Downloadable small flyer to modify and print locally. PDF
Listening Projects at the Earth Day March April 2023 (Seattle)
1) What is the goal of a listening project? An RC listening project is an effective tool to model the power of listening, to introduce people to RC, and to offer people a person who can listen to them on a difficult topic.
2) How do listening projects work? Usually, RCers work in pairs. They develop an interesting question that they think will engage the interest of folks walking by. The question is put on a large piece of cardboard or poster board. The 2 RCers greet people who are watching the march from the sidewalk and see if they would like to engage with the RCers about the question. The goal of a listening project is to listen to folks - not talk at them or give out a lot of information about SAL/UER/RC.
3) The question is intended to be an open-ended question that can serve to demonstrate the value of engaged listening and encouragement to feel and discharge about the climate emergency.
4) If people want information about who we are, we will have a small flyer you can give them. The flyer invites them to the RC introductory talk on April 27 and May 17, to be given by XX.
5) Having a successful listening project: Besides listening well to someone, there are two key skills needed for offering an effective Listening Project:
a) One skill is the ability to be welcoming, make great eye contact with people you don’t know as they walk by, say hello, maybe ask them an interesting question (are you enjoying the march?) or offer an appreciation (thank you for coming out). After you have engaged a person, then point to the question and ask them the question.
b) The second skill is creating a question that people will want to answer. The key to a good listening project question is to ask a question that draws people to you, is asked in a forward moving way (not a question filled with discouragement and hopelessness), and points people toward feelings rather than intellectualizing.
6) These are the questions we have proposed, please feel free to make a sign with another question if you prefer.
— How concerned are you about climate change?
— Should Seattle/Washington state continue to be leaders on climate policy?
— What are your main concerns regarding climate change?
— Do you think we are in a climate crisis / climate emergency?
— How are you impacted by the climate crisis?
— Do you think the climate crisis affects everyone equally?
— Do you think racism is related to the climate crisis?
— Who do you think is profiting from the climate emergency?
— Who should pay to fix the climate crisis?
See you Saturday!