Events
Community is a Practice
Together, we can practice listening, co-designing, and partnering in service of our communities.
Not your average webinar series
Practical sessions for anyone building community-focused initiatives in learning, wellbeing, and care, whether you’re starting one or strengthening one you already run.
Each month, you’ll learn one practice, then put it to work with peers from schools, museums, libraries, nonprofits, and local government. Community work connects all these fields, so we’ll practice together by listening, partnering, and testing each tool in small cross-sector groups. You’ll leave with a free tool, new ideas from fields beyond your own, and connections you can build on.
Series Schedule
November 18, 2026 12:00p-12:45p EDT
The Best Programs Start With Listening: Building What Your Community Wants
Before we design anything, we listen. We’ll explore why listening is the foundation of every lasting program, then practice listening in pairs with a partner from a different field. You’ll learn to ask questions that open up what your community actually wants, not what you assume it needs.
Free tool: Community Listening Guide
Practice 01: Assess
December 16, 2026 12:00p-12:45p EDT
The Strongest Programs Are Shared: Co-Designing With Your Community
When people help design a program, they also help sustain it. In small cross-sector groups, you’ll take a real challenge from one participant and co-design a solution together, experiencing what co-design feels like from the inside. You’ll leave ready to lead your own co-design session.
Free tool: Co-Design Session Plan
Practice 02: Engage
January 20, 2027 12:00p-12:45p EDT
Lasting Programs Invest in People: Supporting Your Volunteers and Staff
People stay where they feel known, trusted, and connected. We’ll explore what helps volunteers, staff, and peer leaders thrive, then compare onboarding practices across fields. You’ll draft a role description you can use right away, and leave with ideas to welcome extra hands and fresh faces.
Free tool: Role Description & Orientation Template
Practice 03: Support
Upcoming Sessions
February 17, 2026 12:00p-12:45p EDT
The Boldest Programs Have Partners: Collaborating Across Your Community
No organization can do it alone. You’ll map the partners already around your work, then meet potential partners from other fields in breakout groups to explore what you might build together. We’ll talk honestly about what each partner needs, offers, and expects.
Free tool: Partnership Agreement Template
Practice 04: Connect
March 17, 2026 12:00p-12:45p EDT
The Most Resilient Programs Share the Load: Leading With Care Across Your Community
Collaboration works best when no one carries it alone. We’ll explore how accountability and care can work together, then practice a shared check-in conversation with peers, one you can bring to your own team or partnership meetings to keep everyone connected, supported, and moving forward together.
Free tool: Shared Check-In Tool.
Practice 05: Coordinate
January 20, 2027 12:00p-12:45p EDT
Trusted Programs Show Their Impact: Measuring What Matters
Learn how to measure belonging, growth, and impact, using measures your community helps define. In small groups, you’ll decide what success looks like for one of your programs and draft a simple measure together, then hear how peers in other fields define success.
Free tool: Simple Outcome Measure