I am an experienced World Cafe host, specializing in online facilitation. I design and present (or co-present) effective and powerful online events, including learning programs and trainings.

I am comfortable using a variety of technology platforms, and take care to chose technology that is both appropriate and effective for your specific needs and easily accessible for your audience.

More information about my work in online facilitation is available here.
 

World Cafe Method

Drawing on seven integrated design principles, the World Café methodology is a simple, effective, and flexible format for hosting large group dialogue.

World Café can be modified to meet a wide variety of needs. Specifics of context, numbers, purpose, location, and other circumstances are factored into each event's unique invitation, design, and question choice, but the following five components comprise the basic model:

1) Setting: Create a "special" environment, most often modelled after a café, i.e. small round tables covered with a checkered tablecloth, butcher block paper, colored pens, a vase of flowers, and optional "talking stick" item. There should be four chairs at each table.

2) Welcome and Introduction: The host begins with a warm welcome and an introduction to the World Café process, setting the context, sharing the Cafe Etiquette, and putting participants at ease.

3) Small Group Rounds: The process begins with the first of three or more twenty minute rounds of conversation for the small group seated around a table. At the end of the twenty minutes, each member of the group moves to a different new table. They may or may not choose to leave one person as the "table host" for the next round, who welcomes the next group and briefly fills them in on what happened in the previous round.

4) Questions: each round is prefaced with a question designed for the specific context and desired purpose of the session. The same questions can be used for more than one round, or they can be built upon each other to focus the conversation or guide its direction.

5) Harvest: After the small groups (and/or in between rounds, as desired) individuals are invited to share insights or other results from their conversations with the rest of the large group. These results are reflected visually in a variety of ways, most often using graphic recorders in the front of the room.

The basic process is simple and simple to learn, but complexities and nuances of context, numbers, question crafting and purpose can make it optimal to bring in an experienced host to help. Should that be the case, professional consulting services and senior hosts are available through World Cafe Professional Services, and we would be happy to talk with you about your needs.

In addition, there are many resources available for new World Cafe hosts, including free hosting guides, an online community of practice, and World Cafe Signature Learning Programs.

weDialogue clients include:

(NSF) The National Science Foundation
(OCLC) Online Computer Library Center, Inc
America Speaks
Rockridge Institute
National Coalition of Dialogue and Deliberation
Janine Benyus
The Shift Network

A more extensive list of World Cafe clients can be found here.

 

My fees are based on specific needs and budget, with a firm quote set after an initial consultation to determine the necessary information.

The following is offered as a rough guide only:

Facilitation, Online or On-site (plus expenses)
Non-profit: $2,500 per day / $325 per hour for coaching or consulting
Corporate: $3,500 per day / $450 per hour for coaching or consulting

Web Design
from $2,500

Web 3.0 Consultation
$125/hour for new clients
$95/hour for updates or ongoing work