Field Research & Participatory Communication Design

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Friend Church Table Talk is a participatory communication design project created for Friends Church, Queens NY, an intergenerational and multicultural church community. The project addresses language and cultural barriers that can make immigrant and non-Korean members feel like passive observers during worship. Through a redesigned Sunday worship pamphlet, structured discussion prompts, and a small-group “Table Talk” format after the sermon, the project shifts participation from one-way listening to shared conversation.

 

Rather than asking people to speak “perfectly,” the toolkit lowers social pressure and invites members to speak from personal experience, listen across differences, and build belonging through dialogue. By embedding this repeatable ritual into the church service, the project supports more inclusive participation, shared ownership, and stronger community connection over time.

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