Join us for a transformative workshop that will empower you to pick up your markers and paints to visually capture notes and insights from meetings and conversations.

Learn from two long-time graphic recorders Anne Gomez and Sook Jin Ong with a passion to build this skill up among those who identify as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and/or Person of Color).

You will leave this workshop with hands-on experience, thoughtful insights on inclusive graphic recording practices, visual vocabulary to capture thoughts and conversations, and a newfound community of practitioners!

This two-day workshop will take place in the heart of downtown St. Paul, Minnesota. Address will be shared after registration.

Thursday May 9 and Friday May 10, 2024
9.00am to 4.00pm

Street parking available, with access to bus and the Green Line light rail. All participants will be provided with a full kit of materials needed for the workshop.

About your trainers:

Anne Gomez is a skilled graphic recorder & facilitator who brings her artistic and creative energy into her work to make visible collective sense making that is reflective of shared work created during engagement processes. Anne is a systems thinker and avid collaborator who has worked locally and internationally for over 40 years focusing on racial justice and equity in education, public health and economic development as well as immigrant and refugee concerns.

Sook Jin Ong loves facilitating conversations and learning spaces in and among organizations and communities. Sook Jin’s career spans more than a decade working with state agencies, local governments, and nonprofits through redesigning their social services programs, processes, and policies to be more equitable and centers the perspectives of families, frontline staff, and communities. Graphic recording is an essential part of her human-centered design practice.

FAQ:

I can't draw, but I'm really fascinated by this! How much prior experience do I need to have to sign up? OR: I have been doing this for a while, and would love to level up.

We welcome learners and curious skill-builders of all levels! Upon registration, you will be asked to share your current level of skill/experience. We believe graphic recording is a visual language, and does not center on your ability to draw. If you are willing to give this a try and bring a curious mindset, you will get something out of this. If you are a skilled practitioner, we will provide customizations to ensure you get to hone those skills further! Plus, you'll get the added benefits of building community with other BIPOC practitioners!

On centering BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) participants:
As graphic recorders and facilitators of color ourselves, we are aware that we are disproportionately under-represented in a field that is meant to elevate and surface insights and the voices impacting social change. This also means our perspectives are significantly absent in supporting complex meaning-making and storytelling, especially in engaging communities of color. These reasons impact our decision to offer this class centering BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) attendees who might want to explore graphic recording and visual harvesting as their toolkit.

Our goal is to create a safe-enough space that centers our experiences as BIPOC graphic recorders, allowing us to work on developing our craft, and grow a safe, supportive, structured space for professional connection, conversations, and inspiration.

We ask potential participants to be cognizant of this value to center and elevate BIPOC voices. While Minnesota human rights laws prevent the exclusion of anyone based on their identity, if you do not identify as a Black, Indigenous, or person of color, please be mindful of the space and energy you will take up in this space intentionally designed to center marginalized groups. Anyone being disruptive will be asked to leave.

Will there be future workshops that are open broadly to all participants of all identities, or with different focus areas?

Yes! We are looking to offer future workshops open to broader audiences, or with other focused areas (e.g. sector-specific, identity-specific, etc.). We are also open to inquiries for in-house trainings! If you are interested, please fill out this form: https://forms.gle/iWboUEBQxYZTDUeEA

I signed up, and now am no longer able to attend. What should I do? What's your exchange and refund policy?

We encourage you to find someone to take your spot. Our goal is to build a stronger network of BIPOC graphic recorders, and we would love for you to consider someone else in your life that would love to build this skillset.

All request for refunds need to be submitted by May 2 (7 days before the event). You will receive 75% of total paid.