Fostering democracies rooted in belonging is a global aspiration, and begins with enactment in communities, spaces, and places around the world.
The Democracy & Belonging Forum is launching its year-long Network Catalyzers Program in 2025 to support and resource Forum members in launching virtual or in-person communities that explore specific challenges and opportunities related to othering, belonging, bridging, and democracy.
Using belonging without othering as an orienting frame and bridging as a guiding practice, selected catalyzers will launch communities that aim to build trust, foster new relationships, cultivate bridging skills, and develop a collective understanding of ongoing social and political dynamics in Europe and North America. While some communities will only sustain for the duration of this program, we hope that others will exist beyond the 12 months.
Members who are selected for the Network Catalyzers Program will receive:
Monthly sessions to learn best practices in community-building and grapple with shared challenges with fellow community catalyzers
Mentorship from experienced community builders and programmatic support from the Forum’s Head of Community
An honorarium of 2.500,00 EUR gross for catalyzers of virtual communities or 5.000,00 EUR gross for in-person communities for the duration of the 12-month program. Please note that your contract would be with iac Berlin, our fiscal partner in Germany, and that payment of the remuneration will be paid out at the start of the program. Payment of the remuneration also covers all expenses incurred by catalyzers of in-person communities [for example: space rent, event supplies, etc.] in the course of their work for the iac Berlin.
The role of network catalyzers is to:
Plan and hold regular and/or periodic Forum community gatherings with support from the Forum’s Head of Community. The cadence of gatherings can be defined with the Forum team
Build a sustainable community structure that fosters co-creation and shared leadership among members
Convene monthly with the Forum’s Catalyzers Council to discuss shared challenges with other selected network catalyzers and participate in community-building activities and training
Provide documentation of media, takeaways, and lessons learned from each community session
Contribute regularly to community engagement on the Forum Slack channel
Participate in regular, one-on-one check-ins with the Forum’s Head of Community
Criteria for Selection:
Trusted Partner: the applicant has demonstrated a commitment to the Forum by regularly participating in Forum activities. Please note, that applications who are active members will be prioritized, but applications are welcome from all.
Relevant Topic: the topic of the community is timely and aligns with Forum interests related to fostering democracies rooted in belonging, countering othering and authoritarian populism, and bridging across lines of difference.
Invites Difference: the proposed community invites difference (sector, identity, perspective, political position, etc.)
Shared Values: the community demonstrates shared values in a commitment to bridging that is in line with Forum Values & Principles
Feasibility: the planning and implementation of the community is feasible
Members of the Democracy & Belonging Forum are invited to apply to the Network Catalyers program by November 15, 2024. Please note that the Network Catalyzers Program will run from January to December 2025.
If you have any questions or would like to learn more about the application process, please contact the Forum’s Head of Community Evan Yoshimoto.