What is a Web of Change Host?

The conversations that happen at Web of Change and the real-world outcomes from those conversations, are rooted in big ideas that members of our community are exploring right now.
 
Our hosts are community leaders who wish to leverage Web of Change as a way to forward the ideas they are thinking about now to build connections across movements and produce exciting results.
 
Hosts have a unique opportunity to:

• Identify which idea they are exploring that the Web of Change community could help hone and develop;
• Identify potential Web of Change participants who could help build the idea and then, engage them in coming to the conference;
• Facilitate discussions in a variety of settings at Web of Change;
• Continue the conversation throughout the year through thought leadership, campaigns, additional conference sessions and ongoing follow up within the community via our blog and networks.

For more specifics about hosting, please see our toolkit below. If you are interested in becoming a host, please contact Jodie Tonita or Sam Dorman.

Host Toolkit - Four Steps

STEP ONE - What’s your idea? 

(a)  COLLECT: Quick, empty your head. Write down - or create a mindmap of - everything that comes to mind when you think of the challenges associated with making real progress in your work. What are the things that you wish you could change? What are those big hairy items on your to-do list that you can't seem to move forward?

(b)  SURFACE: Now look at your list and see what themes are emerging. What are the complex questions or challenges that probably can't be solved by yourself at your desk? That is, what are some of the challenges that some smart colleagues at WOC could help you untangle?

(c)  CLARIFY: When you successfully workshop your idea or challenge, what will be different? What is your desired impact? And what, therefore, will be different as a result of your WOC experience?

To get your juices flowing, here is an example of an idea a past host, Alia McKee Scott, seeded in the Web of Change community.
 

What it takes to be a Web of Change host from Alia McKee on Vimeo.

STEP TWO - Who would best help you develop this idea?

(a)  IDENTIFY AND ENGAGE YOUR COHORT: Who among your colleagues, vendors, clients and acquaintances do you think could help you build on your idea? Think about people who could augment your thinking and help create ongoing collaborations after WOC.

Aim to identify 6-10 people who you would introduce or re-engage in the conference and confirm their interest. Here is a sample script you can use/tailor to introduce your cohort to WOC.

(b)  GIVE YOUR COHORT SUPPORT TO GET TO THE CONFERENCE:

• Share our travel section with your invitees, which drills down conference costs and travel logistics by budget size - economy, reasonably funded and well funded. 
   
• If your invitees are unable to attend due to financial reasons, hosts should determine how much financial support they might need. Hosts can provide support by:
  
  1. Helping fundraise on your invitee's behalf. Know a person, persons or an organization who might underwrite a trip? Ask them for support as it relates to the added value this participant would bring to your conversation.
  
  2. Working with WOC scholarship committee. Limited scholarships are available for host allocation. If you are interested in this option, please contact Julia Watson.

STEP THREE - How can you have the conversation at Web of Change?

There are a variety of outlets at WOC to engage in your conversation. Your host liaison will help you identify which of the following would be best suited for your idea.

• Session Development
• Birds of a Feather Discussions
• Network Weaving

STEP FOUR - How will you continue the conversation beyond Web of Change?

The ultimate goals of WOC conversations are tangible results that will help our community carry forward the transformative work of creating a better tomorrow.

The results can take many shapes including:

• Thought leadership like whitepapers, manifestos, books etc...
• Collaborations
• Campaign ideas
• Re-envisioned models of how we most effectively make change and build movements
• Other opportunities to help spread the meme to a wider audience including sessions at other conferences and social media outreach
• Your ideas here…

We also encourage hosts to continue the discussions with the Web of Change community throughout the year via our community blog and social networks.