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MAFN Events

MAFN workshops feature a variety of topics related to deepening and broadening the skills of facilitators. Our workshops are designed to be interactive and provide experiential learning for all participants as they learn from the expertise of others. 

MAFN offers a variety of learning opportunities, such as monthly online workshops, networking events, in-person 3-hour workshops, communities of practice events, and various multi-part online learning series.  Our individual online workshops offer grounding and resources on the focus topic and are included in MAFN membership.  In-person workshops and multi-part learning series offer more time for discussion and practice and are discounted for MAFN members.

See details below for upcoming events. 

MAFN offers a wide range of learning opportunities to develop new skills and master new techniques and approaches. For almost 20 years, MAFN has been the leader in professional development opportunities in facilitation across the Mid-Atlantic region. Catering to all levels of facilitation experience, MAFN's workshops receive rave reviews from participants!

Upcoming events

  • MAFN Coaching Community of Practice (CoP) (Members Only)

    • 05/21/2024
    • 06/17/2025
    • 15 sessions
    • Online using Zoom
    • 20
    Register

    Duration: 60-minutes

    About the CoP

    MAFN is pleased to announce and launch its first Coaching CoP to support the many coaches of MAFN. Its leaders, Holly Martinson and Dawn McAvoy, seek to build a community that is based on safety, collaboration, learning, and feedback. We will meet on the third Tuesday of each month 12:00 – 1:00 pm EDT. Our first meeting is Tuesday, May 21st, at 12:00 pm EDT.  

    NOTE: This workshop will not be recorded.

    This is a monthly Community of Practice workshop. It will take place starting at 12:00pm EDT the third Tuesday of each month.

    Speakers: Holly Martinson with Patient Minds and Dawn McAvoy with McAvoy Consulting

    Holly Martinson, M.Ed., is an Integrative Executive Function Coach supporting neurodivergent individuals. She has 20+ years of experience in the field of coaching, education and curriculum development. She combines coaching for Executive Functioning skills with tools for wellbeing from a holistic perspective. In addition to coaching clients, she presents and teaches on topics related to coaching, neurodiversity, stress management, mindfulness, and wellbeing.

    Because Holly is passionate about wellbeing, she is also a Registered Yoga Instructor (E-RYT-200) with several hours of mindfulness training. Her experience has included working as an adjunct faculty teaching yoga through the Department of Health and Human Performance at Marymount University and serving on the faculty of a yoga teacher training program through a studio in Northern Virginia.

    Holly earned her M.Ed. in Curriculum & Instruction and her bachelor's in psychology. While working in the public school system, she participated in extensive coaching and facilitation training. Holly is currently pursuing her ACC coach credential through ICF and is a member of MAFN and ICF.

    Holly is on the Board of Directors for the non-profit organization, The Heart Leaf Center, which provides mental health services for underserved children and families.

    Dawn McAvoy has over 25 years of professional experience (nonprofits, corporations, small businesses, higher education, and early education). In her coaching practice, she brings empathy, curiosity, and support to each client experience. While building a collaborative partnership, and incorporating action planning and accountability measures, she sets her clients up for sustainable success.

    Dawn earned her master’s degree in organizational leadership and a bachelor’s degree in English. Her professional certifications are the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, EQ-i 2.0/360, and Certified Professional Career Coach (with PARWCC). As a certified FranklinCovey facilitator, she has facilitated leadership development courses, including The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Project Management Essentials, and The 6 Critical Practices for Leading Teams, in the Federal government.

    She is a member of the Project Management Institute and Mid-Atlantic Facilitator’s Network, where she currently serves on the Board. She is also especially passionate about supporting organizations that elevate women and girls, the environment, and education.

    ONLINE CoP Discussion REMINDERS

    • If you register and cannot attend, please cancel to allow someone else to come. 

    • Registered participants will receive instructions for joining the live session and any additional details 1 day in advance and the morning of the event. Please be sure to look for the link in your email.

    • MAFN CoP discussions will not be recorded in order to support space for learning.

    For registration or membership questions contact info@mafn.org.
    Show details

  • MAFN/CBODN Joint Learning Exchange and Networking Event

    • 12/12/2024
    • 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM
    • Pinnacle Towers 1753 Pinnacle Drive, McLean, VA; Suite 850
    Register


    For the first time, the Mid-Atlantic Facilitators Network (MAFN)

    and Chesapeake Bay Organization Development (CBODN) are

    co-sponsoring a learning exchange and networking happy hour

    event in person on Thursday, December 12 from 4-7 pm ET in the

    Tysons Corner area. Other organizations are also invited.


