who holds a political power in your community do you and by political power
community do you and by political power
community do you and by political power I mean who makes decisions about stuff
I mean who makes decisions about stuff
I mean who makes decisions about stuff in your community who makes decisions
in your community who makes decisions
in your community who makes decisions about how resources are used how your
about how resources are used how your
about how resources are used how your community gets built and the rules that
community gets built and the rules that
community gets built and the rules that govern your community do you if we live
govern your community do you if we live
govern your community do you if we live in a democratic society the answer is
in a democratic society the answer is
in a democratic society the answer is supposed to be yes it should be yes I
supposed to be yes it should be yes I
supposed to be yes it should be yes I have political power yes I make
have political power yes I make
have political power yes I make decisions about my community but most of
decisions about my community but most of
decisions about my community but most of us face to those questions that’s not
us face to those questions that’s not
us face to those questions that’s not how we answer we’re not sure how to
how we answer we’re not sure how to
how we answer we’re not sure how to answer those questions or at best were
answer those questions or at best were
answer those questions or at best were uncertain that’s a problem we have been
uncertain that’s a problem we have been
uncertain that’s a problem we have been fighting wars people have been dying for
fighting wars people have been dying for
fighting wars people have been dying for at least 350 years some would say for
at least 350 years some would say for
at least 350 years some would say for longer trying to put in place basic
longer trying to put in place basic
longer trying to put in place basic democratic principles things like the
democratic principles things like the
democratic principles things like the rule of law one-person one-vote
rule of law one-person one-vote
rule of law one-person one-vote universal suffrage freedom of speech an
universal suffrage freedom of speech an
universal suffrage freedom of speech an independent judiciary people have fought
independent judiciary people have fought
independent judiciary people have fought and died for this stuff in many parts of
and died for this stuff in many parts of
and died for this stuff in many parts of the world people are still fighting and
the world people are still fighting and
the world people are still fighting and dying for this stuff and yet I ask the
dying for this stuff and yet I ask the
dying for this stuff and yet I ask the question do you have political power do
question do you have political power do
question do you have political power do you make decisions about our community
you make decisions about our community
you make decisions about our community and our responses I don’t know maybe to
and our responses I don’t know maybe to
and our responses I don’t know maybe to make matters worse when it comes to
make matters worse when it comes to
make matters worse when it comes to democracy in many ways we actually seem
democracy in many ways we actually seem
democracy in many ways we actually seem to be doing worse there’s a very ugly
to be doing worse there’s a very ugly
to be doing worse there’s a very ugly form of populism and nationalism rising
form of populism and nationalism rising
form of populism and nationalism rising up in different parts of the world
up in different parts of the world
up in different parts of the world declining voter turnout at all levels of
declining voter turnout at all levels of
declining voter turnout at all levels of government studies showing declining
government studies showing declining
government studies showing declining levels of trust not only in elected
levels of trust not only in elected
levels of trust not only in elected officials but government institutions
officials but government institutions
officials but government institutions themselves recently I spoke at the end
themselves recently I spoke at the end
themselves recently I spoke at the end of a conference there was about 70
of a conference there was about 70
of a conference there was about 70 people in the room is a mix of Canadians
people in the room is a mix of Canadians
people in the room is a mix of Canadians and Americans and I asked how many
and Americans and I asked how many
and Americans and I asked how many people here feel good about democracy
people here feel good about democracy
people here feel good about democracy how many hands do you think went up not
how many hands do you think went up not
how many hands do you think went up not one not one hand went up and I’m pretty
one not one hand went up and I’m pretty
one not one hand went up and I’m pretty sure they were awake could look like not
sure they were awake could look like not
sure they were awake could look like not asleep
asleep
asleep no no one had went up so obviously we
no no one had went up so obviously we
no no one had went up so obviously we need to do better the question is how I
need to do better the question is how I
need to do better the question is how I believe that part of our challenge is
believe that part of our challenge is
believe that part of our challenge is how we’ve
how we’ve
how we’ve to understand political decision-making
