Sociocracy in Intentional Communities Conference 2026

Too loose or too tight? Sociocracy gives us tools but doesn’t always say when to use them: when to hold firmly to rounds, or when a loose proposal is enough. Ted gathers the red and green flags that show when a community has too little structure, or too much.

Ted Rau is a co-founder of Sociocracy For All and teaches and consults on self-governance internationally. He has written four books on self-governance, with another in progress. LinkedIn

The Organizational Sociocracy Assessment (OSA) shows a community what’s working in its governance and what needs attention. Audrée walks through the real results of a recent survey, live, with representatives of Common Ground Ecovillage.

Audrée Morin is a biologist by training who has visited 42 intentional communities across North America. She shares sociocracy and restorative circles under the name Interconnexion, and is a non-resident member of l’Habitat de l’hêtre.

Sociocracy treats conflict as useful data. After six years of sociocratic governance at Rachel Carson EcoVillage, Stefani explores what happens when that lens moves beyond facilitated meetings into everyday life. Discussion follows.

Stefani Danes, FAIA, is an architect who designs affordable housing, cohousing and senior cohousing. She teaches at Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Architecture and is a member of Rachel Carson EcoVillage near Pittsburgh. LinkedIn

Know how to make a consent decision, but not how to build a proposal with a group from scratch? Jerry shows how to identify the issue, name the considerations a proposal should address, gather ideas that respond to them, and shape it all into a proposal ready for consent.

Jerry Koch-Gonzalez is a co-founder of Sociocracy For All and a certified sociocracy trainer.

Samuel comparte el proceso de transición de Entrepatios hacia un modelo de gobernanza inspirado en la sociocracia.

Samuel Martínez es facilitador de grupos desde 2015, tras formarse con Altekio (IIFACe). Antes trabajó como montador y productor audiovisual. Acompaña a organizaciones como Greenpeace International y facilita procesos de participación ciudadana y de democracia deliberativa.

A new way to think about facilitation: one simple model for responding to whatever happens in a meeting. A deepening question? Zoom in, then back out. An objection or a question about process? Zoom out for a moment, then return to the topic.

Ted Rau is a co-founder of Sociocracy For All and teaches and consults on self-governance internationally. He has written four books on self-governance, with another in progress. LinkedIn

Polarization isn’t only political; it’s a pattern that arises within us and can undermine our collaborations. This participative workshop explores what happens when we bring curiosity to that discomfort and sit with tension without othering.

John Schinnerer is a whole-systems design consultant, teacher and facilitator. Since 1996 he has worked in human relating, governance and decision-making systems, and ecological design. LinkedIn

Krista Bremer is an author, mediator and facilitator focused on group process and the healing power of collective spaces. She recently completed a collective trauma healing certification. LinkedIn

Circles need real authority, but communities still work inside an HOA’s legal structure. A practical roadmap: what circles can hold, what must go through the Board, and how to avoid the big stumbles. Ends with Q&A.

Emily Harper practises sociocracy at Green Grove Cohousing in Forest Grove, Oregon, and helps facilitate shared leadership there. Her background spans HR, journalism and intercultural communication. LinkedIn

Lauren Lake is a retired pharmaceutical industry leader and former HOA board member at Green Grove. She helps her community bridge formal compliance and sociocracy. LinkedIn

Hearing about fatigue, or seeing the same people in every circle? Michelle shares ideas for rotating participation and building resilience in circles and roles, so leadership succession becomes part of a healthy flow.

Michelle Tsutsumi (she/her) is a Certified Sociocracy Trainer who practises sociocracy in the worker co-op she co-founded and in several Sociocracy For All circles. She lives rurally in Secwepemcúl’ecw (Chase, BC, Canada) and brings experience in body-centred trauma therapy, organic farming and communications.

Tras 18 años de trayectoria, Las Cañadas pasó de 27 módulos centralizados a círculos autogestionados, sin perder la soberanía de la Asamblea General. Aprendizajes sobre el consentimiento, la Comunicación No Violenta, los cuidados y un sistema de indicadores basado en la permacultura.

Maddalen Gil López de Lacalle es fundadora y socia trabajadora de Ingoin Koop, una cooperativa de mujeres del País Vasco que acompaña a organizaciones hacia la regeneración. Tiene 15 años de experiencia en diseño participativo y economía social.

Haya Romero es historiadora y cooperativista en Las Cañadas – Bosque de Niebla (Huatusco, Veracruz), donde facilita procesos de gobernanza y coordina el Módulo de Cuidados.

Découvrez la réalité concrète de quatre communautés intentionnelles sociocratiques du Québec, de la France et de l’Espagne. Des résidents partagent les bienfaits de la sociocratie pour le vivre-ensemble, leurs défis, comment ils l’ont apprise et mise en place, et leur structure organisationnelle.

