Circles Session 1

Begin

My heart is moved by all I cannot save:
so much has been destroyed



I have to cast my lot with those

who age after age, perversely,



with no extraordinary power,

reconstitute the world.

—Adrienne Rich

🌱 Opening

Read Adrienne Rich quote that opens All We Can Save.

💫 Introductions

Prompt: Share your name, pronouns + what made you say “yes” to this invitation. Then pass to someone else. (Circle leader should go first and model this.)

🌻 Agreements

Share these agreements for Circle dialogue. Then, welcome any questions / comments / suggested additions. Request affirmation from the group (verbal “yes” or thumbs up).

1. Generous Dialogue: We will ask open and generous questions, offer our own stories and ideas generously, and listen to one another with a generosity of spirit.

2. Equitable Dialogue: We will have a single conversation — one voice at a time, with roughly equal time to share. We will each step up or step back as needed.

3. Confidential Dialogue: We will ensure that sharings made within our Circle are not shared beyond it, unless someone gives clear permission to do so.

4. Growing Dialogue: We will lean into learning, welcome diverse opinions and perspectives, and support our mutual growth in knowledge and power.

5. Courageous Dialogue: We will bring our heads and hearts to this space, holding hard truths while looking towards what is possible and how we can best contribute.

6. Additional agreements for this Circle?

☀️ Discussion

Move through 3 generous questions, ensuring everyone has a chance to share:

1. Do you think of yourself as a climate feminist? If so, what does that identity mean to you? If not, how does it feel to try it on?

2. What are the qualities of feminine/feminist climate leadership, and where do you see it emerging?

3. If “what we pay attention to grows,” what do you want to pay attention to and grow over these 10 sessions together?

📓 Journal Prompt

Offer the following journal prompt, for those who may want to reflect and write between this session and the next one:

How did your climate journey begin?

🌙 Closing

Express gratitude. Remind group of next session date/time. Finally, read the prose poem summary of All We Can Save to close (p. xxii–xxiv).

🔧 Workplace exploration

If you are doing this Circle in your workplace, offer the following prompt for exploration between this session and the next one (you may also want to email/message it).

Does your organization have sustainability/climate goals and initiatives? If so, what stakes has your workplace already put in the ground? Do they seem to match the seriousness of the climate crisis? If not, are there examples at other organizations that inspire you?