How it Works

What you will need:

• a lead facilitator who will use the tool contents to generate meaningful dialogue about what neighborhood change looks like and why

• a group (up to 15 people) of invested and opinionated people (they can be residents, business owners, neighborhood leaders, faith leaders, public servants etc.)

• a way to record what has been said (photographs, notes, recordings, etc.

Build Bold is a facilitation tool for building community concensus and vision. The goal is to use the cards and worksheets to guide a productive conversation around neighborhood development and community change. Sometimes it’s difficult to articulate how we feel or experience places; this tool helps to establish a common language to support common goals.

What you will need:

a lead facilitator who will use the tool contents to generate meaningful dialogue about what change looks like and why

a group (up to 15 people) of invested and opinionated people (they can be residents, business owners, neighborhood leaders, faith leaders, public servants etc.)

a way to record what has been said (photographs, notes, recordings, etc.)

Ways to play:

You can use the Build Bold for a quick 15 minute conversation or for an extensive hour-long session.

15-30 minute Sessions:Utilizing Card Decks only

Using a card deck, identify themes or programs of interest, and help your group identify related descriptions or values. Use the areas to circle, write or draw the findings of the discussion of your invested group. Use the “Pointed Questions” Guide to prioritize topics based on shared values and community goals.

Full 1+ hour Sessions:Utilizing the Worksheets and Card Decks

To begin, split your group of participants up into smaller groups of 3-5 people and give each group one copy each worksheet.

To begin, ask the group to fill out the page that says “Let’s build a bold goal” with the name of their community and the name of the members in their small group.

Bring the attention to your group to the Bold Goal mad lib. At the end of the session, each group will be able to produce a finished phrase that defines a group concensus and vision.

Next, the groups will be led through the worksheets labeled Step 1, 2, 3 & 4.

Step 1: The group will share their perspectives, challenges, pain points and desires for their area in their city or neighborhood of discussion and document their ideas in the Brainstorm Box. This step may not identify solutions right away but should focus on key issues and places that could benefit from change. For example:

“We want our community to be more appealing to young families.”

“We want to increase the overall health of our community.”

“We need better opportunities for seniors and retirees.”

Challenge your groups to find consensus on a priority they can focus on. If multiple priorities arise, the groups can conduct additional sessions to work through these priorities, as time allows.

Step 2: Using the Build Cards deck, instruct the groups to identify assets that could serve as solutions to help create the desired change.

Step 3: Define specifics around how the assets from Step 2 function in the community. This may be related to a group the asset is for, or help bridge another gap to create the change they want to see. This list is a thought starter, not a definitive list. Challenge your groups to select 1-2 choices per section. Less is more.

Step 4: Last, let’s think about how this place (the assets defined in Step 2 & 3, or perhaps the community at large) would feel. What is this place like? What are the values of the community and how do they relate to this space? Participants may mark words that reflect their vision as a group, and also cross out words that don’t resonate with them.

Last, instruct the groups to document their choices for steps 1-4 onto the Bold Goal statement sheet.

Done! Groups should collect all of the sheets and hand them in to the facilitator.

Pointed Questions Guide:Recommended questions for bold discussion:

Which (theme or program) is most important to you? Why?

Are there currently spaces that meet the community’s needs?

Are there schools (or chosen asset) that are senior focused (or community function)? Do these spaces feel welcoming (experience)?

What could be enhanced or changed completely?

What should we preserve?

What needs to change to make our vision a possibility? What sacrifices may be necessary?

Who else needs to be involved?

How soon should this happen?

How do we ensure this happens?

Questions or comments?

Please reach out to us by filling out our contact form at buildbold.co.