It's Easy as 1, 2...5
Hosts welcome and orient people to the Conversation Café process. A good host is a cross between a flight attendant, a coach, a mother, an old philosopher and an innocent child.
Hosting is as simple as following instructions on a cake mix and as complex as making all guests comfortable at a dinner party. Hosts are NOT therapists, NOT shining examples, and NOT impartial facilitators. They are simply the steady, welcoming presence that allows a great conversation to happen.
If you would like to be a host, follow these simple steps:- Download the host manual and read it. Read the Purpose and Principles that guide the Conversation Café method, too.
- Find a location and set a time and frequency.
- Notify us so that we can list your café in the online schedule and submit your form to register as a host and sign up for your host training. Click here to find out the information we need to list your CC on our website. We also need you to read the Pledge to follow the CC Process and Agreements and Purpose and Principles, print it out, sign it and mail it to CC Central at:
PO Box 1501
Langley, WA 98260 - Let people know about your café (for publicity tips, see the host manual, Kat's article, or download fliers, handbills, even a template press release here).
- Show up on time with the process and agreements and a talking object, hold the space for great conversation, and whatever happens is OK. (For a list of other optional hosting helpers, see the host manual).
You might consider joining our online CC community for addtional support.
Go here for the basic process and agreements of a café, or have our wallet cards on hand.
Download hosting resources such as the how-to manual, flyers, wallet cards, a template press release, and more. We have some selected translations of various Conversation Café documents into Hebrew, Spanish, and Japanese.
We offer tele-conference trainings both for new hosts, and for those who want to brush up on their skills. For current hosts who have their café listed on our website, registration is free. We also provide "Become a Host" video training. Click here for more information.
Read the article "The Art of Inviting" by CC co-founder and use the simple email-script to get you well on your way to having a successful CC.
You'll find Topics and Questions for your café here, and some great ideas for promoting your café
in an insightful article by Kat Gjovik.