Communities are groups of ordinary people reaching for something we may have never known — inventing new, or rediscovering ancient, ways of operating in this world. We will stumble along the way. Sociocracy won’t spare us the bruises, but it gives us a structure that transforms challenges into data, wisdom, and growth.
Fumbling brings:
- — Recognition that there is no perfect way
- — Acknowledging that mistakes will be made
- — Trusting people and process to find a way through
- — A willingness to rely on one another
May we fumble better together.
Organized by SoFA’s Intentional Communities Circle — now in its sixth year of holding these conversations, building community, and spreading sociocratic tools. Let us know how we can support you in starting, refreshing, or deepening practice in your community.
Registration is open — come fumble with us!
Choose the amount that’s right for you. Every option includes the full day and all recordings.
Pay what feels right for you — many choose to stretch a little further, and it helps keep this work going: webinars, workshop series, and this annual conference, year after year, fumble after fumble.
Swipe sideways in each time slot to see all five tracks.
Welcome and opening plenary
All together, before we split into sessions.
How much structure and process is good for our community?
Ted RauSession and presenter details
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
OSA Analysis
Audrée MorinDetails coming soon.
What If We Re-Imagined Conflict?
Stefani DanesSession and presenter details
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
Proposal Co-Creation: How To?
Jerry Koch-GonzalezSession and presenter details
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.
First half
Entrepatios
Detalles de la sesión
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.
Second half
Práctica de sociocracia en la Asociación Murcia Cohousing
Detalles de la sesión
Lucía y Antonio cuentan, con ejemplos prácticos, cómo se organiza la asociación con sociocracia.
Lucía Rico entró en Murcia Cohousing hace cuatro años. Ha ejercido sobre todo el rol de secretaría y ahora el de facilitación.
Antonio Vera es un apasionado de la vivienda colaborativa. Formado en sociocracia, la combina con la comunicación no violenta.
Networking and updates from CohoUS, FIC, GEN, CCN and SoFA
Host: Neil PlanchonDetails coming soon.
Advocates for Sociocracy in Community
Host: Kathleen WalshDetails coming soon.
To be announced
To be announced
Spanish-language meet-up
Details coming soon.
French-language meet-up
Host: FrancineDetails coming soon.
Facilitating Under Fire
Leonie SmithSession and presenter details
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
From Dream to Governance: Building an Intentional Community with Sociocracy
Raj VoddirajuSession and presenter details
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
Developing and Sustaining Your Sociocracy Implementation
Session and presenter details
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.
A Children’s Circle: Introducing Sociocracy to Kids in Community
Session details
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.
To be announced
How to Level Up Our Listening in Community
Gina SimmSession and presenter details
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
Ask Me Anything
Details coming soon.
A Simple Translation Interface Between Sociocratic and Legal Cooperative Requirements
Eduardo MercovichSession and presenter details
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
Aims, Domains and Circle Structure?
More details to come.
To be announced
Closing plenary
Back together to harvest the day.