    By gathering together to connect, learn and grow, this is a

    great opportunity to share the best ideas of our practices and

    build community among related fields, such as facilitation,

    organization development, coaching and training.

    We will use an open space format to learn from each other.

    Hope you can join us!


    December 12th, 2024 

    4:00-5:30pm – Learning Exchange

    Pinnacle Towers

    1753 Pinnacle Drive, McLean, VA; Suite 850 

    On-site parking is available and free

    Short walk from Tysons metro stop on the Silver Line


    5:30-7:00pm – Happy Hour

    Tysons Social Tavern, Double-Tree by Hilton

    Doubletree 1960 Chain Bridge Road, McLean, VA

    (We will walk across the street from Pinnacle Towers)



    $10 Registration Fee for CBODN and MAFN Members,

    $20 for all non-members.


    Light food to be provided during Happy Hour.

    Drinks and meals available for purchase.



    For more information:

                                       

                            CLICK HERE                         CLICK HERE                                


    Show details

  • MAFN's December 13th Online Workshop - Mastering Your Most Impactful Facilitation Tool: Meta Skills

    • 12/13/2024
    • 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
    • Online using Zoom
    Register

    Duration: 90 minutes

    About the workshop:

    Join us for an engaging workshop on Meta Skills, where you'll boost your self-awareness, explore cultivating a commanding presence, and enhance your emotional intelligence, all to expand your influence as a facilitator. Learn to manage and apply your Meta Skills energy to create a dynamic, positive environment.

    Understanding and mastering these skills is crucial for guiding transformative discussions and fostering a supportive atmosphere. In this 90 minute workshop you will connect with other passionate facilitators dedicated to personal and professional growth.

    Don’t miss this opportunity to supercharge your facilitation toolkit and lead impactful, memorable sessions!

    Learning Objectives

    In this session, participants will:

    1. Enhance Self-Awareness as a Facilitator: Participants will identify and understand their personal triggers and develop meta skills to maintain composure and focus during facilitation, leading to more effective and impactful sessions.
    2. Cultivate Presence and Emotional Intelligence: Participants will learn meta skills to establish a strong, reassuring presence and to read and influence the emotional dynamics of the room, fostering a supportive and engaging environment for participants.
    3. Master Energy Management for Effective Facilitation: Participants will acquire meta skills to manage their own energy effectively, ensuring they bring a positive and productive atmosphere to every facilitation session, enhancing overall participant engagement and outcomes.


    NOTE: This workshop will be recorded for distribution to all who register (breakout rooms will not be recorded).

    This is a 90-minute workshop. It will take place starting at 12pm EST.


    Speaker:

    Marcy Fortnow, the driving force behind Engaging Play, is a dynamic leader in coaching, training, and team-building. With over twelve years in software implementations, and 20 more in group facilitation, she excels in transformative leadership, crafting workshops that blend coaching, traditional training, and engaging play. 

    Marcy holds a BS in Psychology, an MBA, and certifications as a John Maxwell Leadership Trainer, Disc consultant, and LEGO® Serious Play® facilitator. She is a Certified Corporate Culture Shift Facilitator and is trained in Organization and Relationship Systems Coaching. Marcy is deeply engaged in her community and passionate about leveraging play to achieve more.


    ONLINE WORKSHOP REMINDERS

    • No refunds or credits for registration cancellations.
    • Registered participants will receive instructions for joining the live session and any additional details 1 day in advance and the morning of the event. Please be sure to look for the link in your email.
    • Workshops begin promptly at 12:00PM Eastern.  Please log on at least 15 minutes in advance to ensure your internet connections, audio and other settings are functioning properly.
    • MAFN Members have access to all online workshop recordings via the MAFN website.
    • For registration or membership questions contact info@mafn.org.
    Show details

  • MAFN's January 10th Online Workshop - How to Design Experiential Learning Retreats

    • 01/10/2025
    • 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM
    • Online using Zoom
    Register

    Duration: 3 hours

    About the workshop:

    Learn to design effective, experiential training programs in retreat format from start to finish. Participants will create a sample program framework and agenda using Colibri Experiences immersive programs as a model of success.

