Future~Present
Imagine you've already succeeded, then look back from that future as "elders" telling "youths" the story of how it happened. Adapted from Liberating Structures (https://www.liberatingstructures.com/future-present), licensed CC BY-NC 3.0.
2 parts · 3 phases
In each group, two people play elders who have lived through to a successful future; the rest play youths who interview them. Elders build on each other with "yes, and...". Youths lean in and listen actively, using these questions:
- Times were hard and there seemed to be no way out. Is it true? What problems and impossible-seeming opportunities existed?
- In the midst of that turmoil, how did you feel? What gave you hope amid the despair?
- What first small steps did you take? How did you build and maintain momentum?
- Where did you find the strength to go on? Who showed up unexpectedly and gave you confidence that more was possible?
- Interview the elders
Youths interview the elders about how success came to be. Elders improvise the story of how it happened, building on each other.
- Collect story highlights
Reflect together on what the elders said made them successful — the changes, support systems, and patterns that helped. Record the highlights.