# Vibes Program

A short cohort-based course to practice Microsolidarity and connect with other community builders.

**Join us** for this Practice Program if you want...

* to cultivate deeper connections and more collaboration within a network
* to initiate more learning, mutual aid, and a sense of belonging within your community
* to develop a work culture where people care about each other's wellbeing and growth

### About this program

This is a 2-week program. You can access [this short curriculum of videos & texts](https://www.microsolidarity.cc/practice-programs/vibes-program/course-content) to learn about the core concepts in your own time, and we will meet twice each week to experiment with relational practices (for a total of four 90-minute group calls). You'll also have access to a discussion forum to connect with other learners, share resources and ask us questions.

### Course Topics

* **Introduction** to microsolidarity
* **Dyads**: relational practices to develop a feeling of safety for more vulnerability and intimacy.
* **Crews**: key considerations and different formats for support in small groups.
* **Congregation**: case studies from different congregations, sharing how to start and maintain a self-organising network of crews.
* **Leadership & engagement**: how to encourage participation, engagement and co-leadership.
* **Reflection & learning**: how to get into the habit of reflection & continuous improvement, at a personal and collective level

### Time Commitment

* ​There are **four 90-minute live calls** where we’ll practice together
* You follow the course content in your own time. You can expect to spend around 30 minutes in preparation for each of the weekly topics.
* There is a digital forum for connection, interaction, and Q\&A.

### Times & Dates

The next cohort will start on Tuesday, Nov 12, 2024. We meet for 4 live calls over 2 weeks, on Tuesdays & Thursdays at 9-10.30am CET. Register on [Open Collective](https://opencollective.com/microsolidarity/events/microsolidarity-vibes-program-fall-2024-68e87597).

Can't make it this time? Subscribe to the [**Microsolidarity newsletter on Substack**](https://microsolidarity.substack.com/) to hear about programs and other offerings from the network.

### Tickets

Register on [Open Collective](https://opencollective.com/microsolidarity/events/microsolidarity-vibes-program-fall-2024-68e87597). Tickets are available from €140 for a Standard ticket, or €190 for a Supporter ticket which makes possible our scholarship fund. Income from ticket sales will be used to pay the hosting team, and we'll share 10% of the income with the [Microsolidarity common fund](https://www.microsolidarity.cc/participate/contributing-money). If you want to join but money is a barrier to you participating, you can [apply for a scholarship](https://forms.gle/636P4sYKuHEWRAGG8).

### Testimonials

Here are some quotes from previous participants

"It was mindblowing how quickly you can develop trust and belonging - I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't experienced it. We created a feeling of trust and safety within a few minutes, it's bonkers!"

"I only spoke to 3 people and already I got such a strong feeling that I want to get to know everyone here - I don't often feel that in a random group of people."

"It’s so helpful to do these peer-support processes with people who are outside my community - it’s so valuable to get the perspective of someone who cares but is not involved. It's usually hard to find. it takes a lot of scene-setting, and a specific social contract, which is what the Microsolidarity Network is creating."

"It felt like there's a large pool of wisdom that I can enter, and I don't have to be reluctant about it. I can share my problem even when I can't explain it very well, and people are open to listen to me and give me their thoughts."

"In this process I felt like how it feels when I confide in one of my close friends. These two people I had only just met, they were so focussed on listening to what I needed, and putting their best efforts into helping me... that's a very powerful feeling. They were there for me."

### **Your Hosts**

This program was originally developed by Nati Lombardo & Rich Bartlett. They hosted it 4 times through 2020-2022. Since 2023 the program has being run as a community-organised event. Facilitation is led by: Jocelyn Ames, Sara Bajor, Jonas Gröner, and Gui Trevisan.

### Other Questions?

Please ask in the [#practice-program](https://discord.gg/u9dfEkcpmY) channel on Discord and we'll try to help :)