Thread by @EMN_Project

#MunicipalistMonday 🧵 looks at tips & tools for running a democratic neighbourhood assembly. 🔥🔥

It draws wisdom from Cooperation Jackson, Zagreb je NAS!, Naples Urban Commons, EMN's FoP group, Belo Horizonte's Muitas, Barcelona En Comu, Feminise Politics Now! & many more.

Every local assembly differs. What follows isn't prescriptive, but guidance based on challenges other assemblies have overcome. How have they negotiated pitfalls on their collective journeys into building democratic power?

All assemblies need to work out how they will function and what is expected of participants (e.g. respecting everyone). Late arrivals need to be introduced to all this; promoting good conduct is everyone's priority.

The assembly has many practicalities to consider.

Will you make decisions by consensus or by voting, by a combination of the two or another way?

Tips for making sure every voice is heard:
👉🏾Ask for contributions from those yet to speak
👉🏾Alternate speakers of different genders
👉🏾Limit contributions in time
👉🏾Gather in a circle(s) with maximum collective eye contact.

“Use inclusive language; Promote not knowing as just as productive as knowing, rather than as a failure; Focus on the process rather than solely on the results; Share and develop knowledge horizontally.”

(from FoP Final Report 💜💜)

municipalisteurope.org/feministisatio…

Share power: people lead & leaders obey.
👉🏾Make sure key positions represent demographic (ie gender balance)
👉🏾Give tasks to groups, not individuals
👉🏾Skillshare knowledge & know-how
👉🏾Rotate roles, tasks & responsibilities
👉🏾Enable assembly to recall and easily change key roles.

As @mareatlantica 🌊 write in the FoP report: “It is therefore necessary to continuously stay sensitive to power relations and their different manifestations and try to change those and make them as temporary as possible.”

“We recommend each Assembly has multiple facilitators, playing mutually supportive roles. They must be prepared to move the agenda, move the process(es) & intervene when necessary to ensure that everyone is abiding by the Norms + Codes of Conduct.”
pressbooks.pub/jacksonrising/…

Tools for making assemblies accessible to all:
👉🏾Decide next dates & agendas for assemblies together.
👉🏾Set up child care for parents
👉🏾Consider work/life balance and different access needs – including online and in person access.

“Each Assembly event should be clear on what it is focused on accomplishing. Is it trying to investigate an issue, is it trying to address (solve) an issue , or is it merely sharing information for folks to start investigating and deliberating on a question.”

“List people’s availability in line with requirements, so that people can volunteer to serve in the roles required by each event, activity, or process... Delegate, distribute & rotate tasks as a tool for active, equal and inclusive participation.”
https://t.co/VImlwPGorsrosalux.eu/en/article/158…

Democracy is a journey, not a destination.

“L’Asilo's inhabitants openly experiment new ways of making community & try to question the automatisms of power. They are led by the concept of Utopia - 'the community to come' & discuss it a lot among themselves.” (FoP report)