Co-leadership Coaching Circles for young feminists! Are you interested?
For the past 2 years, we’ve been exploring collective leadership, curating research, resources, and tools for co-leads across feminist movements and organizations. In 2023, we launched a co-leadership coaching practice in collaboration with 4 feminist coaches. In 2024, we are deepening our work in collective leadership, with new initiatives coming soon on accompaniment for girls, feminist leadership transitions and more co-leadership cafes.
We are excited to kick off these offerings calling for expressions of interest for a Young Feminist Co-Leadership Circle.
If you are a young feminist activist under the age of 35 who is part of a co-leadership or shared power model or planning to start one soon, based anywhere in the world, and you think peer coaching might be supportive to your process please fill out this survey to express your interest by the 1st of July.
Why Coaching?
Coaching has always been an important part of what we do, alongside co-leadership consulting and mentoring, and we’re hoping to bring this even more in our movements as a supportive component for leadership building and transformation.
Somatic coaching is a process that supports folks to embody and fulfill their commitments through consistent practice. A coach partners with the coachee (s) as they move towards new shapes, and supports them with questions, practices, and holding the space for transformation. They don’t offer advice, or teach, but support the coachee to develop new embodied skills and resilience.
Depending on need we may complement this offering with some 2-2 advising with our team.
For more information about coaching and coaching circles, as well as what it requires from those who take part, read more below.
What is coaching?
Coaching is partnering with a client in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximise their personal and professional potential.
(International Coaching Federation definition)
Somatic coaching is a transformational, life-affirming, emergent process that organises emotional, social, and spiritual commitments toward embodiment and fulfilment.
(Strozzi Institute)
Coaching can happen individually or in a small group setting. No matter the format, a coach partners with the coachee(s) as they move towards new shapes, and supports them with questions, practices, and holding the space for transformation. They don’t offer advice, or teach, but support the coachee to develop new embodied skills and resilience.
Receiving advice, support, and learning from a trusted teacher or mentor is extremely important, but please note that in the coaching circles, there will be no mentoring or teaching. All lessons will be drawn by yourself, following the somatic practices, coaching, and sharing with other peers. The coach only facilitates the process and makes space for learning to happen.
What is a young feminist coaching circle?
We see a coaching circle as a small, facilitated group of people that gathers regularly to transform the relationship they have with themselves and their activism, by making space to heal and develop strategies that support their leadership. Think of it as a temporary oasis where we all get to bring in our unique ingredients to create something meaningful and supportive for all present.
Based on our community’s interest this could look like 3 pairs of co-leads being part of a coaching group, 2 different coaching groups with one co-lead in each so people can explore separately, or a mix of individuals in different places in their co-leadership journey. We want to create this based on your needs so please reach out and share what format would be most supportive.
However we decide to do it, this process will be shared with other humans that go through similar and different struggles, from which you can learn, and with whom you can share. We believe that in seeing each other’s pain and joy, and in supporting one another, we feel less lonely, and something begins to heal and makes space for new emergent shapes.
What will the young feminist coaching circles look like in practice?
Practically, we propose that we meet weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly, for 8 to 10 sessions in a group of 6-8 people, for 1,5-2 hours. Each session will be tailored differently but it will most times include a combination of somatic practices, space for personal and collective reflection, and live coaching.
The sessions are not similar to a webinar or a lesson where you consume input from a teacher/trainer but are built with the active engagement of all participants in mind. This is why it’s important to think before applying if you have the energy and time for the process.
Sessions will happen in English and upon request, we will offer interpretation (including Sign Language) where needed. It’s essential to be able to communicate well, as we’ll be in deep transformational waters, so please ask for interpretation if you need it.
If you have any access requirements that will make your participation easier and more pleasant. This includes not only needs related to disability but also access to stable internet.
Is this the right opportunity for me?
This space is for you if:
You are already in a process of reflection inside your co-leadership and need support in moving forward
You are open to sharing about your process with others, including through being coached and witnessed by others in your reflection, sharing in small groups, etc.
Feel open to sharing your vulnerability as well as witnessing others’ vulnerability with care and kindness (although it may feel uncomfortable at times!)
Are interested in body-based practices that can support you, and are willing to practice in between sessions (for best results!)
Have time to meet, engage in practices, and commit to the group and personal processes
Who will be the coach?
You will be accompanied in this process by one of our coaches at Closer Than You Think, who, according to needs, might be joined by other coaches when needed.
Dani Prisacariu
A somatic coach and facilitator for social justice movements. Originally from Romania, they’ve spent more than 10 years in queer and feminist activism in their home country and internationally. For the past years, they’ve dedicated themselves to learning and practicing somatics as a way to liberation. For more about their approach, you can check out their website: https://www.daniprisacariu.com/
Ruby Johnson and Devi Leiper O’Malley
Will also be part of the journey, supporting with some key 1-1 accompaniment, advising and design.
