Develop Active Listening Skills: Participants will practice focused listening to understand and engage with others’ ideas fully.Recognize Marginalized Voices: Participants will learn to notice whose voices may be underrepresented and how to intentionally amplify them.Practice Amplification Techniques: Participants will apply strategies to credit, expand, and build on others’ contributions thoughtfully.Foster Collaboration: Participants will enhance their ability to engage collectively, building on shared ideas to create stronger group outcomes.Build Awareness of Group Dynamics: Participants will develop an awareness of speaking patterns and group dynamics to ensure equitable participation.Apply Amplification Beyond the Exercise: Participants will carry the skills of amplifying, active listening, and equitable engagement into the rest of the workshop and future collaborations.
— Paper, pens OR digital word processor— If digital: collaboration tools that allow sharing— Prompt questions
1. Form Groups: Organize participants into groups of any size. For larger groups, use breakout rooms or facilitate as one large group. Chat participation can be used as an alternative or complementary method.2. Share an Idea or Answer a Prompt: One person begins by sharing an idea or answering a given prompt question. Participants can respond verbally, through the chat, or using other accessible formats. In the chat, designate a thread or use direct responses to organize contributions.3. Amplify and Expand: The remaining participants take turns amplifying or expanding on the idea or response. This could include: ◦ Building on the idea with additional perspectives or examples. ◦ Echoing key points to ensure they are heard and credited. ◦ Asking clarifying questions to deepen understanding.Chat participants can reply directly to the idea or highlight key points. Facilitators or group leaders should read chat responses and reactions aloud to ensure they are accessible to all participants, including those who may not be monitoring the chat.4. Rotate Speakers: After the amplification, the next participant (in the group or chat thread) shares their idea or answers the prompt, continuing the cycle.5. Continue the Cycle: Each person shares an idea or answers the prompt, while others amplify and expand on it. Rotate until everyone has had a chance to contribute, fostering collaborative engagement.6. Reflect Together: As a group, reflect on how ideas or answers evolved through amplification. Discuss how the activity encouraged collaboration and brainstorm ways to continue supporting each other’s ideas.Accessibility Options:• Participants can contribute via chat if they prefer not to speak or need an alternative way to participate.• Allow for live or delayed responses in the chat for participants needing additional time to process or respond.• Combine verbal discussion with chat input to ensure inclusive engagement.• Reading chat responses and reactions aloud ensures accessibility for those using screen readers, who are visually impaired, or who may not be able to follow the chat during live discussion.
Exercising amplification strategies is crucial because it actively ensures that marginalized but key voices are heard, credited, and supported. In contexts where individuals and communities—especially Black, Indigenous, and disabled leaders—are often dismissed or their contributions co-opted, amplifying their ideas helps counteract historical erasure and exploitation. Amplification also transforms ideas into actionable outcomes by offering tangible support, ensuring these voices contribute to shaping decisions. By practicing amplification, we create a more collaborative and equitable space where intersectional and culturally specific perspectives lead to meaningful, lasting change. It also builds trust and fosters collective empowerment.