Curious. Authentic. Thoughtful.
Our Story
We believe in the power to Think Together.
Everyone is unique and can bring in perspectives that should be seen, heard, and valued. While traditional dialogues often feature input from dedicated speakers and subject-matter experts, here, we feature participants from all walks of life - the experience and wisdom that each individual possesses.
What is World Café?
World Cafe is a rotating small groups discussion driven by intentionally crafted questions, for 12 or more people to Think Together. 🌎☕️
In the process, participants are put into small groups, discuss a question, and move to a new group to discuss the next one. There will be usually three rounds of 15-20 minute discussion (depending on the group size) At the end of the café, they come together to identify themes and emergent insights - the collective wisdom
Imagine: a bee carrying pollen (key ideas) from one flower(table of 4) to another flower, and repeat this several times. The cross-pollination of ideas is the source of emerging patterns and possibilities.
Drawing inspiration from the World Café Community Foundation (https://www.theworldcafe.com), Shirley Lam (LinkedIn) founded World Café CAT in 2024 as a way to connect spaces, topics, and communities that foster Curious, Authentic, and Thoughtful discussions.
This way we empower communities through collective wisdom, at the same time promote and facilitate broader access to the World Café approach.
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A world café cat experience
Space
Community
Community
We support local neighborhood spaces through meaningful actions.
By hosting World Café events in various cafés and underused spaces, we invite participants to explore and rediscover areas of the city they may have overlooked, thereby contributing to the vitality and survival of these spaces.
Community
Community
Community
We collaborate with communities for a good cause.
Whether you are (1) just starting to build a community that needs growth, a pivot, or a clear identification of its unique value, or
(2) leading or serving an established community that needs to bring together siloed members, foster engagement, and generate new ideas.
Topic
Community
Topic
We facilitate collaborative conversations on topics that matter to us all.
From universal or popular subjects, or a niche and challenging discussion. World Café creates a safe space with a clear focus and diverse input, where people feel comfortable sharing their perspectives to form new possibilities.
Highly intentional design for dialogue
What is unique about World Café CAT
- Targeted Audience: Participants share a common interest in the topic, fostering higher engagement.
- Provocative Questions: Thoughtfully crafted discussion questions by the World Café host stimulate deeper conversations.
- Hospitable Space: Spaces designed to create a relaxed atmosphere that facilitates discussion while maintaining focus.
- Collaborative and Engaging: Participants share their viewpoints, actively listen to others, and connect ideas, fostering a sense of group cohesion and togetherness.
Upcoming Events
Check out our monthly World Café event from the below calendar to experience it firsthand. If you want to request a World Café, please reach out to Shirley on Instagram @worldcafecat.