Name: Hosting Impactful Gatherings
Start: 2026-06-23T15:00:00-08:00
Location: Yukon Island, Kachemak Bay, Alaska

How do we bring people together in ways that matter – whether it’s a team of three, a community group of thirty, or a conference of one hundred? Hosting Impactful Gatherings is a participatory approach to leading, convening, and engaging groups that draws on conversation, collective knowledge, and shared leadership.
This three-day, highly participatory workshop introduces tools and practices that help groups move beyond business-as-usual meetings toward meaningful collaboration and community building. Drawing from the Art of Hosting, the National School Reform Faculty, the Center for Leadership and Educational Equity, and Liberating Structures, participants will learn how to design, host, and facilitate processes that create real connection, shared ownership, and actionable outcomes.
Over the course of three days, participants will:
*Practice methods such as World Café, Circle Practice, and Open Space Technology
*Learn how to integrate frameworks for shared leadership into meetings and gatherings of any size.
*Explore the principles behind participatory leadership
*Experiment with facilitating and being facilitated, gaining confidence in both practical skills and the capacity to hold space for shared understanding.
Participants will experience these tools in action, reflect on their application, and leave with a practical toolkit to strengthen their work in organizations, communities, and networks.
Who Should Attend:
This training is designed for anyone who convenes groups: community leaders, educators, nonprofit staff, organizational managers, facilitators, and anyone committed to building stronger, more connected communities.
Location, Travel, & Meals:
Hosting Impactful Gatherings will be held at Yukon Island Retreat Center. Transportation and meals are fully provided as part of the registration. Participants will depart together from Homer Harbor at 3:00pm on the 23rd and return to Homer at 3:00pm on the 26th.