to understand political decision-making
to understand political decision-making when it comes to making decisions about
when it comes to making decisions about
when it comes to making decisions about our communities we’ve come to rely on
our communities we’ve come to rely on
our communities we’ve come to rely on two approaches voting and elected
two approaches voting and elected
two approaches voting and elected representatives those are two very
representatives those are two very
representatives those are two very specific very particular ways to do
specific very particular ways to do
specific very particular ways to do democracy to share political power to
democracy to share political power to
democracy to share political power to make decisions about our communities and
make decisions about our communities and
make decisions about our communities and by understanding decision-making only in
by understanding decision-making only in
by understanding decision-making only in those two ways going to the ballot box
those two ways going to the ballot box
those two ways going to the ballot box elected representatives
elected representatives
elected representatives we’re holding ourselves back we’re
we’re holding ourselves back we’re
we’re holding ourselves back we’re holding ourselves back from finding new
holding ourselves back from finding new
holding ourselves back from finding new and different ways to engage as
and different ways to engage as
and different ways to engage as political citizens let me ask you when
political citizens let me ask you when
political citizens let me ask you when you imagine a democratic community what
you imagine a democratic community what
you imagine a democratic community what do you picture what does that actually
do you picture what does that actually
do you picture what does that actually look like
look like
look like is it voting let’s try out the voting
is it voting let’s try out the voting
is it voting let’s try out the voting thing right now as a way to make
thing right now as a way to make
thing right now as a way to make decisions all the time let’s suppose
decisions all the time let’s suppose
decisions all the time let’s suppose that in order to go have lunch we all
that in order to go have lunch we all
that in order to go have lunch we all need to decide what to eat so show of
need to decide what to eat so show of
need to decide what to eat so show of hands if for lunch you would like to
hands if for lunch you would like to
hands if for lunch you would like to have a burger and fries show of hands
all right and show van’s if you’d prefer
all right and show van’s if you’d prefer to have quinoa salad oh my goodness some
to have quinoa salad oh my goodness some
to have quinoa salad oh my goodness some cheers of a lot more hands all right I
cheers of a lot more hands all right I
cheers of a lot more hands all right I got news for you that’s what we’re all
got news for you that’s what we’re all
got news for you that’s what we’re all having for lunch we’re all having quinoa
having for lunch we’re all having quinoa
having for lunch we’re all having quinoa salad hopefully no one was keen on the
salad hopefully no one was keen on the
salad hopefully no one was keen on the burger and fries is that really the best
burger and fries is that really the best
burger and fries is that really the best way to make a decision this may come as
way to make a decision this may come as
way to make a decision this may come as a shock voting is not the only way to do
a shock voting is not the only way to do
a shock voting is not the only way to do Democratic decision-making I believe we
Democratic decision-making I believe we
Democratic decision-making I believe we need to go beyond voting beyond elected
need to go beyond voting beyond elected
need to go beyond voting beyond elected representatives now that exercise we did
representatives now that exercise we did
representatives now that exercise we did was ridiculous for a whole bunch of
was ridiculous for a whole bunch of
was ridiculous for a whole bunch of reasons not least of which is the absurd
reasons not least of which is the absurd
reasons not least of which is the absurd notion that the preferences of this
notion that the preferences of this
notion that the preferences of this entire room can be captured and
entire room can be captured and
entire room can be captured and represented by two options so we need to
represented by two options so we need to
represented by two options so we need to do better the question is how one place
do better the question is how one place
do better the question is how one place we can look to for inspiration is a
we can look to for inspiration is a
we can look to for inspiration is a place often credited for many of our
place often credited for many of our
place often credited for many of our democratic practices but rather than
democratic practices but rather than
democratic practices but rather than talk about Athenian or Greek democracy
talk about Athenian or Greek democracy
talk about Athenian or Greek democracy generally I want to talk about
generally I want to talk about
generally I want to talk about specifically something that happened
specifically something that happened
specifically something that happened here
here
here a place called the
a place called the
a place called the this is a gathering place in Athens it
this is a gathering place in Athens it
this is a gathering place in Athens it overlooks the Acropolis 2,500 years ago
