Interactive DM Workshops on activism and student power can be led by DM students or DM staff and take place at a DM meeting or as a DM-organized event.  Invite other campus clubs to co-sponsor and/or attend! 

Tips for Success:  

• Time -  60 – 90 minutes

•  Materials - Paper, pens, issue handouts, sign up sheet, DM information and contact, (flip chart & markers optional).

•  Introduction (5 minutes) - Give each student a piece of paper to write their answer to a provocative question (e.g. the most important political issue? the most important issue facing young people today?  What issue do you care about the most?)

•  Icebreaker/Snowball Fight (2 minutes) - Students crumple their paper into a ball,throw the balls at one another (a gentle “snowball fight”) and pick up and read a ball near them.

• Group Work 1 (10 minutes) - Split students into random groups of 2-4 people. They come up with reasons why someone would think these problems are important.

• Group Presentations (5 minutes each) - One group member summarizes the main points of group’s discussion of each issue. (Optional - write summarized responses on flip charts).   

• Group Work 2 (10 minutes) - Each small group then discusses the related question of how the problem/issue could be solved, specifcally addressing the role students could play.  

•  Group Presentations (5 minutes each) – One group member summarizes the main points of group’s discussion of solutions and the role of students. (Optional - write summarized responses on flip charts). 

•  Brainstorming (DM meeting) (10 minutes) - Which of the problems/issues just discussed should DM prioirtize to work on and why? What actions, discussions, or events should DM organize - on or off- campus - related to that issue?

• Brainstorming (DM-sponsored event) (10 minutes) - What can students on this campus do to educate others about these issues? Discuss the variety of ways that workshop participants- individually or in groups - could help address/solve these problems.