    Learning Objectives

    In this session, participants will:

    • Learn how to make meaning of their workshop topics by developing a workshop theme
    • Explore how to create a program framework
    • Gain skills for designing experiential activities that deliver their workshop/retreat objectives.

    NOTE: This workshop will be recorded for distribution to all who register (breakout rooms will not be recorded).

    This is a 3-hour workshop. It will take place starting at 12pm EST.


    Speaker:

    On a mission to increase world happiness by empowering people through skills building.

    Iliana Alvarado has over 20 years of experience training business leaders in management and leadership and over a decade leading human-centered innovation. She is an avid life learner with multiple business and life skills certifications, including project management, product development, design-thinking, Infinite Possibilities coaching and yoga from the Sivananda ashram.


    ONLINE WORKSHOP REMINDERS

    • No refunds or credits for registration cancellations.
    • Registered participants will receive instructions for joining the live session and any additional details 1 day in advance and the morning of the event. Please be sure to look for the link in your email.
    • Workshops begin promptly at 12:00PM Eastern.  Please log on at least 15 minutes in advance to ensure your internet connections, audio and other settings are functioning properly.
    • MAFN Members have access to all online workshop recordings via the MAFN website.
    • For registration or membership questions contact info@mafn.org.
    Show details

  • (Members Only) MAFN Small Business CoP - Kick-off Small Business Community of Practice

    • 01/27/2025
    • 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
    • Online using Zoom
    • 50
    Register

    Duration: 60-Minutes


    Monday, January 27th from 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM ET


    Many members of MAFN own a Small Business and/or are Solopreneurs. We are starting a new Community of Practice that focuses on the operations of our facilitation businesses.

    This community serves as a collaborative space for facilitators who are also business owners to share best practices, explore emerging trends, and provide mutual support.

    Mission:

    To foster a learning environment where members can exchange knowledge, tools, and resources to manage and grow successful facilitation businesses.

    Benefits:

    • Collaboration: Connect with like-minded professionals to co-create and innovate.
    • Business Expansion: Gain insights into marketing, client engagement, and scaling small facilitation businesses.

    If you're passionate about facilitation and looking to enhance your small business, this community will provide the resources, inspiration, and support to help you thrive.

    Join us for the Kick-off meeting and share what you would like to get from this Community of Practice.


    Please note that this is for MAFN members only and there is limited space, so please register early. 

    Our guiding principles are:

    • Come open to learning

    • Bring your questions, share your expertise

    • Don’t expect closure - our shared learning is a process!


    Please note that this is for MAFN members only and there is limited space, so please register early. 


    ONLINE CoP Discussion REMINDERS

    • If you register and cannot attend, please cancel to allow someone else to come. 

    • Registration closes at midnight the day before the discussion group.

    • Registered participants will receive instructions for joining the live session and any additional details 1 day in advance and the morning of the event. Please be sure to look for the link in your email.

    • MAFN CoP discussions will not be recorded in order to support space for learning.

    • For registration or membership questions contact manager@mafn.org.

    Show details

  • MAFN's February Online Workshop Series: AI in Facilitation: Balance Creative Design with Protecting Your IP

    • 02/13/2025
    • 1:00 PM
    • 02/20/2025
    • 3:00 PM
    • Online using Zoom
    Register

    Duration:  2 Hours

    About the workshop: 

    Join us for this two-part workshop series that guides us through how we might use AI tools to streamline our facilitation process while making sure we protect our own Intellectual Property (IP).


    Thursday, February 13, 2025, 1pm - 3pm, EST

    Part 1: AI in Facilitation: Elevating Session Design and Delivery

    Facilitated by Judy Oyedele & Marne Maykowskyj

    Curious about how AI can streamline your facilitation process? This interactive workshop is designed for facilitators who are keen to leverage AI to create more engaging, efficient, and effective learning experiences. Participants will explore various AI tools and techniques, gaining hands-on experience with practical applications that can transform their facilitation methods. By the end of this session, facilitators will be equipped with the knowledge and skills to incorporate AI into their practice, enhancing both the delivery and impact of their sessions.

    Learning objectives:

    • Describe how AI can be utilized in facilitation practices to improve session design and delivery

    • Learn to apply specific AI tools to enhance the interactive elements of their sessions.

    • Create a plan for using AI to support engagement, accessibility, and assessment, ensuring that their sessions are more dynamic and responsive to learner needs.