overlooks the Acropolis 2,500 years ago
overlooks the Acropolis 2,500 years ago the Athenians tried something here that
the Athenians tried something here that
the Athenians tried something here that was radical they put in place a practice
was radical they put in place a practice
was radical they put in place a practice whereby an email citizen who wanted to
whereby an email citizen who wanted to
whereby an email citizen who wanted to participate in and discuss the issues
participate in and discuss the issues
participate in and discuss the issues being put forward for a decision could
being put forward for a decision could
being put forward for a decision could simply show up they just show up here
simply show up they just show up here
simply show up they just show up here and participate they didn’t have to be
and participate they didn’t have to be
and participate they didn’t have to be from a particular family they didn’t
from a particular family they didn’t
from a particular family they didn’t have to be elected they didn’t even have
have to be elected they didn’t even have
have to be elected they didn’t even have to register in advance the first six
to register in advance the first six
to register in advance the first six thousand to show up here got to
thousand to show up here got to
thousand to show up here got to participate how they sorted through that
participate how they sorted through that
participate how they sorted through that was that’s another story
was that’s another story
was that’s another story now we need to do better than that we
now we need to do better than that we
now we need to do better than that we need to do much better because in that
need to do much better because in that
need to do much better because in that practice they only went so far as to
practice they only went so far as to
practice they only went so far as to include male citizens and they don’t get
include male citizens and they don’t get
include male citizens and they don’t get a pass for that they knew better there
a pass for that they knew better there
a pass for that they knew better there were writers and philosophers writing at
were writers and philosophers writing at
were writers and philosophers writing at the time about the need to include women
the time about the need to include women
the time about the need to include women the notion of abolishing slavery the
the notion of abolishing slavery the
the notion of abolishing slavery the need to include other residents of the
need to include other residents of the
need to include other residents of the Athenian population in practices like
Athenian population in practices like
Athenian population in practices like this and they chose not to so we have to
this and they chose not to so we have to
this and they chose not to so we have to do way better than them but that idea
do way better than them but that idea
do way better than them but that idea they put in place that anybody can just
they put in place that anybody can just
they put in place that anybody can just show up was radical and it’s simply the
show up was radical and it’s simply the
show up was radical and it’s simply the premise there the concept that when it
premise there the concept that when it
premise there the concept that when it comes to making decisions about our
comes to making decisions about our
comes to making decisions about our communities about our political lives we
communities about our political lives we
communities about our political lives we all get to participate and the only
all get to participate and the only
all get to participate and the only thing we need to do to participate is
thing we need to do to participate is
thing we need to do to participate is show up it’s the only requirement so
show up it’s the only requirement so
show up it’s the only requirement so I’ve been working in the nonprofit
I’ve been working in the nonprofit
I’ve been working in the nonprofit community sector most of my life and
community sector most of my life and
community sector most of my life and thinking about what community
thinking about what community
thinking about what community decision-making looks like today and one
decision-making looks like today and one
decision-making looks like today and one place I draw drew inspiration from is
place I draw drew inspiration from is
place I draw drew inspiration from is the experience that happened to me here
the experience that happened to me here
the experience that happened to me here another very exciting picture of gravel
another very exciting picture of gravel
another very exciting picture of gravel and rocks this this is a gravel parking
and rocks this this is a gravel parking
and rocks this this is a gravel parking lot and this isn’t a community in
lot and this isn’t a community in
lot and this isn’t a community in British Columbia that were sorely
British Columbia that were sorely
British Columbia that were sorely lacking when it came to sport and
lacking when it came to sport and
lacking when it came to sport and recreation activities for kids and youth
recreation activities for kids and youth
recreation activities for kids and youth there was a community of people here who
there was a community of people here who
there was a community of people here who had an idea for this place and by taking
had an idea for this place and by taking
had an idea for this place and by taking democracy into their own hands they were
democracy into their own hands they were
