Your Questions Answered: December Q&A
The Benefits of Gatherings, Types of Roles and our Use of Sociocracy
Q1: “What is the outcome of a village gathering?”
A Village gathering is where the magic happens! It’s our big innovation - a creative program designed to bring comfort, connection, and meaningful moments for individuals and groups alike. We’ve interviewed visitors and members over the years to increase the impact these gatherings can have.
People tell us they feel safe sharing openly and connecting with others who are equally as willing to share and connect. It’s a warm, welcoming space where important topics can be explored without fear of judgment. One Villager, Kate, described it beautifully: “It fills a big place inside of me of belonging and being open about whatever you want to talk about.” Villages create a space where transformative conversations naturally unfold.
Another Villager, Iulia, summed it up perfectly: “Villages are a group of thoughtful, diverse, open, and kindhearted people who want to connect authentically with others.” And guess what? There’s always something relatable in every gathering, creating endless opportunities to learn and grow!
But it’s not just meaningful—it’s fun! Some Villages kick things off with a Café, where members share creative projects, read poems, or even perform songs. It’s a collaborative, vibrant space where people can shine, connect, and pick up new skills. Want to boost your leadership chops or hone your public speaking skills? You can take on roles and explore new things in a supportive environment. As Sarah puts it, “It’s also a place to grow a little—taking on roles, trying out new things, and feeling encouraged to participate.”
So whether you’re here to connect, create, learn, or just enjoy, a Village gathering is where all those things—and more—come to life. Try it out! (You can use me: Loisel, as the sponsoring member)
Q2: “What are the different roles that a village member can take?”
At Village, everyone has a role! Just showing up and participating is taking a role. And for those who want, there are additional roles in each gathering to step into. Here’s an outline of the three most important Village roles:
The Acknowledgement Lead presents an idea important to them in a short 2-3 minute segment called the Acknowledgement. A good Acknowledgement will focus on one specific idea, providing some context or a story to go with it, and inviting members to form their own opinions about the topic.
The Grounding Guide leads a short 2-3 minute reflective exercise called the Grounding. The main goal of the Grounding is to ease anxieties and tensions, and help members feel more focused and present.
The Host facilitates the Village gathering, guiding the group through the program in a timely manner. A good host doesn’t spend a lot of time talking, rather they help transition from one part of the program to the next, they lift up the voices of the group, and they make adjustments as needed.
For those who are keen and for gatherings that happen online, there are even more roles!
Q3: “How does VillageCo get organized?”
If members want to get more involved, they can volunteer for VillageCo, the nonprofit behind Villages. We’re all about making things run smoothly and collaboratively. How do we do it? With Sociocracy—an innovative way of organizing that keeps everyone’s voice in the mix while staying efficient and adaptable. It’s team-work that actually makes the dream work.
Here’s how it’s done: we organize ourselves into circles (think self-governing dream teams), each focusing on a specific area. These circles set clear goals, take responsibility for their work, and make decisions by consent—meaning ideas move forward unless there are strong objections. This way, everyone’s input gets heard, and discussions stay constructive and productive.
Regarding roles, we don’t just assign them randomly. Each circle does role selections where each member chooses who they think would be suited for a role. It’s fair, transparent and encourages reflective decision-meaning.
We chose Sociocracy because it’s a perfect match for our vibe—collaborative, equitable, and endlessly adaptable. It gives everyone on the team a voice and a role in shaping the organization, creating a culture where innovation can really take off. Plus, it helps us respond to our communities in a way that’s nimble and meaningful.
At VillageCo, it's not just how we do things, it's why we do them. It’s a way of living our values, building an organization that’s as vibrant, inclusive, and resilient as the Villages we’re so passionate about creating. Together, we’re making something extraordinary!
Send us your questions and maybe yours will be featured in our week 4 issues! Have a great holiday!
Food for Thought
If you've ever attended a gathering, what was your experience like?
Which role would you try out at a Village gathering?
The role I feel most challenged by at Village is the grounding guide. It's the role I've taken the least, but I feel is very important. I'd will challenge myself to lead more groundings in future gatherings.
I think I want to try an acknowledgement. I saw a new member do it and she talked about how the new election has effected her being able to stay in the US so I've thought about it a couple times since... I think that's the purpose of it. To bring other's situations to the surface. Just because we are not experiencing it, doesn't mean it's not real for others.
Also, I've done grounding and zoom tech before. I'd try different groundings as well.