OCT 4th Care and Courage Symposium :
A free, 1-Day women’s, femmes, and thems, all-day symposium amplifying our treasured community of integrity, creativity, and leadership to cultivate ongoing resilience and peacemaking. An opportunity to highlight voices and draw inspiration from the work and vision of local educators, artists, musicians, activists, mental health advocates, social and environmental justice organizers and indigenous wisdom-holders.
All women are welcome for this time of self-reflection and finding our own call to action. It is a chance to recognize and embrace our place in the Circle of Life and take a stand for being in right-relationship to ourselves, our fellow humans, and the non-human world.
An invitation to engage with other women in both facilitated conversations and break-out groups as well spontaneous and heartfelt exchanges on matters of priority and passion at this critical juncture of humanity. A rare and necessary opportunity to sit in circle with diverse perspectives and face challenges together, seriously listening to voices and ideas perhaps different from our own. We must learn to do this, and do it with sincerity, openness, curiosity and compassion.
This is a day to explore practical solutions shoulder-to-shoulder and face-to-face, find support in collaboration and understanding, and commit our collective efforts towards creating the more beautiful and equitable future we know is possible.
(2) STRUCTURE
The [Sisters Resounding] event structure is a model to be shared; intended to support the gathering of women anywhere, in any economy or time of need. We are creating and refining a template to spark ongoing spontaneity, creative collaboration, inclusion, and the free exchange of ideas. To this end we seek to minimize overhead costs, maximize accessibility, replicability, diversity, and full participation rooted in self~organizing principles. Some features and amenities to achieve this goal are:
- Economy based on Relationships
- Replicability and Scalability (open source model for others to implement)
- Circular Orientation for keynote speakers and headliners
- Breakout Discussion Session for all participants (see section 3)
- Free Entry with Sign-in process *
- Perimeter Protectors (aligned menfolk on the outskirts to ensure safety of container)
- Dispersed Pop-Up entertainers and Artists
- Busking and Self-Promotion Opportunities for attendees
- Free Healthy Food Available
- MATRIX (HYLO online) Interactive Resource Mapping (individuals and organizations)
- Flags/Flagpoles/Baloon w Signs for breakout groups and Special Zones
- Free Registration: Capture phone-email-skill sets of all attendees upon entry for future calls to action
- Community CULTURE: Shared Agreements and codes of conduct
- Supported Leadership though dispersed responsibilities
- Spaces to recharge and retreat (nourishing leadership spaces)
wishlist—items - Sharing Social Technologies
- Donation Station
- Medical/First Aid Station
- Resting Space, especially for Moms with kids/Elders
(3) Topics:
- Relational Technologies
- Neighborhood Preparedness / Mutual Aid
- Self-Regulation and Cultivating Calm
- Preserving the Commons
- Preserving and Relating to our Natural World
- Recognizing our Role as Peacemakers
- Finding your Purpose with Passion
- Words as Our Wand~Speaking Powerfully
- Dying with Dignity – End of Life autonomy, preparation and advocacy
- Otherness and Difference
- Conflict as a Doorway
- Collective Liberation
Artists and Entertainers
HOPED-FOR SHARED OUTCOMES
- Open Space for community members to propose spontaneous discussion topics to hold space for
- Diverse populations were able to participate and feel safe
- Create Alternative Institutions
- People realize that the event was accessible to create and implement
- Balance between universality and specificity
- Strengthened community
- Recurring gatherings for women in the community organized via HYLO Sisters Resounding
- Felt sense and belonging , space of honoring and remembering
- Learned skills, gained resources, learned social technologies toolkit
- Feel prepared to organize our neighborhoods and communities
- Interacted and Appreciated differences in others
- Feel and Understand the needs of my community
- Documented how we learned and refined our collaboration process
- Discussion Re: Safety vs Uncomfortability
- Bring an ember to another community
DIGITAL COMMUNE-ity MATRIX
- Women can self-organize gatherings and Send invitations
- Find resources, connection, and services-support women in community first
- Community Resource Ideas: Tool Library, Neighborhood Gardens, Care-sharing, Alt currency
SHARED RELATIONAL VALUES
- Humility
- Curiosity
- Respect