democracy into their own hands they were able to achieve something that was
able to achieve something that was
able to achieve something that was incredible so I believe we need to go
incredible so I believe we need to go
incredible so I believe we need to go beyond voting beyond elected
beyond voting beyond elected
beyond voting beyond elected representatives start looking for in
representatives start looking for in
representatives start looking for in finding democracy in our personal lives
finding democracy in our personal lives
finding democracy in our personal lives in our communities and then we need to
in our communities and then we need to
in our communities and then we need to make it awesome
make it awesome
make it awesome and I’m going to talk about both those
and I’m going to talk about both those
and I’m going to talk about both those things in order to do that the first
things in order to do that the first
things in order to do that the first thing we needed is a different
thing we needed is a different
thing we needed is a different definition of democracy so I’ve thought
definition of democracy so I’ve thought
definition of democracy so I’ve thought long and hard about this and I have a
long and hard about this and I have a
long and hard about this and I have a new very complicated very technical
new very complicated very technical
new very complicated very technical definition already it’s like years of
definition already it’s like years of
definition already it’s like years of study to go into this
study to go into this
study to go into this the thing is when this happens when
the thing is when this happens when
the thing is when this happens when groups of people get together and make
groups of people get together and make
groups of people get together and make decisions as political equals some
decisions as political equals some
decisions as political equals some powerful things happen people learn from
powerful things happen people learn from
powerful things happen people learn from one another they challenge one another
one another they challenge one another
one another they challenge one another they come up with new and different
they come up with new and different
they come up with new and different ideas rather than be stuck with the
ideas rather than be stuck with the
ideas rather than be stuck with the decision between burger and fries quinoa
decision between burger and fries quinoa
decision between burger and fries quinoa salad they decide to hold a potluck or a
salad they decide to hold a potluck or a
salad they decide to hold a potluck or a buffet or go for pizza I’m perfectly
buffet or go for pizza I’m perfectly
buffet or go for pizza I’m perfectly timed before lunch this is good the
timed before lunch this is good the
timed before lunch this is good the challenge though becomes if this is
challenge though becomes if this is
challenge though becomes if this is gonna be democracy wherewhere are we
gonna be democracy wherewhere are we
gonna be democracy wherewhere are we gonna do that there’s over 30 million
gonna do that there’s over 30 million
gonna do that there’s over 30 million people in Canada there’s a lot of people
people in Canada there’s a lot of people
people in Canada there’s a lot of people in the world how are we gonna set this
in the world how are we gonna set this
in the world how are we gonna set this up so the groups of people can get
up so the groups of people can get
up so the groups of people can get together and make decisions about stuff
together and make decisions about stuff
together and make decisions about stuff the exciting thing is this already
the exciting thing is this already
the exciting thing is this already exists on a huge scale nonprofit
exists on a huge scale nonprofit
exists on a huge scale nonprofit community organizations are governed and
community organizations are governed and
community organizations are governed and directed by groups of people making
directed by groups of people making
directed by groups of people making decisions about stuff and for the most
decisions about stuff and for the most
decisions about stuff and for the most part they’re volunteers who simply
part they’re volunteers who simply
part they’re volunteers who simply decided to arrive they’ve just decided
decided to arrive they’ve just decided
decided to arrive they’ve just decided to show up and if you consider across
to show up and if you consider across
to show up and if you consider across Canada there are a hundred eighty
Canada there are a hundred eighty
Canada there are a hundred eighty thousand nonprofits you assume an
thousand nonprofits you assume an
thousand nonprofits you assume an average board size of ten you
average board size of ten you
average board size of ten you potentially have 1.8 million people
potentially have 1.8 million people
potentially have 1.8 million people doing community democracy right now this
doing community democracy right now this
doing community democracy right now this already exists on a huge scale and this
already exists on a huge scale and this
already exists on a huge scale and this is the scope of this sector is
is the scope of this sector is
is the scope of this sector is unbelievable it’s everything from a
unbelievable it’s everything from a
unbelievable it’s everything from a community people planning a community
community people planning a community
community people planning a community garden community center Association that
garden community center Association that
