Craft Circle: Logistics
Cordelia | 00:06 Hi. So we're gonna talk logistics. And logistics means that even if you have an idea of how often you want the circle to meet, talk to participants and decide the most convenient frequency and time of the day that you want to meet. If you guys work, if, you are in school, factor all of that into your group decision. Three hours, meaning three hours long is a good estimate, but two hours is long too. Waving and textile work is in general time intensive and that should be taken into consideration. People sometimes, just get into the zone and so respect those moments and don't let too much time, uh, go by. And also, um, if you're leading the group or if you're designing about leadership in a group, leadership is not arbitrary.
01:11 So, so be sure to have a good conversation, a very good and open conversation about leadership models and structures and the pros and cons of each one. Ask, ask people to share their perspectives on leadership models as well, because it's important to see how people feel about them, um, and, uh, to see what has worked and or has not worked in their experience. And be sure to observe and make note also of emerging leadership. Sometimes this might be the universe telling you to listen to other voices, um, if you are the person who is leading or if the group is going through something. And also be mindful of who takes care of the space. Sustaining the space is no minor deal, and it is also another form of leadership, um, who has experienced leading groups as well. That is very important. And be mindful of whether leaders carry too much weight.
02:13 We are here to seek healing and to thrive, and not to reacquaint ourselves with our difficulties, our persisting issues. Other power imbalances do occur in groups as well. And checking to see how the leadership situation is and be mindful of being harmonic and conducive to the work to the group's objectives. Also very important to have a list of materials that you want and how much they cost. Do you want to ask for donations? If so, upcycling news close, or scraps are really neat. So it's important
02:58 to be specific about what you want and have a space to keep them. So experimenting with materials is really, really fun. So for that is very important. So you to have the materials cleaned up and organizing them well enough so people know how to access them materials, carry value with them. And upcycling promotes thriftiness ingenuity and connecting to legacies of resourcefulness and practicalities in the lives of women. So, it is not just it's nice to upcycle things and recycle materials, but it's also a way to connect to these material histories and not to leave this out, but you can also do an in-person or a virtual gathering type of group if you work out some of these logistical steps. Like if you have the materials with you, if you have them sent, or everyone just gathers what they have in their house, it's, it's important to see what works. Sometimes people are good meeting virtually because they live too far away, like if you live in a very big metropolis. But regardless of the format, make sure that the space feels intimate, connected, warm and productive, that you feel that you're moving forward. And you also have also provided you with some materials. And the stitching together, good practice guidelines, is a really good guide. It's a really good resource to see, to check what matters in the group, both materially and also emotionally and logistically.
Even if you have an idea about how often the circle will meet, talk to participants and decide the most convenient frequency and time of the day to meet. 3 hours long is a good estimate, but two hours is also good. Sewing, weaving, and textile work in general is time intensive and this should be taken into consideration. People get into “the zone”. Don’t let too much time in between meetings go by.
Leadership is not an arbitrary decision, so be sure to have an open and honest conversation about various leadership models and structures. Ask everyone to share their perspectives on leadership models that have worked well -or not- in their experience -and why-. Be sure to observe and make note of emerging leaderships, but also who takes care of the space, and who has experience leading groups. Be mindful of whether leaders carry too much weight. Other power imbalances often occur in groups. Check in after some time to see if the leadership situation is harmonic and conducive to the group’s objectives.
Be sure to have a list of what the materials you want, and their cost. Do you want to ask for donations? If so, be specific about what you want and find a space to keep them. Upcycling used clothes or scraps is neat, but it also requires cleaning and organizing materials well for them to get used. Experimenting with them is also important so you can learn to use them in cool ways. Materials carry value with them, so upcycling promotes thriftiness, ingenuity, and connecting to legacies of resourcefulness and practicalities in the lives of women.
Emeka (Riffing): The importance of in-person vs. virtual gatherings…do what works best for the group, but regardless of the format, make sure that the space feels intimate/connected/warm/productive. Reference “Stitching Together: Good Practice Guidelines…” as a helpful resource that reinforces many of the ideas that we’ve discussed in this resource guide
COMMUNITY CULTURE & ACCOUNTABILITY: This section addresses the importance of establishing and maintaining a culture of safety and comfort (i.e. hospitality, food, music, things that make people comfortable, answering the question of what makes a space comfortable/safe, check-in prompts/discussions, themed meetings, critical play/experimentation, fostering relationship between participants/collaborators outside of craft circle meetings, incorporating emerging values, etc.). It will also outline how to develop an accountability structure that aligns with the intentions and goals of your circle (i.e. managing meeting frequency/goals, establishing mutual investment, developing/enacting strategies for conflict management/resolution, conducting periodic evaluations/assessments to determine what is and isn’t working for the group).