Know Before You Go

This document is designed to help you navigate the National Guild Groundwork Forum. This is particularly useful for people who have not used Slack before, and if you have used Slack, this will also provide information about how the Guild has set up this space.

Thank you for joining! The Guild is continuously learning how to create a Forum space that is highly engaging, inclusive, and responsive. Your involvement in the Groundwork Forum will help us enhance these kinds of spaces in the future. Your involvement in this space helps us grow. We look forward to connecting and co-learning together!

If you use a screen reader, we recommend downloading Slack on your mobile device. The great at Accessible Web has helped us craft documents for using Slack with a screen reader on Mobile. Please contact jasminehuff@nationalguild.org, if you have any issues downloading these documents. 

What is Slack?

Slack is a communication workspace often used for teams. You can access Slack on a phone, tablet, laptop with an application or web browser. The look and feel of the space may be a bit different depending on how you're accessing Slack, but in general, there are a few things that are true no matter how you're using it. 

Slack Channels

Slack divides conversation topics into “channels” The Channels are listed on the left navigation bar. Additionally, on the left, you can access or send Direct Messages to fellow Groundwork Forum users. After choosing and clicking on a channel, you'll have access to the corresponding conversation on the right side. 

The Guild has divided conversations for the National Guild Groundwork Forum into the following channels. These channels match the Groundwork Virtual Gathering schedule:

  • #0-introductions

Help others get to know you, your pronouns, your professional background, or anything else you'd like to share in our #0-introductions channel. This is also a great place to share a land acknowledgement. 

Additionally, you can do this in your Slack Profile. There you can also include a photo of yourself, share your title, and your pronouns. Unfortunately, we are unaware if Slack lets users provide image descriptions for their profile picture.

  •  #1-general

This is a general space where all conversations that are relevant Groundwork happen. It is also a space where people will respond and reflect on the General Assembly on Healing sessions which happen every Monday of Groundwork. Since all attendees are given access to the General Assemblies it's the place that will have the most conversations. 

  • #2-creative-aging 

This channel is focused on reflecting on Creative Aging. Creative Aging is one of the Groundwork learning tracks, sessions take place every Tuesday. Everyone who registers for Groundwork and is interested in discussing Creative Aging is welcome to participate in this channel.

  • #3-human-centered-practices

This channel is focused on reflecting on Human-Centered Practices. Human-Centered Practices is one of the Groundwork learning tracks, sessions take place every Wednesday. Everyone who registers for Groundwork and is interested in discussing Human-Centered Practices is welcome to participate in this channel.
 

  • #4-creative-youth-development 

This channel is focused on reflecting on Creative Youth Development. Creative Youth Development is one of the Groundwork learning tracks, sessions take place every Thursday. Everyone who registers for Groundwork and is interested in discussing Creative Youth Development is welcome to participate in this channel.

  • #important-documents

This channel includes helpful documents connected to Groundwork. This includes schedules, but it also includes a list of resources that were shared by Groundwork presenters. 

  • #lost-and-found

Nicknamed after the often necessary help-desk at in-person gatherings, the #lost-and-found channel is a space where Guild Staff are present to help you navigate the Groundwork forum or virtual gathering. This could mean that you need help getting into a session that you registered for or getting information about a presenter. In the spirit of co-learning, you could also be a place where people help each other learn together. Did you just learn how to do something within Slack? Excellent, share what you’ve learned in the #lost-and-found channel so others can share in the knowledge. 

  • #mistakes-welcome

Use this space to practice things in Slack, especially if this platform is new to you! Try some things, be open and vulnerable, and make mistakes. We’ve  got you! This idea came from our user testers who found that having an open channel to play helped them build confidence with the platform!

  • #show-and-tell 

Use creativity as a tool for connection and healing within the #show-and-tell channel. You may share what you made in various Make/Think/Share Studios. For those who enjoy language, return to this channel for reflection questions or journaling prompts based on Groundwork themes. 

How to Add Image Descriptions

The Guild is working to build its accessibility practices, as such we are encouraging all users to write image descriptions when they share visual materials. This is a new practice for many, so we’ve compiled a few resources to share with you. These resources provide some useful info about writing image descriptions: Image Descriptions And How To Write Them. Sins Invalid and Inclusive Arts Vermont have great examples of image descriptions on their websites.