garden community center Association that holds a community carnival in order to
holds a community carnival in order to
holds a community carnival in order to gather feedback about what the new
gather feedback about what the new
gather feedback about what the new playground should look like it’s
playground should look like it’s
playground should look like it’s everything from an arts and cultural
everything from an arts and cultural
everything from an arts and cultural group with no paid staff who puts on a
group with no paid staff who puts on a
group with no paid staff who puts on a festival every year parent advisory
festival every year parent advisory
festival every year parent advisory group prevention provincial and national
group prevention provincial and national
group prevention provincial and national professional associations University
professional associations University
professional associations University clubs student clubs the people who put
clubs student clubs the people who put
clubs student clubs the people who put on this conference here in Vancouver the
on this conference here in Vancouver the
on this conference here in Vancouver the YVR Airport is a non-profit so if you
YVR Airport is a non-profit so if you
YVR Airport is a non-profit so if you think back to the first question I asked
think back to the first question I asked
think back to the first question I asked who make decisions about
who make decisions about
who make decisions about how the rules that govern your community
how the rules that govern your community
how the rules that govern your community how your community gets built and the
how your community gets built and the
how your community gets built and the resources how your the resources in your
resources how your the resources in your
resources how your the resources in your community are used this sector is also
community are used this sector is also
community are used this sector is also scaled in a way that could have an
scaled in a way that could have an
scaled in a way that could have an impact on all of those things and if you
impact on all of those things and if you
impact on all of those things and if you remember that gravel parking lot this is
remember that gravel parking lot this is
remember that gravel parking lot this is a 20,000 square foot gymnastics and
a 20,000 square foot gymnastics and
a 20,000 square foot gymnastics and Sports Center the vision for this the
Sports Center the vision for this the
Sports Center the vision for this the idea for this was put forward by the
idea for this was put forward by the
idea for this was put forward by the community it’s currently operated by a
community it’s currently operated by a
community it’s currently operated by a non profit Society 2,000 kids between
non profit Society 2,000 kids between
non profit Society 2,000 kids between the ages of six months and adults go
the ages of six months and adults go
the ages of six months and adults go through programs in this space the
through programs in this space the
through programs in this space the community went made it happen
community went made it happen
community went made it happen and it had nothing to do with voting it
and it had nothing to do with voting it
and it had nothing to do with voting it had nothing to do with elected
had nothing to do with elected
had nothing to do with elected representatives so hopefully at this
representatives so hopefully at this
representatives so hopefully at this point you’re starting to think of a
point you’re starting to think of a
point you’re starting to think of a place in your life where decision making
place in your life where decision making
place in your life where decision making happens where there’s groups of people
happens where there’s groups of people
happens where there’s groups of people getting together to make decisions about
getting together to make decisions about
getting together to make decisions about something about something happening in
something about something happening in
something about something happening in your community when I said nonprofits
your community when I said nonprofits
your community when I said nonprofits you may also have been thinking of that
you may also have been thinking of that
you may also have been thinking of that last board or committee meeting you
last board or committee meeting you
last board or committee meeting you participated in the dragon until
participated in the dragon until
participated in the dragon until midnight or the ugly politics that can
midnight or the ugly politics that can
midnight or the ugly politics that can sometimes happen in nonprofits so our
sometimes happen in nonprofits so our
sometimes happen in nonprofits so our first challenge and those are absolutely
first challenge and those are absolutely
first challenge and those are absolutely challenges our first task is to find
challenges our first task is to find
challenges our first task is to find democracy in our lives in communities
democracy in our lives in communities
democracy in our lives in communities and the communities where we live and
and the communities where we live and
and the communities where we live and work already our second challenge is to
work already our second challenge is to
work already our second challenge is to make it awesome and here’s how we make
make it awesome and here’s how we make
make it awesome and here’s how we make it awesome the one find people who want
it awesome the one find people who want