Avec les témoignages de : Jules Dourson (Un Village à Lachine, Québec), Martin Boisvert (Éco-communauté de l’Hêtre, Québec), Charlie Lenglez (Los Portalez, Espagne), Emilien Terrade (deux communautés en France) et Francine Proulx-Kenzle.

Audrée Morin, biologiste de formation, a visité 42 communautés intentionnelles en Amérique du Nord. À travers Interconnexion, elle offre de la formation et de l’accompagnement en sociocratie, et vit à Cohabitat Québec.

Hear what’s new across the communities movement and meet the people behind it. With Trish Becker (National Cohousing Alliance, formerly the Cohousing Association, Coho/US), Dave Booda (Executive Director, Foundation for Intentional Community), Kathy McGrenera (Canadian Cohousing Network) and Jerry Koch-Gonzalez (Sociocracy For All).

Hosted by Neil Planchon, Executive Director of the Cohousing Research Network and a member of SoFA’s Intentional Communities Circle.

What happens in a community of practice for sociocratic communities? Dip your toe in, as an observer or a participant, alongside experienced Advocates who have been building collective wisdom together for years. Bring your question about sociocracy in community.

Kathleen Walsh has explored individual, group and planetary wellness as a mental health professional, legislative activist, community member and systems thinker.

Un espacio informal para conocer a personas interesadas en la sociocracia en las comunidades intencionales.

Manuela Moreno practica la sociocracia y la facilitación desde hace diez años y coordina los entrenamientos de Sociocracia Práctica (SoPra).

Jimena Montané es bióloga y maestra en Ciencia, Política y Gestión Ambiental, y trabaja desde Veracruz, México. Desde hace más de 15 años facilita procesos con comunidades y organizaciones en torno a la conservación y el turismo, combinando la sociocracia con el aprendizaje vivencial y la comunicación no violenta.

Un espace informel pour rencontrer des personnes intéressées par la sociocratie en cohabitat.

A practical, reflective workshop for facilitators facing conflict, emotionally charged moments, or behaviour that affects dignity and belonging. Participants explore the Facilitator’s Stance: steadying a group under pressure and intervening with thought rather than reactivity.

Leonie Smith is an organisational consultant, executive coach, mediator and trainer based in Vancouver. She is a certified Nonviolent Communication trainer and a certified SoFA facilitator and trainer, and founded The Thoughtful Workplace and POC4NVC. LinkedIn

How do you decide together before the community even exists? The founders of SpeciallyAble Cohousing share why they chose sociocracy, what has worked and what surprised them. Plenty of time for Q&A.

Raj Voddiraju co-founded SpeciallyAble Cohousing, inspired by his autistic, non-verbal son. A tech entrepreneur, he advocates for housing for adults with developmental disabilities and serves on the Regional Center of the East Bay board. LinkedIn

How a Governance Improvement Circle can support your community’s self-management: ongoing and onboarding education, communities of practice, good minutes and information flow, bylaws and governance agreements, plus best practices.

Jerry Koch-Gonzalez is a co-founder of Sociocracy For All and a certified sociocracy trainer.

How can children meaningfully contribute to decisions in community, and learn and practise sociocratic skills along the way? Cate shares how her community introduced sociocracy to its young villagers, then invites you to share your own experiences and hopes.

Cate DeVreede is a community developer living in Mi’kma’ki (Nova Scotia, Canada). She co-founded Treehouse Village Ecohousing, a 30-home cohousing community that has used sociocracy since it began, and is a certified Sociocracy Facilitator.

We all listen through filters. Becoming aware of them lets us take each other in more fully, and better listening means deeper connection, which is at the heart of community life.

Gina Simm is a member of Cherry Hill Cohousing in Massachusetts, where she focuses on the community’s social and emotional well-being. She is the author of Heart to Heart. LinkedIn

Bring your sociocracy questions, big or small, and put them to Jerry live.

Jerry Koch-Gonzalez is a co-founder of Sociocracy For All and a founding resident of 32-year-old Cherry Hill Cohousing.

A real-world example of a minimal approach to meeting a cooperative’s legal requirements while truly living and deciding sociocratically.

Eduardo Mercovich, from Argentina, has researched and designed socio-technological systems since 1992 for NGOs, governments and organizations including FAO, Greenpeace and UNDP. He now focuses on technology for human rights and is a member of the Confluencia intentional community. LinkedIn

What has worked well, and what has been hard, in applying sociocracy at the Valley Housing Cooperative, a land trust community. Includes background on land trusts and the related Valley Community Land Trust and Valley Alliance for Land Equity.

Sara Brown is based in Greenfield, Massachusetts, where she serves as an elected city councilor. She co-founded Valley Housing Cooperative, which leases its land from Valley Community Land Trust, and sits on the land trust’s board. She helped lead the capital campaign to buy that land and is now planning new housing while helping other tenants acquire their homes.

Sara also co-founded Redistro, a mutual aid free store governed with sociocracy. She cares deeply about environmental justice and where permanently affordable housing, climate resilience and self-governed communities meet.