1. Small, exciting, safe experiential experiments in high-quality listening 

• Participants test out: 

—  Ways to use stories to invite more stories and start a great conversation, quickly getting to realness. ⁃ Models of listening (e.g., listening to explore vs to recognize; listening to self and other, etc)

—  Models of conversation (vs discussion, argument, debate)

—  Elegant, easy to implement, facilitation techniques to heighten listening, ensure that all voices are heard, and cool the heat that often leads to interruption

— Approaches to telling a story that draws others in

— Frameworks for offering feedback that encourages connection

— Practices and guard rails to maintain psychological safety and agency, active listening, and ensure all voices are heard.

(Specific focus areas are determined by factors such as Lab duration)

2. From Scary to Exciting Through Deft Pedagogy

• Following ASC’s principle of “Emphatic Not-Big-Dealness” experiment design makes participation easy even for those who are normally disinclined to speak in front of groups. 

3. Establishing Safety & Trust 

• ASC’s performance (spoken word and music) sets an emotional tone, and establishes a moving values sphere, for the evening.

• ASC facilitates with humor and playful realness.

• As with all cohesion processes, ASC facilitators embody 120% of the qualities with which they would like participants to engage with one another. Facilitators model anything participants do. This includes vulnerability, permission to be imperfect, permission to be real.

• Community agreements establish safety container (used across ASC cohesion processes).

4. Memorable, Moving Artistry

• ASC’s moving stories told through powerful spoken word, music, and theatrically projected sand animation facilitate generous listening with fellow participants in conversations that are honest, intimate, and alive

1. Participants learn actionable tools and frameworks for high quality listening that help overcome the anxiety that is a predictable barrier to attempts to connect across lines of difference

2. Accelerated Connection with Others

• Throughout the Lab, strangers experiment with tools and techniques together. 

• The data is experiential: experiences of feeling moved by each other’s stories, and feeling heard. Participants experience increased empathy, curiosity and elevation of shared identities above difference. 

• This gradually shifts unspoken inferences participants make about one another and the social spaces between them.

• By the end of the Lab, participants who often begin as strangers are surprised by the connection they share.

• Connection is its own reward, often leaving people wanting more connection and feeling equipped with actionable tools for this.