    Thursday, February 20, 2025, 1pm - 3pm, EST

    Part 1: AI in Facilitation: AI Usage Best Practices - Protect Your IP

    Facilitated by Erin Austin

    If you provide services that involve the creation of original designs, strategic decks, creative briefs, positioning statements, brand architecture, taglines, verbal messaging, visual messaging, or logos, and you are considering using AI to create some or all of the deliverables…WE NEED TO TALK!  

    In this session, we will discuss best practices to avoid the legal and ethical traps involved with using AI to create client deliverables.  This workshop covers:

    • Copyright law issues

    • Breach of contract issues

    • Ethical issues, including plagiarism


    By the end of the workshop, you will have the outline of your own AI Usage Policy.

    NOTE: This series will be recorded for distribution to all who register.

    This is a 2-part 2-Hour Series. Each session will take place starting at 1:00pm EST.


    Speakers: 

    Judy Oyedele (she/her) is the founder and principal consultant of Joyedele Consulting, a firm specializing in joyful change processes. With over a decade of experience, she supports leaders in the public, nonprofit, public media, and tech sectors as an organization development practitioner and executive leadership 

    coach. Judy helps leaders break out of the status quo, leading with more ease and better boundaries. She holds a Masters in Organization Development from American University and is an alumna of The University of Texas at Austin. Judy lives in Silver Spring, MD with her husband, cat, and a growing number of plants.


    Marne Maykowskyj is a consultant and facilitator who specializes in creating space for dialogue. She is invested in improving how we see each other and work together. She specializes in psychological safety, The Enneagram, leadership development, and facilitation training. Marne has spent 25+ years designing and facilitating experiences from the built environment to building community. She designs comprehensive, virtual environments that create the space for community, drive real engagement, and deliver solutions. Marne has led architectural project teams, entrepreneurial teams, and community teams. Her passion is coaching individuals, partners, and teams, and supporting organizations in improving the very systems we create. 


    Meet Erin Austin, a Harvard Law alum with over 25 years of copyright and contracts experience. As the go-to advisor for professionals with corporate clients, Erin empowers entrepreneurs to be their own advocates, standing out for her commitment to transforming expertise into empires through the creation, protection and leveraging of intellectual property assets. Explore her blend of legal expertise and entrepreneurial insight on ThinkBeyondIP.com and the "Hourly to Exit" podcast. Off the clock, you'll find Erin in the great outdoors or connecting with business coaches to elevate 6-figure consultants into 7-figure powerhouses.


    ONLINE WORKSHOP REMINDERS

    • No refunds or credits for registration cancellations.
    • Registration closes at midnight the day before the workshop.
    • Registered participants will receive instructions for joining the live session and any additional details 1 day in advance and the morning of the event. Please be sure to look for the link in your email.
    • Workshops begin promptly at 1:00PM Eastern.  Please log on at least 15 minutes in advance to ensure your internet connections, audio and other settings are functioning properly.
    • Recordings from this series will be sent to all who register for the series. The recordings will not be available on the MAFN website.
    • For registration or membership questions contact info@mafn.org.
    Show details

  • MAFN's February 14th Online Workshop - Co-Facilitation Best Practices – Sharing the Love

    • 02/14/2025
    • 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
    • Online using Zoom
    Register

    Duration:  90 minutes

    About the workshop: 

    What does ''love'' have to do with co-facilitation? 

    In honor of Valentine’s Day, we will explore the relationship between partners at the front of the room and examine their impact on the meeting participants. 

    What are the secrets to collaborating effectively when you are co-delivering a session? Together we’ll explore an essential set of co-facilitation mindsets and behaviours. And in this hands-on learning experience, we’ll experiment with a core set of co-facilitation skills and techniques.

    Learning Objectives 

    In this session, participants will:

    • Recognize the key factors that contribute to a successful co-delivery

    • Increase effectiveness in how they interact with each other as co-facilitators

    • Strengthen the overall quality of the participant experience 


    NOTE: This workshop will be recorded for distribution to all who register (breakout rooms will not be recorded).

    This is a 90-minute workshop. It will take place starting at 12pm EST.


    Speakers:

    Moe Poirier, Founding Partner at Shift Facilitation, has a gift for bringing learning to life, fostering collaboration, and motivating others to strive for more. For over 20 years, he has honed his craft as a training designer, facilitator, coach, and consultant. He’s an engineer, an entrepreneur and an educator. Moe’s on a mission to have individuals, leaders and teams reinvent themselves as value creators for the people and organizations they serve.


