Week One: Introductions
For this first meeting, the facilitator should introduce what the group is (sometimes, people are in the wrong place!) as well as set community guidelines for sharing. Because of the nature of the content, it is important that members all feel safe to express themselves. Ask that everyone agree to confidentiality—if someone wishes to share someone else’s story outside of the group, they must first ask the permission of the person who originally shared it. Remind everyone that disagreement is okay. Ask that everyone use “I” statements— this means speaking only for oneself, as other people may have different perspectives and that we can only speak from our own experiences. Encourage everyone to, over the course of the group, “call Voldemort by his name,” meaning speaking openly about the things we may be afraid to talk about. (“Fear of the name [or talking about something] only increases fear of the thing itself.”) This is especially important for addressing our own faults and complacency in unjust systems. Ensure that the group will remain a safe space for participants to express their thoughts.
• Who are you? Tell a little about your self, your familiarity with Harry Potter, and any experiences you may have with activism. Which house, if any, do you identify with? Why? • What are your expectations for this group? What do you hope to get out of it? What to you hope to learn? • What social justice themes are you aware of in Harry Potter? In other series? How can literature be used to communicate and explain otherwise complex issues? • Which characters or narratives most inspire you? Your answers do not need to be limited to Harry Potter. • What is the significance of calling Voldemort by his name? Why does Dumbledore insist on using “Voldemort” instead of “You- Know-Who”? How, then, would Dumbledore argue we should talk about our own real-world “Voldemorts”?