Peace Social Innovation Lab ( PSI-LAB)
Activate Labs leads design, peacetech, art, participatory video and transformative leadership workshops that create local capacities for peace and leadership around the world. Using our Frame Design Process of participatory design we create platforms and pathways of engagement. Here are a few examples of our work. We have partnered with organizations, foundations and communities that seek transformation.
Our Tools
PEACEBUILDING AND CONFLICT TRANSFORMATION WORKSHOPS
We are facilitators and trainers that build capacity and facilitate change. We lead large groups like conferences or organizations in a facilitated process, we convene teams or that help build community capacity to lead. Using graphic facilitation and user centered design strategies we have led workshops on: transformative leadership, mobilizing, organizing, advocacy, digital activism, peacebuilding, conflict transformation, and more. Whether it’s launching a new campaign or project, training organizational and community leaders in peacebuilding and leadership or advancing policy, Activate Labs facilitates change.
DESIGN AND STRATEGY
Implementing design thinking and participatory processes we create strategies for change. Whatever the problem you are trying to solve: strategic communications campaigns, organizational program design, media/PR, behavioral change campaigns, peacebuilding interventions, or launching a new concept you are working on.
Our approach and methodology is always participatory, experiential and user- centered design. Our tools are visual facilitation, graphic recording, user-centered design, participatory video, games, prototyping etc.
COMMUNICATIONS, MEDIA AND NARRATIVE CHANGE
We leverage design, strategic communications and technology to help tell the story of transformation. Our innovative and creative team use digital media, transmedia storytelling, graphic design, media relations, public relations, graphic recording, participatory media to launch and support organization and movements to tell their story of transformation, hope and action.
The Frame Design Process
Designing peace and justice requires deep listening, generative conversations and centering those that are directly impacted by violence and oppression. We have designed a powerful methodology for participatory design called the “Frame Design Process” or FDP which has transformed how interventions and programs are designed and implemented by shifting the power of who identifies problems and creates solutions. It centers those that most impacted and gives them the resources to frame the problem and prototype solutions. FDP is a design thinking methodology however rather than designing for those impacted, the FDP is design with communities and organizations that want to transform their world.
Participatory Video and Photography
Participatory video and photography is a methodology with a series of tools that provides any community members with enough technical skills to plan, film, edit and screen a video or gallery walk on their own. Yet, Participatory Video and Photography is also a process in which power is shifted and communities are involved in a holistic and transformational way…in many ways the camera is a tool to spark up dialogue, reflection and empower those directly impacted by any issue, from climate change, stigma, community violence to youth resilience.
Peace Building and Transformative Leadership Training
The Transformative Leadership workshops teach participants how to lead and collaborate in times of conflict and challenges based on affirmation, communication, co-operation, community building and transforming power. The workshops are an intensive, two-day learning experience which teaches interpersonal collaborative problem solving and conflict transformation skills through a series of step-by-step processes. These experiences in small groups and one-to-one interactions build a sense of community and trust through exercises focusing on:
● Affirmation — Building self esteem and trust.
● Communication — Improving both listening skills and assertive methods of expression.
● Cooperation — Developing cooperative attitudes that avoid competitive conflicts.
● Creative Conflict Transformation — Getting in touch with the inner Transforming Power to resolve violence. Role plays provide an opportunity to explore this power and learn new and creative ways to respond to real life conflicts in our lives.
The Transformative Leadership Workshop usually takes place in two consecutive days with a total of 16-18 hours. We also conduct shorter 3-4 hour workshops that focus on a topic such as: resilience, listening, trauma, anger, and building consensus. The program entails level 1, 2, training for facilitator workshops and mini focused workshops. Level 1 focusing on building community through affirmation and communication, active listening and assertive communication. Level 2 workshop is topical and concentrates on building consensus and co-operation with the team around a certain topic. Topics are chosen through a consensus process and then the facilitator team custom creates an agenda for the group. Workshops ideally have up to 20 participants. Mini workshops are topical and usually focus on team building and listening- groups can be as large as 30 people.
