Enspiral is a global network of entrepreneurs and activists building solutions to systemic problems and prototyping ways to work non hierarchically.

Loomio is decision making software used by people around the world to organise in a democratic, participatory way.

Rich and Nati from Loomio (a venture within the Enspiral network) and Kate from Enspiral and Cobudget are coming from New Zealand to join US-based team member MJ for a workshop tour across the States.

For the last six years, the 200 participating contributors and 40 committed members of Enspiral have tackled organisational design and process questions as we learn how to organise without bosses. We make decisions, spend collective finances, and start social impact business and projects, all with maximum collaboration and minimum hierarchy.

THE WORKSHOP

In the workshop we’ll explore two tools - built from within the network - which have been central to working in an organization and network with minimal hierarchy and maximum autonomy and openness. These tools are Loomio (decision making) and Cobudget (funding projects).

We’ll also look at the operating structures and processes that enable Enspiral to function including;

• Governance: Minimum viable board

• Leadership by facilitation: Catalysts

• New business forms: Livelihood pods

• Organising systems: Working Groups

One of the main findings is that the culture behind the tools is the most important investment organisations, teams, cooperatives, and networks can make. The workshop will explore the small experiments that Enspiral is built on.

Lastly we’ll draw on our experience to help explore that we often hear from people and groups organising without hierarchy:

• How do we define the boundaries of our group?

• How do we relate to each other?

• How do we handle money, information, and power?

• How do we enshrine our unique values and foster diversity at the same time?

• How do we transcend the racist and sexist hierarchies that each of us are imprinted with?

You will walk away with tools and processes to apply to your team, organisation and network for a more inclusive, open, participatory way of working and being.

TICKETS

We want to make the event accessible, however we have come all the way from New Zealand to the States, where we will be travelling far and wide, talking to lots of people.

We have two ticket prices - please choose the one that works. We'll provide coffee and snacks.