it awesome the one find people who want to participate in the decisions that
to participate in the decisions that
to participate in the decisions that you’re the things that you’re making
you’re the things that you’re making
you’re the things that you’re making decisions about there are no rules about
decisions about there are no rules about
decisions about there are no rules about who and how who to include and how to
who and how who to include and how to
who and how who to include and how to include people in the decision-making of
include people in the decision-making of
include people in the decision-making of a non-profit every group of people can
a non-profit every group of people can
a non-profit every group of people can decide who they’re going to include and
decide who they’re going to include and
decide who they’re going to include and how they’re going to do it
how they’re going to do it
how they’re going to do it hold a community carnival hold a block
hold a community carnival hold a block
hold a community carnival hold a block party set up a booth at the farmers
party set up a booth at the farmers
party set up a booth at the farmers festival go out and find people and make
festival go out and find people and make
festival go out and find people and make it easy for them to participate this
it easy for them to participate this
it easy for them to participate this again is a place where we need to go
again is a place where we need to go
again is a place where we need to go beyond we need to do way better than the
beyond we need to do way better than the
beyond we need to do way better than the Athenians who simply invited male
Athenians who simply invited male
Athenians who simply invited male citizens to come we need to go and find
citizens to come we need to go and find
citizens to come we need to go and find people and make it easy for them to
people and make it easy for them to
people and make it easy for them to participate and nonprofits you’ve got no
participate and nonprofits you’ve got no
participate and nonprofits you’ve got no rules you can do that however you want
rules you can do that however you want
rules you can do that however you want and you can make it fun and exciting get
and you can make it fun and exciting get
and you can make it fun and exciting get outside of the boardroom once you are
outside of the boardroom once you are
outside of the boardroom once you are together co-create the agenda and as
together co-create the agenda and as
together co-create the agenda and as I’ve outlined here this is a really big
I’ve outlined here this is a really big
I’ve outlined here this is a really big deal to me when we think of democratic
deal to me when we think of democratic
deal to me when we think of democratic decision-making we focus on the final
decision-making we focus on the final
decision-making we focus on the final decision we tend not to think about who
decision we tend not to think about who
decision we tend not to think about who created the agenda in the first place
created the agenda in the first place
created the agenda in the first place it’s why we’re so frustrated with
it’s why we’re so frustrated with
it’s why we’re so frustrated with referendums and pleb asides because we
referendums and pleb asides because we
referendums and pleb asides because we didn’t pose the question we didn’t set
didn’t pose the question we didn’t set
didn’t pose the question we didn’t set the agenda it’s why government ministry
the agenda it’s why government ministry
the agenda it’s why government ministry in deciding to put a highway through a
in deciding to put a highway through a
in deciding to put a highway through a community can say yeah we did a
community can say yeah we did a
community can say yeah we did a completely democratic exercise we asked
completely democratic exercise we asked
completely democratic exercise we asked residents to choose the color of the
residents to choose the color of the
residents to choose the color of the retaining wall complete democracy in
retaining wall complete democracy in
retaining wall complete democracy in some sense that’s true but in another
some sense that’s true but in another
some sense that’s true but in another sense it’s not no one wanted to talk
sense it’s not no one wanted to talk
sense it’s not no one wanted to talk about the retaining wall they’d wanted
about the retaining wall they’d wanted
about the retaining wall they’d wanted to talk about the highway but they
to talk about the highway but they
to talk about the highway but they didn’t control the agenda and that
didn’t control the agenda and that
didn’t control the agenda and that exercise previously I gave you no choice
exercise previously I gave you no choice
exercise previously I gave you no choice of what the menu options were not only
of what the menu options were not only
of what the menu options were not only that I didn’t even tell you what was on
that I didn’t even tell you what was on
that I didn’t even tell you what was on the agenda before I forced you to vote
the agenda before I forced you to vote
the agenda before I forced you to vote think about the agenda who created it
think about the agenda who created it
think about the agenda who created it and who’s participating and the form
and who’s participating and the form
and who’s participating and the form this takes is in that question that
this takes is in that question that
this takes is in that question that appears on every single committee and
