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L.O.C.A.L. Summits are a project of SIMPLER Leadership LLC, a social enterprise by Kai Degner.
This L.O.C.A.L. Summit Series provides a space for those committed to democracy, social safety nets, equity, inclusion, and justice to organize, strategize, and support one another in taking action and fostering resilience. While national-level action is vital, we must connect with each other at the community level to build working relationships that can inform ongoing, emergent action and strategy.
Each L.O.C.A.L. Summit is a self-organizing, intersectional event where attendees set the agenda and engage in the discussions that matter most to them. The events are an opportunity to come together— to talk, to listen, to organize, to strategize, and to build the future we want to see.
The L.O.C.A.L. Summit Series is comprised of regional/local gatherings that bring together change-makers, volunteers, organizers, and leaders committed to defending democracy, fostering diversity, and strengthening our communities.
Every summit is a standalone event, meaning there is no ongoing organization formed other than to support the minimal infrastructure needed to convene and facilitate the events (with snacks).
Summit Organizing Theory: Responses to complexity, disruption, and change require community and civic stakeholders to creatively work together. There is room for all of us - but we need to get in the same room! L.O.C.A.L. Summits provide the room(s).
Each summit is designed to:
Strengthen Local Civic Action – Equip individuals and groups with strategies, knowledge, and connections to defend democracy and advance justice in their communities.
Build Solidarity and Efficiencies Across Projects and Organizations – Foster collaboration among leaders, advocates, and organizers working on issues related to democracy, equity, and social justice.
Generate Practical Next Steps – Ensure that every participant walks away with clear actions, new relationships, and shared resources to apply in their own work.
Each Summit will have multiple breakout sessions about a range of different topics.
At the beginning of each summit, participants will be invited to create breakout sessions on topics of interest to them.
This way, the summits accommodate a range of interests, concerns, and actions around the overall shared goals and values.
Example breakout session topics include:
I/we need help with _______.
I'd like to provide a micro-training on _______.
I'd like to spend our time calling our federal representatives about issue X. I have their phone numbers with me.
Our team is coordinating voter registration. We'd like to connect with others doing this work.
I'm from [insert group / organization] and I like to share are mission and current projects.
We'd like coordinate a rally on X topic
I'm thinking about running for office and would like to learn more about it
Who is working on X issue(s)?
We are recruiting board members for [insert organization]
I have an idea about ____ and would like some input from others.
How do we get more people to these summits?
I'd like to learn/teach about how to use [insert technology, e.g., Signal]
etc
Below is an INCOMPLETE list of potential topics for breakout sessions. No summit will address ALL of these topics - but ANY of these topics (and others!) are welcome to discussed at a summit.
Civic Participation and Leadership:
Developing knowledge and leadership skills for effective civic engagement.
Understanding and influencing local, state, and federal government processes (yes, bring those Indivisible resources!)
Encouraging political participation through voting and voter registration drives.
Encouraging candidacy for all levels of elected office and appointed boards/commissions (show up if you are considering a run for office)
Protecting Vulnerable Community Members
All of us.
Community Organizing and Engagement:
Asset-Based Community Development: Identifying and leveraging existing community strengths.
Strategies for effective community organizing and mobilization.
Building resilient communities through collaborative initiatives.
Social Justice and Equity:
Addressing systemic inequalities within the community.
Promoting diversity and inclusion in local initiatives.
Advocating for marginalized groups and ensuring their representation.
Youth Engagement and Education:
Implementing civic education programs in community (including schools).
Creating platforms for youth leadership and decision-making.
Organizing mentorship programs connecting youth with community leaders.
Environmental Sustainability:
Promoting sustainable practices within the community.
Addressing local environmental issues through collective action.
Developing community gardens and green spaces.
Public Health and Safety:
Organizing health awareness campaigns and services.
Collaborating strategically with local law enforcement to enhance community safety.
Establishing support networks for mental health and wellness.
Economic Empowerment:
Supporting local businesses and entrepreneurship.
Providing financial literacy workshops and resources.
Developing job training and employment opportunities.
Arts and Culture:
Celebrating diverse local heritage through cultural events and festivals.
Supporting local artists and creative initiatives.
Using art as a tool for social change and community dialogue.
Technology and Innovation:
Bridging the digital divide with technology access programs.
Leveraging safe(r) technologies for community organizing and advocacy.
Transferring innovative best practices to local challenges.
Crisis Response and Recovery:
Organizing elements of community support during crises.
Sharing lessons learned from past recovery efforts.
Again, no summits will address ALL of these issues, but participants are welcome to convene breakout sessions on these and other topics.
See all scheduled events here.
To register interest in hosting a L.O.C.A.L. Summit in your community, fill out this form.
📅 Dates & Times: The L.O.C.A.L. Summits Series will be held at various times and locations to accommodate different schedules and maximize participation. Each summit is a standalone event, and attendees are encouraged to join the one that best fits their availability. Expect events to last between 4-5 hours.
📍 Location: Each summit will take place in a venue selected for safety, accessibility, and community connection. Exact locations will be shared with confirmed attendees. Most events will be in or near Harrisonburg, though they may move further away as interest expands.
