I see so few messages around us that remind us of the power we have. There’s so much entertainment. So many folks lamenting why things are bad. Too many solutions we hear are ultimately someone just trying to sell us what they have to offer.
I see so, so little “here’s something you can do today that will make things better, and no one can stop you.”
That’s honestly all I’m interested in. And when I find it, I love it so much I want to share it with everyone. Sometimes I find it online. Sometimes I find it by experimenting with things myself.
For the next three Tuesdays, I’m going to be leading a series of free workshops at the city’s new headquarters for the empowered—Fabrik in Tribeca—and the programs will be focused entirely on what I’ve found and what I can share with you.
If you have felt helpless, sick of seeing bad things happening but not knowing what you can do… if you feel like you want to be more connected, more involved, more joyous and social… these talks are for you.
My work is introvert‑friendly as a rule. You do not have to be a super social butterfly to implement what I share. For many of us, the best things we can do are small and easy.
Here’s what those workshops look like:
🚀 How to become a local leader from scratch (July 15)
We shouldn’t feel like we’re just consumers of the cities and neighborhoods we live in. The more we feel like we are an active part of our local community, the more good things happen—especially if you’re looking to put down roots long‑term.
In this session, I’ll share what I did to get established and how you can do the same—and all the reasons why doing so is worth it.
- Mapping your city’s social infrastructure
- Finding & testing out potential hangout spots
- Establishing your community headquarters
- Nurturing your connections
- Finding things to join
- Creating space for opportunities to find you
- The importance of keeping in touch
- Small next steps
- Identify things you can do next that match your current energy level
- Commit!
It will be highly interactive, with everyone breaking out and working with each other each step of the way.
🤝 How to foster connection in your city (July 22)
For too long, too many of us have become consumers of the places we live—we make use of the services they afford, but we don’t feel invested and involved in what’s happening.
When was your city’s last council meeting? What was discussed? Who’s in charge, and what decisions are being made?
If you’re interested to learn answers to these kinds of things, you’re not alone—and re‑weaving your city’s cultural fabric will go a long way to make your hometown a healthier and happier place in the long run.
Drawing from my brand new Social & Civic Connection Policy Platform, we’ll discuss some of the easy things you can do—and the long‑term changes you can be paving the way for.
We’ll cover:
- Building a local directory
- The power of paper flyers and brochures
- Tabling at local fairs
- Hosting events
- Connecting with local leaders
- Advocating for helpful policies and initiatives
We’ll have lots of actionable take‑aways and some templates for you to copy.
Let’s make our cities better together!
🌳 How to build sustainable, scalable community (July 29)
Too many community leaders burn out. Fortunately, you can avoid it—and map a long‑term plan that ensures your community will work for you as it grows. We’ll cover:
- The sustainable models of community – Whether free or paid, big or small, there are sustainable ways to approach community—and some unsustainable traps to recognize and avoid.
- How to design for sustainability – Common pitfalls and how to make it easy for your community to grow without overloading yourself.
- How to scale gracefully – What it looks like when your community grows beyond its current size, including expansion to other cities.
You’ll get lots of handy best practices and a few resources—maybe even a new group chat. 🙂
I’m thrilled to be running these talks and can’t wait to see the fab people who will be in the room for these. I hope you will be one of them!