Events

collage with two images: first with black instructor in classroom with mixed group and the second of a gathering with multiple people and two people facing backwards holding arms

Each year, NH Listens hosts events throughout New Hampshire. These online and in person events range from engaging on statewide policy issues, supporting local community-led initiatives, and our own series of workshops for strengthening skills for bridge builders — facilitation, connection across differences, and sticking with tough conversations. We support a growing network of New Hampshire's skilled facilitators.

We are grateful to the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation for their generous support.

Upcoming Events

October

04

NH Listens Local Lunch Box: Hosting A Community Event

Join NH Listens for a 45-minute informative and interactive session aimed at sharing bite-sized tips and resources from our toolbox for community engagement and facilitation. This session Hosting ...

November

01

NH Listens Local Lunch Box: Creating Group Agreements

Join NH Listens for a 45-minute informative and interactive session aimed at sharing bite-sized tips and resources from our toolbox for community engagement and facilitation. This session will be ...

December

06

NH Listens Local Lunch Box: Facilitating Strong Emotions

Join NH Listens for a 45-minute informative and interactive session aimed at sharing bite-sized tips and resources from our toolbox for community engagement and facilitation. This session is Facil ...

View All NH Listens Events

Upcoming Facilitator Trainings

Basic Facilitator Training (Online)

September 20, 2023, 12 – 2:30 p.m.

Join this introductory training for tips and practice on key facilitator concepts for facilitating online and in-person, including drawing people in, managing productive conversations, and strengthening your skills as a facilitator.

Register for Sept 20 Training

Basic Facilitator Training (In-person)

October 28, 2023, 9:30 A.m. – 3 p.m.

Pease Public Library, Plymouth, NH

Many of us are trained to remain neutral when we serve as facilitators. However, that doesn't mean we are passive in the face of bias and misunderstandings. This workshop helps enhance confidence to remain neutral, productively address issues, encourage, and move conversation in a constructive manner.

Register For Oct 28 Training

Advanced Facilitator Training (Online)

November 15, 2023, 12 – 2:30 p.m.

Many of us are trained to remain neutral when we serve as facilitators. However, that doesn't mean we are passive in the face of bias and misunderstandings. This workshop helps enhance confidence to remain neutral, productively address issues, encourage, and move conversation in a constructive manner.

Register for Nov 15 Training

Learn about our facilitator network

Upcoming Local Lunch Box Sessions

Meaningful Introductions to Build Community

September 6, 12:00 – 12:45 p.m.

This session will share tips around introductions in your community meetings that help people feel welcomed, and will include time for your questions.

Register for Sept 6 Lunch Box Series

Hosting a Community Event

October 4, 12:00 – 12:45 p.m.

This session will overview how to organize and design a community-building event at a community gathering, and will include time for your questions.

Register for Oct 4 Lunch Box Series

Creating Group Agreements

November 1, 12:00 – 12:45 p.m.

Creating group agreements is a process of collectively defining how all members of a group want the conversation to feel, look, and sound. It is a way to hold each other accountable for staying engaged with the dialogue, even as things get uncomfortable and challenging.

Register for Nov 1 Lunch Box Series

Facilitating Strong Emotions

December 6, 12:00 – 12:45 p.m.

Understanding emotions in ourselves and others is critical to being an effective facilitator, especially when called to be brave and present in this work. This session will provide some key concepts and tips for facilitators when strong emotions arise and need our full attention.

Register for Dec 6 Lunch Box Series

New Speaker Series

Local People, Local Work, Local Change

Navigating Life in a diverse democracy

New Hampshire Listens is excited to launch this new conversation series where we explore community engagement practitioners' journeys working with communities to generate meaningful change. This spring, we'll be hosting conversations around community engagement in education. Each speaker will bring a rich, varied approach to practices around diversity, inclusion, equity & justice (DEIJ), coalition building, and other transformative initiatives that promote an engaged, diverse democracy at the local level.

Each conversation will reflect and analyze the ways in which policy and practice around community engagement show up in day-to-day work. Attendees are encouraged to interact with speakers, engage with each other, and share insight on community engagement in your work and personal life.

Join us at our new location, at the New England Center, on campus or online. Refreshments will be available.

Andres Mejia, New Hampshire SAU 16

March 29, 2023, 4 – 5:00 p.m.

Andres is currently serving as Director of Diversity, Equty, Inclusion, and Justice for the Exeter NH Cooperative School District. Prior to that, Andres worked at the University of New Hampshire spearheading support for underrepresented students, designing and facilitating learning exchanges, and helping leaders deepen and sustain their work on inclusion and belonging.

Register for the march 29 Conversation

Merle McGee, Everyday Democracy

April 26, 2023, 4 – 5:00 p.m.

Merle is the President and CEO of Everyday Democracy. She brings over 25 years' experience in non-profit settings fighting alongside historically marginalized and excluded communities for dignity and racial, gender, and economic justice. Everyday Democracy has worked alongside more than 600 communities across 42 states on a wide range of issues including education, poverty, mental health, civic engagement, racism, youth and aging, immigration, and criminal justice reform.

Register for the April 26 Conversation

Dr. Manuela Heinz & Gerry Mac Ruairc

May 31, 2023, 4 – 5:00 p.m.

Dr. Manuela Heinz is an Associate Professor and the Head of Discipline of Education at the University of Galway. She has worked in the area of initial and in-service teacher education for over 15 years and has led funded research and teaching projects in teacher education, teacher diversity and equity, intercultural and global citizenship education.

Prof. Gerry Mac Ruairc is an established Professor of Education who has served as the Head of the School of Education at the University of Galway for seven years. Gerry has published widely in the areas of leadership for inclusive schooling, language and social class, literacy as well as in the areas of leadership and school improvement for equity and social justice.

Register for the May 31 Conversation

SHARE

Facilitator Trainings (Online)

Basic Facilitator Training (ONLINE)
March 23, 2022, 12 – 2 p.m.

Join this 2-hour basic facilitator training for tips on facilitating that you can apply both on and offline. We’ll focus on sharing:

Some key facilitator concepts
Share a mix of tips and tools for using and managing technology
Tips for hosting and facilitating on and offline conversations
Provide time for small group reflections and practice
Ideas for keeping things interactive to engage people in and outside virtual spaces

We welcome anyone who wants to learn about facilitating conversations and those who want to strengthen their facilitator skills. This training is on Zoom and includes examples of how to use Google Slides to promote participant interaction. Please join on a computer if possible. There are some interactive components, but it is also possible to listen in. Prior to the session, you'll want to download and test the Zoom software. Please contact Carrie Portrie with any questions regarding this training.

Register for the March 23 Training

Advanced Facilitator Training (ONLINE)
April 22, 2022, 12 – 2:30 p.m.

This training is on Zoom and is focused on those difficult moments where people are in dialogue across significant differences – differences where stereotypes and misunderstanding are a major dynamic. Many of us are trained to remain “neutral” when we serve as facilitators. However, that doesn't mean we are passive in the face of misunderstandings and harmful dynamics. This workshop helps enhance confidence to remain neutral (on the topic), productively address issues, encourage and move conversation in a constructive manner.

Please join on a computer if possible. We understand everyone has different access to technology and welcome you! There are some interactive components, but it is also possible to listen in. Prior to the session, you'll want to download and test the Zoom software. Please contact Carrie Portrie with any questions regarding this training.

Register for the April 22 Training