How to Use This Guide
American Welfare invites us to see systems as choices rather than fixed structures—shaped by the stories we share and the designs we choose. This guide is designed to foster thoughtful conversations about those choices. It can be used in a variety of settings, including book clubs, classrooms, leadership teams, and community groups. You don’t need to address every question; select the ones that resonate most, and leave space for reflection, curiosity, and lived experience to influence the discussion. Additional facilitator tips can be found at the bottom of this guide
Opening Reflection
Before diving into the discussion, take a moment to reflect individually:
- What comes to mind when you hear the word “welfare”?
- Where do you think those associations come from?
- Did anything in the book shift how you understand that word?
Section 1: Stories That Shape Systems
The book argues that our systems are built on narratives—often invisible ones.
Discussion Questions:
- What cultural stories about poverty, merit, or responsibility stood out to you?
- Where do you see those stories show up in everyday life or public discourse?
- How do those narratives influence what people believe is “fair” or “deserved”?
- Have you seen moments where changing the narrative changed what became possible?
Deeper Reflection:
- If language sets the blueprint for systems, what narratives are we currently designing from?
Section 2: Seeing Systems in Plain Sight
Many systems operate quietly, shaping daily life without being fully visible.
Discussion Questions:
- What examples in the book helped you “see” systems more clearly?
- Where do systems feel supportive, and where do they feel difficult to navigate?
- How do design choices—forms, rules, processes—affect people’s experiences?
- What surprised you most about how systems function?
Application Prompt:
- Think about a system you interact with (healthcare, education, benefits, workplace policies).
- What works well?
- What creates friction?
Section 3: From Scarcity to Possibility
The book challenges the idea that scarcity is inevitable.
Discussion Questions:
- Where do you see scarcity thinking shaping decisions or policies?
- What would it look like to design systems from a mindset of possibility or abundance?
- Which examples in the book demonstrated that different approaches are already working?
Deeper Reflection:
- What assumptions do we hold about what is “realistic” or “affordable”? Where do those assumptions come from?
Section 4: Belonging by Design
A central idea in the book is that belonging is something we build—not something that just happens.
Discussion Questions:
- What does “belonging” mean to you in the context of systems or institutions?
- Where have you experienced systems that foster belonging? What made the difference?
- Where have systems created distance, barriers, or a sense of exclusion?
- How do small design choices (language, processes, interactions) signal who belongs?
Group Exercise (Optional):
- Identify one system you’re familiar with.
- Discuss: What would it look like if it were intentionally designed for belonging?
Section 5: Power, Design, and Participation
The book emphasizes shifting from systems designed for people to systems designed with people.
Discussion Questions:
- Who typically has power in designing systems?
- What changes when people with lived experience are included in design decisions?
- What barriers exist to more participatory approaches?
- Where have you seen examples of co-design or shared decision-making?
Section 6: Well-Being as Democratic Infrastructure
The book reframes human services as part of the infrastructure that supports democracy.
Discussion Questions:
- How does thinking about well-being as “infrastructure” change your perspective?
- What systems in your community help people find stability and move forward?
- How does access—or lack of access—to these systems affect trust in institutions?
- What would it mean to measure democracy by how well people are faring?
Section 7: This Moment—and What Comes Next
The book speaks directly to a time of uncertainty, division, and change.
Discussion Questions:
- What connections do you see between the book and current events?
- How do political narratives influence how people view public systems today?
- Where do you see opportunities for bridging divides in how we talk about well-being and support?
- What feels most urgent to rethink or redesign right now?
Section 8: From Insight to Action
This book is an invitation—not just to reflect, but to act.
Discussion Questions:
- What is one idea from the book that stayed with you?
- Did anything change how you see your own role in shaping systems?
- What is one small change you could make—in your work, community, or conversations?
- What would it look like to “normalize new narratives” in your daily life?
Optional Closing Exercise
Invite each participant to complete one of the following:
- “One thing I see more clearly now is…”
- “One assumption I’m questioning is…”
- “One action I want to take is…”
For Facilitators
To create a meaningful discussion space:
- Encourage curiosity over debate
- Make room for different perspectives and lived experiences
- Focus on understanding before agreement
- Connect ideas back to real-world experiences