appears on every single committee and
appears on every single committee and board meeting agenda in the world do you
board meeting agenda in the world do you
board meeting agenda in the world do you have anything to add to the agenda does
have anything to add to the agenda does
have anything to add to the agenda does everyone approve the agenda we put that
everyone approve the agenda we put that
everyone approve the agenda we put that on every meeting agenda but we skip over
on every meeting agenda but we skip over
on every meeting agenda but we skip over it we don’t think about it stop there
it we don’t think about it stop there
it we don’t think about it stop there pause what decide what to decide what do
pause what decide what to decide what do
pause what decide what to decide what do we need to be talking about in fact your
we need to be talking about in fact your
we need to be talking about in fact your next meeting throw your agenda in the
next meeting throw your agenda in the
next meeting throw your agenda in the garbage grab a blank piece of paper hand
garbage grab a blank piece of paper hand
garbage grab a blank piece of paper hand it around say everybody okay write down
it around say everybody okay write down
it around say everybody okay write down what is the most important thing for us
what is the most important thing for us
what is the most important thing for us to talk about right now that becomes
to talk about right now that becomes
to talk about right now that becomes your agenda that meeting will be the
your agenda that meeting will be the
your agenda that meeting will be the most powerful engaging meeting you’ve
most powerful engaging meeting you’ve
most powerful engaging meeting you’ve ever had as a group tell stories learn
ever had as a group tell stories learn
ever had as a group tell stories learn and reflect from one another
and reflect from one another
and reflect from one another hear the perspectives and the challenges
hear the perspectives and the challenges
hear the perspectives and the challenges of the individuals participating in the
of the individuals participating in the
of the individuals participating in the group where you’re working together have
group where you’re working together have
group where you’re working together have entire meetings where you don’t decide
entire meetings where you don’t decide
entire meetings where you don’t decide anything where you’re just there to
anything where you’re just there to
anything where you’re just there to listen we heard earlier about listening
listen we heard earlier about listening
listen we heard earlier about listening with curiosity and patience make time to
with curiosity and patience make time to
with curiosity and patience make time to do that
this may come as no surprise for me try
this may come as no surprise for me try to avoid voting gauge support instead
to avoid voting gauge support instead
to avoid voting gauge support instead community democracy makes it possible to
community democracy makes it possible to
community democracy makes it possible to gauge support and move forward on a
gauge support and move forward on a
gauge support and move forward on a consensus basis instead if you’re a
consensus basis instead if you’re a
consensus basis instead if you’re a group of ten and you’ve got two people
group of ten and you’ve got two people
group of ten and you’ve got two people who are really opposed to a decision
who are really opposed to a decision
who are really opposed to a decision moving forward maybe stop and pause is
moving forward maybe stop and pause is
moving forward maybe stop and pause is there more information you need do you
there more information you need do you
there more information you need do you need to go back to the agenda creation
need to go back to the agenda creation
need to go back to the agenda creation stage and see if there’s an agenda item
stage and see if there’s an agenda item
stage and see if there’s an agenda item that was missed use a scale from one to
that was missed use a scale from one to
that was missed use a scale from one to ten ten complete support one is
ten ten complete support one is
ten ten complete support one is completely opposed if
completely opposed if
completely opposed if a couple people in the group are at a
a couple people in the group are at a
a couple people in the group are at a four or five maybe that’s sufficient
four or five maybe that’s sufficient
four or five maybe that’s sufficient consent to proceed if one person in your
consent to proceed if one person in your
consent to proceed if one person in your group is that a one maybe you need to
group is that a one maybe you need to
group is that a one maybe you need to stop and go back to listening find
stop and go back to listening find
stop and go back to listening find someone in your group your organization
someone in your group your organization
someone in your group your organization to hold accountable so partner up with
to hold accountable so partner up with
to hold accountable so partner up with someone who you’re gonna support and
someone who you’re gonna support and
someone who you’re gonna support and you’re gonna hold accountable to moving
you’re gonna hold accountable to moving
you’re gonna hold accountable to moving forward with the decisions that they
forward with the decisions that they
forward with the decisions that they made putting forward the ideas that the
made putting forward the ideas that the
