Place Visualization

Overview

Participants will create introductory poems by describing where they are from. 

Objectives

1. To create a “we are from” poem

2. To foster relationship-building among participants

Suggested Supplies

1. Paper

2. Post-it notes

3. Pen/Pencils

Step-By-Step Facilitation Guide 

Activity Overview: The “we are from” poem activity is an opportunity to introduce yourself by explaining where you come from. Begin by explaining the question “where are you from?” is often used to ask about identity or cultural backgrounds. This activity is a way to think about ourselves beyond these categories. Additionally, rather than thinking of it as “where I am from”, the participants are invited to describe themselves in the “we” to note the communities and families they exist within. 

Give each participant post-it notes to brainstorm where they come from. Ask them to pay close attention to the sounds, smells, tastes, feelings, and scenery of these places. Have them think about the people, animals, waters, plants, and medicines that they are from. Prompt them with “what has been formative in developing who they are today?” 

After 5-10 minutes of brainstorm, have each participant write a poem of “we are from” statements. Encourage them to piece together the ideas they generated on the post-it notes to construct a free-form power. Give them about 10 minutes to do so. 

The poems can be shared in several ways, based on the comfort-level or goals of the activity:

• Participants can all sit in a circle, indoors or outdoors, and take turns reading their poems

• Participants can share in small groups or pairs

• The facilitator can hang the poems (with or without their names) and participants can do a gallery walk 

• Poems can be exchanged and read by different participants aloud 

The facilitator can choose to debrief the experience of creating or sharing the poems, or not.

Tips for Facilitation:

• This activity fosters connections among participants, but requires a lot of trust and comfort. How will you facilitate a safe space for participants to share their writing? 

• For some participants, thinking about their background may evoke painful or sensitive memories that they prefer not to revisit or say aloud. Participants should not be forced to share their poems if they are not comfortable doing so.

• The poems may involve vulnerable or personal information, set intentions before any sharing happens (1) to listen closely, (2) to not judge or make assumptions, and (3) to not share what’s been shared.

*Adapted from University of Minnesota’s Global Programs and Strategy Alliance and the Center for Educational Innovation, https://global.umn.edu/icc/documents/I_Am_From_Faculty_Guide.pdf