ISJ Intern Josh Mackenzie shares his experience facilitating at his first People’s Assembly. Hosted by the Living Lab on the topic of student activism on campus, this was an opportunity to engage with and learn how collective democracy could lead to climate action.

What is a People’s Assembly? 

A people’s assembly is when a group gathers to discuss issues, make decisions, and propose actions for change. A notable example of a People’s Assembly was an assembly conducted regarding same-sex marriage in Ireland held during 2012-2014, leading to recommendations put to a national referendum in 2015, resulting in the legalisation of same-sex marriage in Ireland. People’s assemblies are all about participatory democracy, everyone’s voice is valued and there are no right or wrong answers, it’s about the collective sharing, learning and reflection. It is through this learning and reflection that ideas are born, ideas that drive change and action. Read more about People’s Assembly’s on the Extinction Rebellion’s web page.

Last month the YSJ Living Lab ran its third People’s Assembly. This People’s Assembly explored the topic student activism on campus. It began with a series of lightning talks, each addressing different facets of how we can better incorporate student activism on campus, from staff to students to those at the forefront of climate activism. People’s Assemblies offer valuable democratic input and strong starting points for activism‑supporting change.

Lightning talks: sparking ideas

Alexia Lizzarge Quintero, climate fellowship manager for the Amos Trust, opened the series of talks. Working with land defenders in Latin America, Alexia highlighted the fulfilment that resisting the capitalist colonialism with joy and celebration of culture can bring, emphasising healing as a form of justice. Alexia reflected on how activism can be lonely, but by engaging in it, you gain a family. 

YSJ Student Union President Ann-Marie Mafura followed this up with a heartfelt speech on how activism grows from a supportive community that prioritises student voice, and how she values the supportive culture at YSJ. Ann-Marie illustrated an often-forgotten picture of how activism can be small; it doesn’thave to be huge and extravagant displays but can take the form of conscious small acts. Activism can be research, it can be protest, or even something as simple as having a joy or passion for something. 

“No women are free until we all are”: Edith Coberman, Feminist Society committee. Edith’s passionate talk advocated for the importance of eco-feminist activism, encouraging the assembly to approach these issues through an intersectional lens, highlighting how issues of climate change and feminism overlap. 

Interior design students Lucy Marshall and Mathew Phillips presented an idea for an on-campus space to better enable student activism. This co-created space would be a physical manifestation of the values central to student activism. Incorporating a sense of openness and sustainability through natural light and sustainable materials, this flexible space would invite collaborative activism, with private places to think and public spaces to gather. 

Director of Estates here at YSJ Nick Coakley stressed how important campus spaces that promote student leadership are, and how accessibility is not just physical. Nick emphasised 5 key areas vital to supporting campus activism: the living demonstration of sustainability, what is practically possible here at YSJ, emotional connections to places, sustainable materials such as the new cork 3G pitch, and systems thinking.

After these talks, attendees branched off into small group discussions, brainstorming solutions and drafting proposals to mould our campus into a hub for student climate activism. Each group discussion involved a facilitator to help guide the conversation and ideas into these proposals.  

What it meant to facilitate a People’s Assembly 

Facilitators play a key role in People’s Assemblies, they ensure everyone has a voice and that people are free to share whilst coming to a solid action. Facilitators must practice active listening, neutrality, clear communication and time management. I had the pleasure of acting as a facilitator in these group discussions, it was a privilege to help support these conversations and ensure an inclusive, respectfuland productive process. After an illuminating training session delivered by the Living Lab’s Catherine Heinemeyer, I felt prepared to shepherd these discussions into the proposals they came to be. There are some key facilitation techniques that help ensure a smooth discussion process, such as one finger up, a signal someone wishes to join the discussion that respects those currently speaking. Another method is using ‘wavy hands’ to indicate levels of consensus within the group and encourage further discussion.  This experience taught me how process matters just as much as outcomes, and inclusive rules, structure and guidance are all vital precursors to collective decision making. 

Proposed actions

Different tables explored solutions to a question or issue surrounding activism on campus. Here are some of the proposed actions, decided as a collective:

How can activism & community engagement be better integrated into classroom learning? 

• Ensure we make postgraduate students aware of activism news on campus and welcome them with open arms. 

• Have courses partner with the Living Lab, incorporating activism related to courses into students’ lives through assignments and lectures. 

How can we better use the digital space + campus space to promote activism? 

• Experiment with a free space on campus that holds events such as poster workshops surrounding activism. 

• Ensure to involve departments across YSJ including Estates and the Student Union. 

• Maximising the digital space is important for commuting students, also for those who may wish to remain anonymous. 

The Living Lab has a new shared space on campus: “Future You”. How could this be used to support & facilitate activism? 

• Have the space as a place where students can leave ideas & input, such as a communal noticeboard. 

• Having a personalised feel to the space would help the Living Lab see student voice.  

What barriers prevent students & staff from engaging in activism & how might we remove them? 

• Activism can have rebellious connotations affecting student/staff perceptions, opening discussions surrounding activism can lead to small changes in perception. 

• Barriers such as fear and freedom of speech could be helped by initiatives such as enhanced staff training. 

What’s next? 

The innovative proposals will be taken to the Living Lab Working Group for review and consideration on how they could support student activism. The group meets bi‑weekly on Tuesdays from 1–2pm in the Future You space in Holgate (formerly Launchpad), with an option to join online. As of this blog’s publication, the next meeting is on 27 January. More information and contact details are available on the Living Lab website. 

Workshop – Women Land Defenders: Imagining New Worlds 

Earlier this same day, I participated in a workshop hosted by Alexia Lizzarge Quintero of the Amos Trust and lead of the Climate Fellowship initiative, a 12-month programme supporting young women land defenders and climate activists across Mexico and Central America. During the workshop, we explored the stories collected by these women and how they experience the connection between body and land. I found the interconnection between culture, food and climate change to be particularly interesting, to see how climate change impacts the food and habitats that are the foundation of cultural experiences was very profound. Alexia ended the workshop with a collaborative exercise and meditation reflecting on our own feelings of connection between our bodies and land, imagining alternative futures for our climate. 

Reflections; the value of collective voice  

This experience reminded me that activism and resistance does not have to be rooted in anger or confrontation but can be performed through acts of joy and celebration. Small, collective actions have power to create meaningful action and change. With the co-creation of inclusive spaces, we can open opportunities for collaborative activism on campus. Facilitating the discussions at this assembly emphasised how crucial inclusive group dialogue is in shaping action. A standout theme amongst the proposals was the need for spaces on campus for collaborative action to thrive, including undergraduate and postgraduate students to ensure a diverse range of voices are heard.