Designing a Convening for Impact

Season 4
Written By Marc O'Brien

Michelle Moore

Design and execute a conference, symposium, or convening that brings together diverse stakeholders around a social or environmental challenge. Prioritize relationship-building, knowledge exchange, and collaborative action planning. Center marginalized voices, create space for difficult conversations, and generate tangible outcomes that extend beyond the event itself. Document the full process of preparation and follow-through.

6 weeks + Event + Follow-up

Parameters

  • Identify a pressing social/environmental issue requiring multi-stakeholder collaboration

  • Design for 20–50 participants from diverse sectors (students, community members, professionals, policymakers)

  • Create inclusive participation structures (not just panels and presentations)

  • Include hands-on workshops, collaborative mapping, or design charrettes

  • Develop pre-event preparation materials and post-event follow-up plans

  • Consider virtual/hybrid options for accessibility

  • Design with human dignity and equity as core values

  • Plan for a long-term community of practice beyond the event

Deliverables

  • Stakeholder analysis and invitation strategy

  • Conference design document: agenda, session formats, facilitation guides

  • Participant preparation materials (readings, provocations, pre-work)

  • Visual identity and communications materials

  • Documentation plan (photos, notes, recordings)

  • Event execution (actual convening)

  • Post-event report synthesizing insights and action commitments

  • 6-month and 1-year follow-up engagement plan

  • Reflection on the ethics and practice of social design convening (1500 words)

Resources

  • The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker

  • Article: “Designing Conferences for Justice”, Allied Media Conference

  • Emergent Strategy by adrienne maree brown (facilitation section)

  • Guide: “Participatory Methods Toolkit”, GrantCraft

  • Liberating Structures, https://www.liberatingstructures.com/

  • Strategic Doing by Ed Morrison

  • Article: “Building a Community of Practice”, Wenger-Trayner

  • Theory of Change frameworks for conference impact

Listen to this episode of Climify Season 4, episode 12 here.

Marc O'Brien
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Mining a System for Intervention Opportunities