    Boyan Djefersky has been coined both a social butterfly and deeply introspective. His superpowers include his ability to connect with others in a heartbeat, create psychologically safe, and  highly engaging learning sessions. For almost a decade now, he has developed his skills as a speaker, facilitator, coach, and consultant. Boyan is on a mission to guide his participants through transformative learning experiences resulting in powerful insights and committed action steps (in both official languages)


    ONLINE WORKSHOP REMINDERS

    • No refunds or credits for registration cancellations.
    • Registered participants will receive instructions for joining the live session and any additional details 1 day in advance and the morning of the event. Please be sure to look for the link in your email.
    • Workshops begin promptly at 12:00PM Eastern.  Please log on at least 15 minutes in advance to ensure your internet connections, audio and other settings are functioning properly.
    • MAFN Members have access to all online workshop recordings via the MAFN website.
    • For registration or membership questions contact info@mafn.org.
    Show details

  • MAFN March 14th Online Workshop: Networking using Cozy Juicy Real

    • 03/14/2025
    • 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
    • Online using Zoom
    Register

    Duration:  90 minutes


    About the workshop: 

    At this event, you'll get to network and connect in a way you've never done before. 


    Come to experience Cozy Juicy Real, a simple, effective board game that’s been played at Google, Adobe and the UN to create psychological safety and stronger team bonds.


    “You will connect. Cozy Juicy Real is the best way to foster connection online.”  – Marcia Goddard, Chief Culture Officer, The Contentment Foundation

    Cozy Juicy Real is a fun, engaging and interactive event.   The event is split into three simple sections:


    • Welcome and a brief check in

    • Game time!

    • Debrief and checkout


    All three portions are highly interactive, using either our online gaming platform or a Miro board. 


    Watch this video for a preview of the Cozy Juicy Real experience: https://vimeo.com/765044964



    Learning Objectives 


    In this session, participants will:


    • Connect meaningfully with others in the MAFN community

    • Create lasting professional relationships

    • Explore how you might use this with organizations YOU work with


    NOTE: This workshop will be recorded for distribution to all who register (breakout rooms where the actual game will be played will not be recorded).


    This is a 90-minute workshop. It will take place starting at 12pm EDT.


    Speakers:

    Jed Lazar is a purpose-driven entrepreneur, first founding SoupCycle - an organic soup company that delivered 160,000 soups by bicycle - and now cofounder of Cozy Juicy Real - a board game experience that kindles fun, authentic and connecting interactions. He’s hosted events for companies such as TEDx, Adobe and Nike, and is on a mission to help create a more playful and trusting world.

    Sophia Lazar has lived many different lives – as a group facilitator, life coach, visual effects artist, yoga practitioner, registered nurse and now cofounder of Cozy Juicy Real. Today she helps bring together thousands of people from across the globe for connecting experiences - from global conference attendees, to start-ups and teams at some of the world’s most successful companies. Her vision is to design experiences where everybody gets to be just who they are and invite people into a community of authenticity, meaning and play.

    Show details

  • MAFN March 21st In-Person Workshop: Embrace a Humor Mindset to Create a Positive Learning Environment

    • 03/21/2025
    • 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
    • Silver Spring Civic Center Fenton Room 1 Veteran’s Plaza Silver Spring, MD 20910
    Register

    Duration:  3 hours - in-person


    About the workshop: 


    Join us for a dynamic workshop designed to empower you with the knowledge and skills to harness the power of humor effectively and intentionally. In this interactive session, you'll delve into various styles of humor, uncovering the profound benefits it can bring to your professional toolkit. 


    Participants will gain valuable insights and practical guidelines for incorporating intentional humor into their methods, enhancing both their communication and facilitation skills. Discover innovative strategies to seamlessly integrate humor into your training and facilitation plans, transforming your sessions into more engaging, positive, and impactful experiences.


    COVID Protocols for in-person attendance:


    • We ask that each person attending in-person be vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus.

    • Participants are asked to stay home if they have any COVID-19 symptoms, including runny nose, fever, cough, breathing issues, or gastrointestinal issues.

