The Community Weaving Framework

Ever wondered why some communities flourish while others fizzle out?

Healthy, vibrant communities don’t just happen by accident.

They are carefully and intentionally woven together with threads of trust, shared purpose, and genuine care.

To make it easier, this newsletter is all about The Community Weaving Framework and how to apply it to your work.

The framework is a powerful and intuitive approach to bringing people together and helping them thrive.

A big thank you to the co-creators: Erin Dixon, Fabian Pfortmüller, Michel Bachmann, and Sita Magnuson for this inspiring work!

Why Do Communities Sometimes Struggle?

Many groups face common hurdles:

• Participation feels like a chore.

• Collective action loses momentum.

• Relationships remain on the surface.

Without intentional strategies, even the most promising communities can risk stagnation.

But there's a way to build with more heart and resilience.

The 5 Elements of Community Weaving: Your Toolkit for Connection

This framework offers five interconnected elements to consider and nurture:

🔥 The Fire

What brings us together? 

This is your community's spark.

All the shared visions, goals, or passions that unite and energize everyone.

It's the collective identity and the answer to:

"Why are we here?"

Nurture it with stories, clear values, and regular conversations about what draws people in.

🕸️ The Web

What holds us together? 

Think of this as the invisible network of trust-based relationships.

This is the true foundation.

A strong web, built on respect, generosity, and mutual care, allows ideas and energy to flow.

Strengthen it by creating intentional opportunities for people to connect authentically.

🎶 The Rhythm

How do we connect regularly? 

Healthy communities have a heartbeat.

These are the consistent rituals, gatherings, and shared practices that create a sense of belonging and shared flow.

Consistent, value-driven interactions keep the fire burning and help members share their unique gifts.

🔄 The Circles

What roles can we play? 

Participation naturally varies.

This element acknowledges that by defining clear roles and ways to contribute, ensuring everyone feels they have a place and purpose:

• Core stewards (firekeepers)

• Active co-creators

• Loosely connected friends.

These roles are dynamic and can change over time.

🌪️ The Spiral

How do we journey together? 

Communities are living, evolving organisms.

The Spiral focuses on continuous growth, learning, and adaptation for both individuals and the group.

It’s about honoring transitions:

• Celebrating departures.

• Welcoming new members.

• Collectively deciding how to evolve while staying true to the core.

Why I love this Framework

What's truly wonderful about the Community Weaving Framework is its intuitive nature.

It’s not a rigid set of rules.

But it offers a guide to paying attention to what’s already present.

And, weaving it together with intention.

It’s about co-creating a living, breathing system that adapts and grows with your people.

As the co-creators of this framework beautifully state:

"The essence of community is relationships of care, held together by a sense of kinship and mutual support... our work is to weave a flourishing tapestry of reciprocity."

A big thank you to the co-creators: Erin Dixon, Fabian Pfortmüller, Michel Bachmann, and Sita Magnuson for this inspiring work!

Want to dive deeper? 

👉 Explore further, download the handbook, and access worksheets.

👉 Join the launch of the Spanish version of the framework.

👉 Join the launch of the Portuguese version of the framework.

That’s it!

Let’s keep weaving together.

In solidarity,

Adrian

PS: The program of the Networks Festival is now live incl. the two sessions on the community weaving framework in Spanish & Portuguese.

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About the Systemic Shift Newsletter

This weekly newsletter is dedicated to exploring practices, mindsets, and strategies that make networks effective in driving systemic change. Each issue offers practical tools, real-world lessons, and curated opportunities to help you build impactful, collaborative networks & communities.

Stay tuned next Tuesday for more!