Inclusive Circle for All

# Creating an Inclusive Circle for All

I wanted to create a circle that welcomes men, women, and people of all gender identities.

It feels like we've lost the ability to share our thoughts openly across different groups, leading to unnecessary separation.

Instead of only talking within our own circles, we need spaces where everyone can come together.

## We'll discuss topics including:

• Identity and authentic self-expression
• Biases we carry (whether it's sexism, objectification, racism, and so on)
• Society, relationships, and life experiences
• Creating genuine understanding through listening
• Whatever meaningful topics arise organically from our group

## There's one fundamental pillar in doing all of this:

To remember that we are human, and that everyone else is too. We are human first.

## The format will be slightly different every time

With exercises, meditations, and reflecting questions.

Sometimes certain people will be given more uninterrupted time and then we'll open the floor for questions.

Other times it will be a back-and-forth discussion with shared dialogue.

## Before every meeting we'll read out together this promise:

"I'm here to understand the perspectives of others, here to listen more than I talk, to lives and experiences that are not my own, but they are living them. I am not here to find out what is wrong with people's viewpoints, but what is right.

I am not here to fight, or hurt others. But to heal through hearing and sharing perspective. I also will not interpret people's comments as attacks.

Regardless of what others say or think, I am safe, and my safety is mine, and from this safety I come into discussion and talk, offering my safety to others, as much as I can.

I will acknowledge that everyone has the same needs, regardless of gender, age or race. We all seek to be understood, to be heard, to be seen, and considered.

We all seek to feel safe, and in connection with others. We desire to be right not to make others wrong but to feel less confused about the world.

Together we let go of any need to be right, or wrong, and provide the deeper need of listening and enjoy being listened to.

And if we let go of thinking what is wrong with what people say before they finish it, then we will hear their deeper needs, which we share as well.

I vow to uphold what I have said not because it was forced on me, but because I believe in the deeper message as well."

## Practical Details

Meeting Schedule: Sessions are planned every three weeks

Facilitation: I will facilitate initially, with the possibility of rotating facilitation as our group develops trust and familiarity

Privacy & Confidentiality: What is shared in our circle stays in our circle. We commit to honoring each other's vulnerability and protecting the privacy of all participants

Group Size: To maintain intimacy and ensure everyone has space to share, we'll keep our group to 8-12 people

How to Join: If this resonates with you, sign up and join the link when the time comes.

What to Bring: Yourself, and a pen and paper. They will be used for the reflection exercises and any insights that you get from the discussions.

## Community Guidelines

• Respectful Communication: We speak from personal experience rather than making generalizations about groups
• Mindful Sharing: We're mindful of taking up appropriate space - neither dominating nor completely withdrawing
• Boundaries: Anyone can pause or step back from a topic if needed, and we respect these boundaries without question
• Growth-Oriented: We approach difficult conversations as opportunities for learning rather than battles to be won

## A little about me

I'm originally Palestinian, a heterosexual male who grew up in the Middle East and have been living in Germany for the last 10 years. I grew up with a Muslim upbringing, and had to rethink many of the biases that I was raised with.

I find coming into discussion the best way to grow, because at the end of the day, it's other people that I need to understand and hear out, not only my own thoughts that I need to push onto the world. My own journey of examining inherited beliefs has shown me how much we can learn when we create brave spaces for honest dialogue.

## Our Vision Beyond Sessions

My hope is that our circle becomes more than just meetings - that we build genuine community where people feel seen across difference.

As we develop trust, we might organize social gatherings, support each other through challenges, and model the kind of inclusive community we want to see in the world.

If this resonates with you, I'd be happy to see you taking part in creating something meaningful together.