    • Please also stay home if you have been diagnosed with COVID-19, or any variant thereof, or if you have had direct contact with an individual diagnosed with or suspected to have COVID-19 in the past 7 days.


    Learning Objectives 

    In this session, participants will:


    • Contrast and compare the differences between humor, laughter, mirth, and wit 

    • Recognize the different styles of humor and identify your comfort zone

    • Explain the benefit of using appropriate and intentional humor in teaching

    • Understand the guidelines for using humor 

    This is a 3-hour in-person workshop. It will take place starting at 9:00am EDT.



    Speakers: 


    Mary Jo Neil began Drawn Dialogue out of her passion of drawing, laughing and playing. The purpose of Drawn Dialogue is to use creative means to spark collaboration, communication, critical thinking and connection through levity and visuals.  


    Mary Jo has a masters degree in art therapy and is a Certified Humor Professional (CHP). She developed an interest in using improv in daily life and enjoys playing with others to transform their skills.  You might even want to ask her about her Ducky award which she received on her husband’s company business trip.



    Show details

  • MAFN's April 11th Online Workshop - Solving Sticky Issues in Strategic Planning Facilitation Design

    • 04/11/2025
    • 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM
    • Online using Zoom
    Register

    Duration:  2 hours

    About the workshop: 

    Drawing on 27 years of experience facilitating strategic planning across nonprofit, public and private sectors, Dr. Rebecca Sutherns will wade right into the most difficult facilitation decisions in those processes and invite participants to navigate them skillfully together. 

    Using a composite case study approach, we’ll identify moments that frequently cause facilitation stress in strategic planning and attempt to co-create a “prevention plan” that each participant can adapt to suit their context. 

    Participants can expect process design insights, practical advice and large doses of candour and humour as we engage in real talk about the pleasures and pitfalls of collaborative planning.

    Learning Objectives 

    In this session, participants will:

    • Learn anticipation skills 
    • Explore techniques for more nimble facilitation
    • Gain insights into preventative design, grounded specifically in the facilitation of strategic planning


    NOTE: This workshop will be recorded for distribution to all who register (breakout rooms will not be recorded).

    This is a 2-hour workshop. It will take place starting at 12pm EDT.


    Speaker:

    Dr. Rebecca Sutherns is an insightful collaborative strategist and world class facilitator who has served as a trusted advisor to hundreds of mission-driven organizations.

    Rebecca brings intellect, warm energy and varied experience to her speaking, writing and facilitating. She is a skilled communicator, with a particular gift for helping leaders and organizations reimagine their next chapter. 

    Rebecca is a Certified Professional Facilitator, frequent keynote speaker, and bestselling author of three books: Nimble: Off Script but Still On Track. A coaching guide for responsive facilitation, Sightline: Strategic plans that gather momentum not dust, and ELASTIC: Stretch without snapping or snapping back. She currently serves as the Vice Chair on the Board of Directors for the International Association of Facilitators.


    ONLINE WORKSHOP REMINDERS

    • No refunds or credits for registration cancellations.
    • Registered participants will receive instructions for joining the live session and any additional details 1 day in advance and the morning of the event. Please be sure to look for the link in your email.
    • Workshops begin promptly at 12:00PM Eastern.  Please log on at least 15 minutes in advance to ensure your internet connections, audio and other settings are functioning properly.
    • MAFN Members have access to all online workshop recordings via the MAFN website.
    • For registration or membership questions contact info@mafn.org.
    Show details

  • MAFN's April 2025 Online Workshop Series: Playful Work Design for Enhanced Facilitation: Unlocking Creativity, Flow, and Engagement

    • 04/15/2025
    • 04/29/2025
    • 3 sessions
    • Online using Zoom
    Register

    Duration:  3 Session Series – 90 minutes


    About the workshop: 


    Discover how to transform your facilitation practices through the power of play and flow. This multi-session series will equip you with innovative tools and techniques to foster creativity, enhance engagement, and achieve peak performance in any facilitation setting. Learn to apply playful work design principles, understand the flow cycle, and create environments that encourage active participation and meaningful interaction. Perfect for facilitators at all levels seeking to elevate their skills and drive impactful change in their organizations.


    The "Playful Work Design for Enhanced Facilitation" series is designed to delve deep into the intersection of play, flow, and effective facilitation. Over three sessions, participants will explore how to harness the power of playful culture and the flow state to enhance their facilitation practices, boost creativity, and foster a more engaging and interactive environment.