👥 Attendance is limited to [100-300] participants per event to ensure meaningful engagement.
You are invited if you plan to be a constructive participant and you are committed to (re)building constitutional democracy, upholding the social safety net, and upholding human dignity.
If you are already exercising leadership in any topic area, please attend and share what you are up to! You may share your own or your organization's work in these areas, provide micro-trainings, recruit and share invitations to participate, brainstorm actions, and find stategic partners.
If you are newly motivated to engage, you are welcome.
Sign up here to receive invitations.
Sign up here to receive invitations, resources, and to RSVP to specific events.
The L.O.C.A.L. Summits are free to attend—and always will be. No one should feel obligated to pay to participate.If you’re showing up, engaging, and contributing in any way—that’s already valuable. You are welcome, with or without a financial contribution.
At the L.O.C.A.L. Summits Series, we believe that cost should never be a barrier to participation. We are committed to ensuring that all invited individuals can attend, regardless of their financial situation.
The events are free. Donations are accepted, but not required.
Read about how to Tip/Donate, set up a table exhibit, or sponsor - or just Venmo @simpler-leadership!
Funds go to Kai Degner's SIMPLER Leadership LLC.
During each summit, we will share a suggested donation amount ranging from $15 to $25, based on the number of attendees and the specific costs incurred for hosting the event/series. These costs may include: coffee (and water), venue rental or contribution, snacks and refreshments, insurance, facilitation materials, and perhaps child care (not guaranteed - we will be explicit if that is an option. Be in touch with ideas or resources.). Donations are not tax deducitble. Donation information is shared in the event invitations. For more information on sponsorship or to discuss underwriting opportunities, please contact the event organizers directly.
Again: Our goal is to create an inclusive and accessible environment for all participants. While contributions are appreciated, they are entirely voluntary, and no one should feel obligated to donate.
The L.O.C.A.L. Summits Series is invite-only because safety and trust are paramount. We take measures to ensure that all attendees are authentically committed to building solidarity and strengthening democracy, and that no one in attendance is associated with efforts to target, surveil, or harm vulnerable community members.
That said, no space is entirely immune to infiltration by bad or disruptive actors. While we make every effort to verify attendees and foster a safe environment, we strongly encourage caution—particularly for undocumented individuals and other vulnerable groups—when deciding whether to attend and how much personal information to share with other attendees.
We recognize that no system is perfect, and past and ongoing conflicts or disagreements should not automatically disqualify someone from participation. However, we will use our discretion to ensure these events include those who seek to work together in good faith, uplift one another, tolerate differing theories of change, and build a stronger, more resilient community.
If you have any concerns or need additional guidance on attending safely, please reach out to the event organizer.
To ensure clarity of purpose, it is important to note that these summits are:
✖ NOT a space for violence or criminal activity. The summits are focused on peaceful, democratic, and direct action to strengthen our communities.
✖ NOT intended to create a new stand-alone organization. These summits serve as a platform for collaboration but do not form a new coalition or group.
✖ NOT just another networking event. This is an action-oriented space where people come to share, strategize, and move forward with real-world impact.
✖ NOT a public rally or protest. The summits are invite-only, focused discussions designed for engaged and active participants working toward change. Participants may share and plan intended events at the summit.
A group of local community members is extending invitations to upcoming summits.
The trusted group of local community members invite individuals in their social networks.
Kai Degner - as part of his SIMPLER Leadership LLC social enterprise - is organizing the series. Kai (he/him) served on Harrisonburg City Council 2009-16, and served as mayor 2009-10. He ran for state delegate in 2009 and congress in 2016. Prior ot being involved in politics, he worked with friends to coordinate over 300 community dialogues, which motivated him to learn about various meeting methods and facilitation strategies. He used Open Space Technology - the method for the L.O.C.A.L. Summits - in over a dozen community summits while elected. He's pursuing a PhD in strategic leadership and is a certified leadership coach.
We respect the privacy and security of all participants. To ensure a safe and trustworthy environment, attendee contact lists will be kept solely by the event organizer and will not be shared with other attendees, external groups, or third parties.
We encourage participants to connect and collaborate during the summits, but any exchange of personal contact information should be done at each attendee’s discretion.
If you have concerns about privacy or security, please reach out to the organizers for more information.
✔ RSVP Required – Attendance is restricted to those who RSVP and confirm general alignment with values of democracy, inclusion, and justice. One-on-one invitations are extended through trusted networks to reduce risks of infiltration.
✔ Varying Days, Times, and Locations – The day and time for the next event(s) will be shared via email to the full invite list. Those who choose to attend will register and receive the (local) location. The days, times, and locations will vary.
✔ No Public Online Accounts of Events or Attendees – The organizers will not create public online accounts, records, or websites that capture detailed accounts of the events nor share lists of participants. (Participants may choose to create public accounts of their attendance). Some photography may occur for marketing purposes.
✔ Zero Tolerance for Harmful Agendas – Anyone found to be attending in bad faith, violating community trust, or engaging in harmful behavior will not be invited to future summits. Participants should raise concerns to the organizer.
Kai [at] SIMPLER Leadership [dot] com
L.O.C.A.L. Summits is a project from Kai Degner and SIMPLER Leadership LLC.