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Session 2: Self-Identify

Facilitator Guide > > Session 2: Self-Identify

What Identities Do I Hold and About Which Am I Most Aware?

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of this session participants will:

  • have further developed trust amongst each other and facilitators.
  • more clearly define identity for themselves.
  • have a stronger sense of their self-identity and social identities.

Suggested Agenda

  • :00 Re-Introductions
    • Name, School/County and a good meme/giphy from recent weeks
    • Re-mention pronoun use within Zoom name box
  • :10 Grounding Activity and Collective Agreements review
  • :20 View one of the following videos to start conversation about identity
  • :30  Identity Wheel activity
    • Participants complete wheel on their own.
    • Participants share thoughts within Break Out Rooms during “Teen Talks” in pairs
    • Prepare to debrief within Main Room:
      What is your pair’s name, favorite food, and what is some of what was discussed regarding identity?
    • Participants answer questions within the Main Room (see below)
  • :50 Pairs share back: Introduce your partner
  • 1:10 Full group share
    • What was it like to think about your identity?
    • Why might you think about some of your group identities more than others?
    • What experiences lead you to think about identities that are most salient for you?
    • Open Forum (anything else to share on this topic/experience)
  • 1:20 – Integrative Closing:
    • I liked
    • I wish
    • I wonder

Facilitator’s Section

Notes

  • Find a way to tie in information you learned from the application process, with teen consent
  • The Suffolk Speaks Guide provides additional opportunities for identity and self-expression

Sofia’s Notes

  • We mentioned why grounding can be important for this kind of work. It helps in keeping the mind clear and intentions straight. It helps to listen more and keep people in the present reality. It is also helpful for burnout, to take out the tension, and be a better advocate.
  • Definition of grounding used in this session: Grounding is the direct contact of our body with something that keeps us in the present moment. When we are grounded, we have a sense of self in relationship to the space and time we’re in, instead of worrying about our pasts or futures. Taking account of what’s around you can help your body calm down and help you feel grounded and present.
  • A specific grounding activity we enjoyed: name an emotion you felt today and think about how you’re feeling now. Track how you got from emotion 1 to emotion 2 throughout the day
    • After, we took 3 deep breaths together, focusing on different parts of the body. We mentioned you could take those quick moments at anytime during the day
  • Helpful to ask: Why and how do you think mindfulness and grounding can be connected to our anti-racist work

Spring 2024 addition:

  • Additional discussion questions:
    • How do these identities affect you day-to-day?
    • Do you think about some parts of your identify more than others depending where you are, or who you’re with?
    • Why do these identities matter to you? Can people be identity-blind?
    • Does anyone ever try to push their identities on to you?
  • Keep an eye out on current gatherings and events in your area – if you time it right, you may be able to line your meetings up with local identify-based events, like meetings of local black and Hispanic legislative caucuses or gatherings of other affinity groups.

Facilitator Additional Resourceswho