    Why Use Play and Flow:


    Studies have shown that incorporating play into work can increase creativity by up to 20% and improve problem-solving skills by 14% (Statista, 2022). Flow, a concept popularized by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, has been linked to a 500% increase in productivity (McKinsey, 2013). By understanding and utilizing these principles, facilitators can create more dynamic and effective sessions.


    Session 1: Introduction to Playful Work Design and Flow (90 minutes)

    • Overview of playful work design and its benefits

    • Introduction to the flow state and its significance in facilitation

    • Detailed exploration of Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s and Stephen Kotler’s flow cycle (Struggle, Release, Flow, Recovery)

    • Case studies demonstrating successful application in various industries

    • Interactive exercises to identify personal play styles and preferences

    • Techniques to help facilitators and participants achieve and maintain flow


    Session 2: Creating Playful and Interactive Sessions (90 minutes)

    • Strategies to incorporate play into facilitation to enhance engagement

    • Tools and techniques for designing interactive, participant-driven sessions

    • Practical applications and role-playing scenarios to practice new skills

    • Long-term strategies for embedding playful work design into facilitation practices

    • Evaluating the impact of playful work design on participant outcomes

    • Developing a facilitation style that is flexible, creative, and adaptive


    Session 3: Overcoming Burnout Through Play and Flow (90 minutes)

    • Recognizing signs of burnout and understanding its impact on facilitation

    • Techniques to use play and flow for stress reduction and resilience

    • Creating a personal action plan for maintaining well-being and peak performance


    Learning Objectives 

    In this session, participants will:


    • Understand and apply the principles of playful work design to enhance facilitation practices.

    • Achieve and sustain flow states to boost creativity and engagement.

    • Develop strategies to create interactive, participant-driven sessions that foster active participation and meaningful dialogue.


    NOTE: This workshop will be recorded for distribution to all who register.


    This is a 3-part 90-minute Series. Each session will take place starting at 2:00pm EDT.



    Speakers: 

    Acey Holmes is a seasoned expert in workplace dynamics and corporate training, specializing in the transformative power of play and flow. With a robust background in facilitating engaging workshops, Acey has worked with diverse clients, including tech startups and educational institutions. Her focus is on enhancing employee well-being, creativity, and performance. 

    Acey’s recent TEDx talk on overcoming burnout through play and flow has solidified her reputation as an engaging and insightful presenter. She brings a wealth of knowledge and practical strategies to her workshops, aiming to inspire and drive meaningful change in professional environments.

    Show details

  • MAFN's May 9th Online Workshop - Introduction to Applied Improv in Meeting Facilitation

    • 05/09/2025
    • 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
    • Online using Zoom
    Register

    Duration:  90 minutes

    About the workshop: 

    As a facilitator, you design your meetings to be interactive, agile, and engaging. Improv games can make your sessions more creative, memorable, and playful while still enabling you to accomplish your learning and discussion objectives. 

    This workshop will introduce you to several games you can use online or in-person to generate and deepen the conversation, stimulate planning and visioning, safely explore areas of concern and disagreement, and much more. 

    Session leaders will select volunteers to demonstrate the games, and create opportunities for participants to explore ways in which to use them. 

    Learning Objectives 

    In this session, participants will:

    • Explore the concept of Applied Improv and how it can be used in group facilitation. 
    • Experience a sample of games to assess their potential and impact
    • Expand their own facilitator’s toolkit

    NOTE: This workshop will be recorded for distribution to all who register (breakout rooms will not be recorded).

    This is a 90-minute workshop. It will take place starting at 12pm EDT.


    Speakers:

    Claudia Lach (Principal, Lach Training & Consulting) is passionate about partnering with clients to identify the change they need to achieve their desired outcomes. She is an OD consultant, facilitator, and leadership coach who founded her private practice in 2000. Her practice focuses on leadership development, strategic planning, inclusive and equitable workplaces, conflict resolution, and teamwork. Claudia works with various nonprofit, public, and private organizations.  Her clients work in education, legal services, social services, worker rights, civil rights, municipal services, community organizing, community development, affordable housing, philanthropy, health care, and consulting services. Claudia has an MS in Management from Lesley University.

