Localism unfolds as three expanding circles:
The Community (Everyone Welcome)
Anyone interested can join our Discord space with access to online gatherings, shared resources, and connection with others doing related work across the Fraser Lowland.
The Intensives (32 Participants)
From the broader community, stewards invite up to 32 people into deeper facilitated sessions throughout February. These sessions include collaborative workshops, developing project ideas together, and practicing shared decision-making.
The Funded Projects (6–8 Projects)
The 32 participants use collaborative decision-making to choose 6–8 projects that receive $2,500 each for one-month projects in March.
Instead of a panel deciding who gets funding, the 32 participants work together to choose which projects receive support. Everyone has a voice in shaping how resources flow.
We use a process called sociocratic selection, where decisions are made based on whether anyone has a principled objection, rather than requiring everyone to agree.
Learn more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sociocracy
Discord is where participants connect informally, share updates, ask questions, find collaborators, and access resources. Think of it as a digital gathering space where you can participate as much or as little as feels right.
Each participant's work connects to at least one of these areas:
You can learn more about the stewards holding each domain on our Stewards page.
Yes. Many changemakers work across multiple areas, and your work doesn't need to fit neatly into one category.
Localism is shaped by how we work together, not just what we do. These values guide the community:
Regeneration over extraction
We aim to leave people, places, and relationships more resourced than we found them. This means resisting dynamics that lead to burnout or strip value for short-term gain.
Transparency and trust
We're clear about how decisions are made, how resources flow, and what's still emerging. This helps reduce confusion and build trust.
Consent and care in storytelling
Participation never requires sharing more than you're comfortable with. We ask before recording or sharing stories, and honor personal and cultural boundaries.
Learning over proving
This is a learning space. We value honest questions over confident answers, and treat adaptation as part of the work—not as failure.
Relationship before outcomes
Strong relationships make better projects and more resilient communities. When we face choices between speed and care, we lean toward what sustains relationship.
Many of the most important changemakers don't think of themselves as "leaders." If you're doing meaningful work and care about your community, you belong here.
That's fine. You don't need to have everything figured out. The process helps you develop and refine ideas in community.
Yes. A nomination opens the door, and you're also welcome to apply yourself. Many people do both.
Absolutely. Both doors are open to you.
You choose your level of participation. Some people join the broader community and show up when they can. Others go deeper into the intensives. You decide what works for your life right now.
A diverse group of community stewards reviews applications and nominations, looking for people who would meaningfully benefit from and contribute to deeper engagement.
Selection happens across the eight domains, with each domain steward inviting approximately 4 participants whose work aligns with their area.
Learn more about our stewards on the Stewards page.
Broader community: A few hours a month — join gatherings when you can
Intensives (32 participants): Several full or half-day sessions in February, plus ongoing engagement (approximately 20–30 hours total across the month)
Funded projects (6–8 projects): Active project work in March plus documentation (varies by project)
We're looking for meaningful engagement, not perfect attendance. Life happens. If you're invited to the intensives, we'll work with you to participate in ways that honor your circumstances.
Sessions will be held at accessible locations within the Fraser Lowland, likely in the Greater Vancouver area. Exact locations will be shared with invited participants.
We're committed to accessibility. If transportation, mobility, or other factors make in-person participation challenging, reach out to us. We'll explore what's possible together.
No. Participation is free. If transportation or other costs would prevent you from participating, please reach out — we'll figure something out together.
No. You choose your level of participation based on what feels right for you and what your life allows.
The 32 participants work together using collaborative decision-making to choose which projects receive funding. It's a peer-led process, not top-down selection.
Participants consider each project based on shared criteria and potential impact for the region.
You're still part of the community. The connections you make, the learning you experience, and the relationships you build have value regardless of whether your specific project receives funding.
Many participants find that the community support, collaborative learning, and network they gain open other doors for their work.
A nomination is an invitation, a signal of trust, a door being opened.
It is NOT:
You're helping us find people who might not step forward on their own.
We're not asking for long essays. A few sentences about who they are, what they do, and why you think they'd be a good fit is plenty.
Nominate people who are:
If they're doing good work and would benefit from community connection, they're a good fit.
If they're doing meaningful work and would benefit from connecting with others across the region, nominate them. This community is about connection and collaboration, not just filling gaps.
Let them decide. They can choose how much to participate. Even connecting with a few others doing similar work might be valuable to them.
Nominate them. We're looking for people who are trying and showing up, not people who have it all figured out. Your sense that they're doing meaningful work is what matters.
Yes. Nominate as many people as feels right.
Yes. We share this in the invitation we send to them.
If you would prefer to remain anonymous, reach out to us directly and we can discuss. We aim for transparency whenever possible.
Yes. Anyone can apply directly. Nominations help us find people who might not apply on their own, but both pathways are open.
Metachrysalis supports changemakers and community-building across bioregions. We use collaborative frameworks, game-inspired methods, and relationship-building to help people connect their efforts into living networks of mutual support.
Learn more at: https://metachrysalis.org
Localism Fund supports community-led efforts in local resilience and regeneration. This pilot is funded through Localism Fund.
Learn more at: https://www.localism.fund/
Thaumazo is a Canadian federally registered nonprofit dedicated to emergent collaboration and bioregional work. Thaumazo is stewarding this Localism pilot.
Learn more at: https://thaumazo.org
For more information about Localism, reach out to: Metachrysalis Team
We're here to answer questions, hear your thoughts, and support you in considering whether this might be a good fit.