Twenty-Step Process for Organizing a Public Education Forum

Twenty-Step Process for Organizing a Public Education Forum

by Anthony J. Nocella II

The following is a list of how to organize a successful event, which will help spread information and educate the public about the issue that the group is concerned about:

1. Pick an event theme with a title and a description.
2. Establish an event committee of 2 to 3 people and sponsors.
3. Establish a length of time such as, 1 hour, 3 hours, day long, weekend long, week long, and format of the event such as, workshop, roundtable, teach-in, Skype, film screening, lecture, debate, open mic, or conference.
4. Invite and confirm speakers on the topic from the community, universities, schools, and other institutions/organizations.
5. Receive biographies, professional titles, and full name of the speakers.
6. Lock in a location and time that is accessible and in a location that the public can easily find. Think about the bus schedule and parking situation.
7. Develop a flyer and send it out to the event committee, speakers, and sponsors for approval.
8. Promote and advertise through e-mail, media (such as radio and newspapers), Facebook, Twitter, blogs, phone calls, speaking in classrooms and organizations, and texting.
9. On the day and week of the event, repromote.
10. On the day and week of the event, reconfirm speakers.
11. An hour before the event, make sure all the event committee members are at the event location on time.
12. An hour before the event, organize chairs, food, video camera, banners, and a welcoming/information table.
13. An hour before the event, the cofacilitators should practice explaining the purpose, goal, schedule, and presenters’ bios.
14. An hour before the event, the cofacilitators should decide how the discussion will be facilitated after the presenters are finished. If possible, call on people with marginalized identities, try not to call on the same person more than once, and do not allow anyone to speak for an excessively long period of time.
15. Make sure the event starts and end on time.
16. Make sure to thank everyone for presenting, organizing, attending, etc.
17. Make sure to tell everyone about the next event or to tell them where to find out about future events.
18. Make sure to tell people how to get involved with this issue.
19. Make sure to send out, via social media and e-mails, thank yous to those who attended.
20. Make sure to quickly post pictures and videos of the event on social media.