    Sheree Galpert (Principal, Dramatic Results) is a trainer, actor, writer, and educator with over three decades of experience delivering highly engaging, interactive, and playful learning experiences.  One of her favorite areas of expertise is Applied Improv - using improvisation as a jumping-off point for team building, data gathering, and management training. Clients include Harvard University, Merck, Nestle, Xerox, Partners Healthcare, Microsoft, and Simmons Leadership Institute. Sheree did her graduate studies in Organization Development at American University/NTL, and earned her BFA in Theater. 



    ONLINE WORKSHOP REMINDERS

    • No refunds or credits for registration cancellations.
    • Registered participants will receive instructions for joining the live session and any additional details 1 day in advance and the morning of the event. Please be sure to look for the link in your email.
    • Workshops begin promptly at 12:00PM Eastern.  Please log on at least 15 minutes in advance to ensure your internet connections, audio and other settings are functioning properly.
    • MAFN Members have access to all online workshop recordings via the MAFN website.
    • For registration or membership questions contact info@mafn.org.
    Show details

  • MAFN's May 16th In-Person Workshop: The Grove's Visual Model for Teaming

    • 05/16/2025
    • 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
    • COPT Training Room, Suite 850 at 1753 Pinnacle Drive, McLean, VA
    Register

    Duration:  3 hours


    About the workshop: 


    In this webinar, Brian will teach the Drexler/Sibbet Team Performance® Model, a visual tool which is the foundation for The Grove's team development practice.


    The Team Performance Model is a comprehensive tool for understanding the stages of team development. Allan Drexler and David Sibbet spent 10 years refining a comprehensive model of team performance that shows the predictable stages involved in both creating and sustaining teams. 


    This powerful tool for developing and sustaining teams can be used as a framework and common language for supporting a team-based culture.


    Learning Objectives 

    In this session, participants will:


    • Explore the Grove's Team Performance Model with a lens towards applying it to facilitation

    • Gain a new tool to plan the flow of group processes, diagnose stallers and stoppers, and prescribe methods and remedies to get groups unstuck.

    This is a 3-hour IN-PERSON workshop. It will take place starting at 9:00am EDT.

    Speakers: 

    Brian Tarallo is the managing director of Lizard Brain.  He is a facilitator who specializes in visual methods and virtual meetings.  He facilitates clients through illustrating their visions, seeing their strategies, and mapping their futures.  
    Brian brings facilitation to federal agencies, national associations, and companies in the healthcare, defense, engineering, and consulting industries.



    Show details

  • MAFN's June 13th Online Workshop - Power of the Debrief: Fueling Innovation Through Reflection

    • 06/13/2025
    • 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
    • Online using Zoom
    Register

    Duration:  90 minutes

    About the workshop: 

    Join Tes Cohen from Transformative Gatherings for a dynamic, participatory workshop where we will explore the often overlooked power of the debrief. Discover how creating space for post-gathering/engagement discussion, to reflect on successes and lessons learned, can pave the way for continuous improvement and innovation.

    Learning Objectives 

    In this session, participants will:

    • Explore the importance and tremendous value of debriefing
    • Gain a deeper understanding of potential debrief components
    • Be inspired to debrief more often and with more intention, ultimately resulting in increased impact

    NOTE: This workshop will be recorded for distribution to all who register (breakout rooms will not be recorded).

    This is a 90-minute workshop. It will take place starting at 12pm EDT.


    Speakers: 

    Tes Cohen’s life purpose is to create meaningful opportunities that foster curiosity and community in order to cultivate interconnectedness and continuous learning. She delights in doing that in her consulting practice by co-creating transformative workplace gatherings. Her career began as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Costa Rica and includes nonprofit program management and CSR at Gap Inc. Tes is also cofounder of Radical Reset, creating a movement of rested leaders and a world in which rest is normalized, democratized, and celebrated.


    ONLINE WORKSHOP REMINDERS

    • No refunds or credits for registration cancellations.
    • Registered participants will receive instructions for joining the live session and any additional details 1 day in advance and the morning of the event. Please be sure to look for the link in your email.
    • Workshops begin promptly at 12:00PM Eastern.  Please log on at least 15 minutes in advance to ensure your internet connections, audio and other settings are functioning properly.
    • MAFN Members have access to all online workshop recordings via the MAFN website.
    • For registration or membership questions contact info@mafn.org.
    Show details

CANCELLATION POLICY

For our online workshops, there are no refunds or credits for registration cancellations. Unless specified, the online workshops are recorded and the recording will be sent to those registered.

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