one follow-up provides an opportunity to make an individual commitment.
Schedule the next conversation before leaving. Each guest should have the opportunity to book their follow-up directly with their Member Guide while still on Zoom.
Keep the relationship going. The ninety-minute gathering is the beginning of a longer journey.

The Powerbuilding Experience in One View

The Lives We Want

Personal aspirations

What Would It Take?

Resources, relationships, and opportunities

Discovering the People in the Room

The capacities already among us

What Becomes Possible Together?

Cooperation and collective influence

What Could We Build Here?

Possibilities in our shared community

How Do We Commit Together?

Sustaining collective work

Member Guide Connection

A personal relationship and booked follow-up

Individual Follow-Up

Reflection, participation, and sustaining membership

The experience succeeds when participants begin seeing themselves, one another, and their community as sources of possibility — and leave with a real relationship through which they can continue exploring what they could build together.

Facilitator's Guide · Powerbuilding Experience #1: What Would It Take?Facilitator: ___ · Date: 2026-10-24