Sociocracy in Toronto with Jerry Koch-Gonzalez: Open Evening and Weekend Intensive
Does the way you are organized and make decisions match your values?
Cohousing Options Canada is delighted to welcome Jerry Koch-Gonzalez, cofounder of Sociocracy For All, who is flying in from Boston for three days of hands-on learning in Toronto this November.
Sociocracy (also called Dynamic Self-Governance) is an inspiring alternative to the win-lose approach of majority rule and to the muddled approach of not-well-organized consensus. It is practiced in member- and staff-run nonprofits, cohousing communities, housing and worker cooperatives, and activist organizations.
Whether you are part of a cohousing group, a co-op, a board, a team or a community organization, come learn a practical way to share power, make good decisions together and keep your group growing.
Your three days
Friday, November 27: An Introduction to Sociocracy (open evening)
Doors 6:00 pm, event 6:30–8:30 pm
Roncesvalles United Church, 240 Roncesvalles Avenue, Toronto
A taste of sociocracy for anyone who is curious. Jerry leads a real 90-minute introduction with activities, so expect to get up, take part and try it for yourself. If it sparks something, you can keep exploring with the weekend intensive.
Cost: $15
Saturday, November 28: Weekend Intensive, Day 1, The Basics
Doors 9:00 am, workshop 10:00 am–4:30 pm
Parkdale Library, 1303 Queen St W, Toronto
The primary approach is to learn by doing, supported by short lectures and question-and-answer time. You will practise consent decision-making, dealing with objections, generating proposals and selecting people for leadership roles, and you will leave with a template for running meetings.
Sunday, November 29: Weekend Intensive, Day 2, Going Deeper
Workshop 10:00 am–4:30 pm
Parkdale Library, 1303 Queen St W, Toronto
Building on Saturday, we go more deeply into organizational and facilitation challenges: designing distributed organizational structures, feedback systems and communication skills for governance, and how to implement sociocracy in your own organization.
Cost
- Weekend intensive (Saturday and Sunday): $225
- Saturday only: $175
- Sunday only: $175
- Friday evening only: $15
Space for the weekend intensive is limited to about 40 participants. Jerry’s books will be available for an extra charge.
What you will learn
- Consent decision-making
- Practice dealing with objections
- Generating proposals
- Selecting people for leadership roles
- A template for meeting formats
- Designing distributed organizational structures
- Feedback systems and communication skills for governance
- How to implement sociocracy in your own organization
Sociocracy encompasses three core elements: decision-making by consent, organizational structure through linked circles following the principle of subsidiarity (delegating authority to the most grassroots level that is appropriate), and continuous evolution through feedback.
Meet your facilitator
Jerry Koch-Gonzalez is a cofounder of Sociocracy For All, a nonprofit focused on training and consulting for egalitarian governance. Jerry is a founding resident of 32-year-old Cherry Hill Cohousing. Both organizations use sociocracy for their governance. Jerry is an ISCB-certified sociocracy consultant and co-author of two books about sociocracy: Many Voices One Song and From Here to There. Jerry is also a CNVC-certified trainer in nonviolent communication.
Accessibility
Please let us know of any accessibility needs when you register.
Questions?
Contact Kristopher Stevens, Executive Director, Cohousing Options Canada: kristopher@cohousingoptions.ca or 416-303-1201.
Hosted by Cohousing Options Canada with Sociocracy For All.
About Cohousing Options Canada
Cohousing Options Canada is a Toronto-based non-profit consultancy helping people live better, together. We support groups and individuals exploring cohousing: planned neighbourhoods that combine private homes with shared indoor and outdoor spaces designed to support an active, interdependent community life. Most cohousing groups make their decisions by consensus or consent-based methods such as sociocracy, which is why we are so pleased to bring this training to Toronto.
This event is not hosted by or sponsored by the Toronto Public Library.