made putting forward the ideas that the group came up with community democracy
group came up with community democracy
group came up with community democracy makes this possible when was the last
makes this possible when was the last
makes this possible when was the last time you felt accountable and
time you felt accountable and
time you felt accountable and responsible for a decision you made at
responsible for a decision you made at
responsible for a decision you made at the ballot box in community democracy
the ballot box in community democracy
the ballot box in community democracy we’re typically expected to follow
we’re typically expected to follow
we’re typically expected to follow through with the things we say we’re
through with the things we say we’re
through with the things we say we’re going to do so find a partner and
going to do so find a partner and
going to do so find a partner and support them in doing that lastly as a
support them in doing that lastly as a
support them in doing that lastly as a group talk about your process talk about
group talk about your process talk about
group talk about your process talk about what’s working well in your
what’s working well in your
what’s working well in your decision-making talk about what’s not
decision-making talk about what’s not
decision-making talk about what’s not working and make changes be willing to
working and make changes be willing to
working and make changes be willing to make changes with how you work together
make changes with how you work together
make changes with how you work together how you make decisions together so my
how you make decisions together so my
how you make decisions together so my challenge to you think about go and find
challenge to you think about go and find
challenge to you think about go and find someplace in your community where groups
someplace in your community where groups
someplace in your community where groups of people are making decisions about
of people are making decisions about
of people are making decisions about stuff and your next meeting your next
stuff and your next meeting your next
stuff and your next meeting your next get-together try one of these things
get-together try one of these things
get-together try one of these things just imagine if our decisions at the
just imagine if our decisions at the
just imagine if our decisions at the ballot box were informed not by things
ballot box were informed not by things
ballot box were informed not by things we heard in the media but by the things
we heard in the media but by the things
we heard in the media but by the things we learned together in groups of
we learned together in groups of
we learned together in groups of communities with fellow citizens
communities with fellow citizens
communities with fellow citizens learning from one another challenging
learning from one another challenging
learning from one another challenging one another listening to one another
one another listening to one another
one another listening to one another imagine in politicians define democracy
imagine in politicians define democracy
imagine in politicians define democracy not as putting their name on a ballot
not as putting their name on a ballot
not as putting their name on a ballot but showing up in communities and
but showing up in communities and
but showing up in communities and empowering citizens with the power to
empowering citizens with the power to
empowering citizens with the power to create their agendas imagine if you got
create their agendas imagine if you got
create their agendas imagine if you got to create their agenda if we don’t do
to create their agenda if we don’t do
to create their agenda if we don’t do this if we don’t start defining
this if we don’t start defining
this if we don’t start defining democracy in these ways and going beyond
democracy in these ways and going beyond
democracy in these ways and going beyond voting and beyond elected
voting and beyond elected
voting and beyond elected representatives the things that get
representatives the things that get
representatives the things that get talked about the things that get put
talked about the things that get put
talked about the things that get put forward in the public realm will be
forward in the public realm will be
forward in the public realm will be completely dictated and controlled by
completely dictated and controlled by
completely dictated and controlled by those are the most power resources and
those are the most power resources and
those are the most power resources and wealth to spit out gross generalizations
wealth to spit out gross generalizations
wealth to spit out gross generalizations false truths sound bites and a politics
false truths sound bites and a politics
false truths sound bites and a politics of fear and division does that sound
of fear and division does that sound
of fear and division does that sound familiar
so to go back to the question I posed at
so to go back to the question I posed at the start when you imagine a democratic
the start when you imagine a democratic
the start when you imagine a democratic community what do you picture this is
community what do you picture this is
community what do you picture this is what it looks like go and find it and
what it looks like go and find it and
what it looks like go and find it and start making it awesome thank you
start making it awesome thank you
start making it awesome thank you [Applause]
”
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