Explore the Sessions
Take an issue you know and look at what’s really behind it.
What does a session look like?
Each session follows the same model, so once you've facilitated one, you'll know how to run the others.
Start with a question
Start every session with a key question, then ask it again at the end and see if the answers change.
Break down the systems
Look at the systems behind the issue and trace how they connect and affect each other.
Keep it interactive
The sessions are built around dialogue and include activities and detailed facilitator notes.
Ready to run one? Pick a session below and open the Session Guide. Each guide includes a Google Doc that walks you through the prompts step-by-step and even includes examples of where the discussion may go. The supporting Google Slides help provide the big-picture view of the topic. I recommend starting small with a pilot group and taking notes on what worked and what needs adjustment for future sessions.
Free Sessions Available
Six sessions are live now, with the full guide and slide deck for each. Many more are on the way!
Is access to healthcare a right or a privilege?
Getting sick doesn't always mean getting the care you need. This session explores how insurance, employers, public policy, and affordability interact to shape who can access care, and why the answer is more complicated than most people think.
Is what you see online really your choice?
What appears on your social media feed isn't always picked by you. There are complex algorithms trained on what will keep you scrolling and an advertising market and content creators that compete for your clicks.
Is school lunch really just about food?
For many students in the U.S., school lunch can be the most reliable meal of the day. But what you may not know is the maze of policies, budgets, locations, and nutrition rules that determine what ends up on your tray. Learn more about what shapes school lunch across the country.
Who really gets the chance to play?
Youth sports can appear to be a simple test of talent and effort. But have you ever thought about what goes into a system that is supposed to be a healthy outlet for youth? The money, access, coaching, and so many other factors truly shape how you'll see youth sports at work.
Is AI changing how students learn or exposing what schools reward?
There’s so much buzz about cheating with AI in schools. But are students avoiding learning when they use AI? Or do they react to a system that rewards something other than real understanding? We discuss where to draw the line between help, shortcuts and cheating.
Is that game really free?
Have you ever ended up paying for skins, virtual currency, and limited-time rewards when playing your favorite game? Could some of these features be introducing young players to gambling-like behavior? Are the two connected? Let's dig deeper into how game design, social pressure, business models, and regulation shape the choices players think they are making.
Coming SoonWho decides what an hour of work is worth?
Many teens enter the workforce without thinking about how wages are actually determined. Students explore the systems that drive pay to better understand why someone doing the exact same job at the exact same company can get paid a different wage depending on where they live.
Why will companies let you buy things you can't afford?
As teenagers turn 18, they begin to encounter offers for credit cards, student loans, buy-now-pay-later services, and other ways to spend money they simply don’t have. We explore why businesses and lenders make borrowing so easy and how interest and credit scores work.
Coming SoonAre rewards measuring success or creating it?
The world is filled with institutions that reward behavior. When colleges reward leadership, students pursue leadership. When companies reward working long hours, people work long hours. So the question then becomes, "if an institution changes what it rewards tomorrow, what happens?" Do people simply start behaving differently?
Coming SoonRun a session yourself
Every session is free and ready for you to run! Each one comes with a facilitator guide and a slide deck and is designed to work in a class period, a club meeting, or with a group of friends, and with very little prep required.
Students, teachers, advisors, and club leaders are all welcome and encouraged to use Hang Haven sessions. No account, no cost.
Have a question or want help getting started? Reach out any time and I'll point you in the right direction.