Workshops

Below are the workshops that I can offer independently.  All sustainability workshops are original and exclusive, as their content is drawn from The Sust Enable Project.  Ask me about designing workshops customized to your needs.

 View my calendar here to check out my upcoming workshops!
Available workshops & presentations

Democratic and Sustainable Organizations

  • Leadership in Democratic and Sustainable Organizations.  What are democratic and sustainable organizations?  Why do these models matter so much to our world today?  This workshop focuses on preparing leaders to thrive in equitable organizations, where the best decisions are made through robust stakeholder engagement.  Rather than a "leader-follower" mentality, we cultivate a "leader as model" orientation that realizes the benefits of empowering everyone to participate skillfully in integral group processes.  This workshop teaches both theory and hands-on engagement, building the toolset and skills needed for excellence in stakeholder-centered organizations.

Sustainability
  • What Does Sustainability Mean? - A creative, interactive exploration of different interpretations of "sustainability," the world's hottest buzzword that still remains mostly undefined!   This workshop is supported by a dynamic range of perspectives brought together by The Sust Enable Project.
  • Experiencing Sustainability in Our Daily Lives - Exploring how sustainability--and unsustainability--manifests in the subtle events of our everyday lives, including our choices, relationships, and pursuits, and how we can cultivate greater measures of sustainability throughout our lifestyles.
  • Sustainability in Organizing and Organizations - This workshop delves into the main sustainability principles emerging from ongoing Sust Enable Project research, and how these themes can be consciously applied to an organization to improve its functionality and efficacy.
Cooperatives & Business
  • Co-ops 101: All about Co-ops - What are co-ops?  How do they work?  This workshops explores everything you might wonder about cooperatives.  Highly customizable, this workshop can include design principles, history, philosophy, structures and procedures of co-ops, plus points on finances, law, taxes, process for starting up a co-op, and much more!
  • Steps to Starting a Co-operative - Have you ever wondered what it would take to start up a new co-operative business?  This workshop explains the necessary steps to starting a co-operative, from visioning through starting operations! Note: we will explore the co-op start-up process in general; this is not the venue to receive personalized advice on your venture.
  • Co-operatives vs. Other Business Structures - An in-depth look at how cooperatives differ structurally and functionally from traditional for-profit businesses and non-profit organizations, and the practical, real-world implications of these differences.
     
  • Education & Training for members of existing cooperatives or collectives - Member education, training for Boards of Directors, comparing and selecting a decision-making framework, ways to participate, how to maintain healthy group dynamics--I can help you with any and all of these things!
Group Decision-Making
  • Consensus Decision-Making for Beginners - Consensus decision-making is an effective, equitable way to make decisions--though it is often misunderstood and misused!  This workshop steps through the theory, principles, process, tools, and strategies of Consensus Decision-Making.
  • Consensus Decision-Making: Advanced - For people who have previous experience with Consensus or currently use Consensus in group organizing, this workshop is designed to troubleshoot problems and explore the broad range of excellent solutions available to improve and strengthen Consensus process.  This workshop is ideal for all members of an existing group struggling with Consensus, or for individuals who are seeking to improve their skills.
  • Embodying Anti-Oppressive Values in Our Groups and Relationships - What does it mean to be actively "anti-oppression?"  What would it look like to truly embody the value of "everyone's voice is legitimate and welcome?"  This workshop gives the important tools for recognizing and eliminating systemic, sometimes-invisible patterns of oppression happening within ourselves and plays out in our groups.  The effect of this training is to enhance our crafting of inclusive, effective groups.
  • Comparing and Selecting Equitable Group Decision-Making Structures, including co-operatives and collectives - So your group is committed to making decisions in a democratic or equitable way... but what decision-making process is going to work best for your group's special needs and goals?  This workshop gives an in-depth look and analysis of the pros and cons of different equitable decision-making structures, so your group can move towards an informed selection.
    Don't see what you're looking for?  I can design a custom workshop to your needs... Just ask!

      Popular posts from this blog

      Union Co-ops present a hopeful model for achieving worker co-op growth

      Image
      This weekend, I had the privilege of attending an eight-hour seminar on the union co-ops model, thanks to the generous sponsorship of Rocky Mountain Employee Ownership Center , Rocky Mountain Farmers Union Cooperative Development Center , Communication Workers of America Local 7777 , Adams County Board of Commissioners Charles "Chaz" Tedesco , and many others.  The event was hosted over a two-day period at the Denver Pipefitters Local 208  building on North Broadway.  Our inspiring guest presenters included Kristen Barker of the Cincinnati Union Co-op Initiative and Rob Witherell of the United Steel Workers based in Pittsburgh, PA, who generously shared a wealth of experience and knowledge over the course of the event. In attendance were about thirty people, made up mostly of union staff, members, and supporters, with a handful of co-op champions and developers (such as RMEOC, RMFU CDC, and myself) and a couple interested community members and graduate students. Ro
      Read more

      New job with The Bike Depot!

      I have an exciting announcement to make.  I am pleased to report that I have just accepted the position of General Manager with The Bike Depot , a wonderful non-profit organization serving Denver's Park Hill community and beyond with affordable access to used bikes, bicycle repair resources, bicycle repair and riding classes for youth and adults, and so much more.  Although a different structure, the work is very much akin to my long-term involvement with Free Ride , based in Pittsburgh, PA. While I am pleased with the stability and growth opportunity presented by accepting this new position, it is not easy to set aside the co-op consulting business I have worked so hard to grow.  My heart remains with co-ops, but at The Bike Depot, I have a chance to really make a direct positive impact in people's lives, and strengthen the organization as it grows to serve more of the Denver community through applying my skills and sensibilities to the job. However--and this is important!
      Read more

      Join me in creating co-ops education for Denver's communities!

      Dear followers, I am delighted to share this one-page synopsis on my plans for a community-based educational series on the co-ops model for metro Denver.  Over the past year I have felt a strong sense of the need to spread education and training about co-op models among low-income urban communities, i.e. those who could most benefit from realizing the model in their own communities.  This is a gap I see in Denver's current "co-op ecosystem" and in bridging that gap, I hope to build overall capacity through increased collaboration between stakeholders toward more, and more successful, co-op development in the region. This synopsis is meant as a one-page version of the proposal.  The full proposal is about 15 pages long. I would be grateful to receive your feedback on the synopsis.  I am currently seeking matching funders for an upcoming crowdfunding campaign, and collaborator-partners in the curricula design, outreach and implementation. What do you think?  Would y
      Read more