Symbiosis is holding the Congress of Municipal Movements in Detroit, Michigan from September 18-22, 2019.
Congress registration has closed.
Click here to view the Congress program.
Delegates from our member organizations, as well as at-large members, will convene at Marygrove College in Detroit for five days this September to build community, learn from one another, and launch a permanent confederation for decision-making, mutual aid, and resource-sharing between directly democratic grassroots institutions and movements across the continent.
The goals of the Congress of Municipal Movements are to:
- Connect organizers, activists, and thinkers who share our strategy and vision for a democratic society, to learn from one another and knit together our movement with new and strengthened relationships;
- Deliberate as a gathering of movements through a participatory and democratic process, to determine the vision and structure of the organization we create together; and
- Launch a continental confederation of local movements building dual power through radical democracy.
Our full launch statement is available here:
English | Español | Français
This Congress and the confederation we hope it will found are collaborative co-creations among the many individuals and organizations who will jointly shape its vision and aims.
Being driven by the intentions of its participants, the outcome of this meeting cannot be predetermined. As our project advances, the possibilities are endless. We are excited about where it could take us.
For organizations interested in attending:
This gathering is a congress, not a conference – its purpose is solidifying a confederation of directly democratic local organizations, and as such, the priority attendees are member organizations committed to accomplishing that goal.
The period to affiliate as a member or partner organization to send delegates to the Congress of Municipal Movements has now closed. However, as the Congress unfolds into an established confederation, there will be many opportunities for new organizations to join. Member and partner organization criteria, as well as the form to begin the affiliation process, can be found here.
Delegate apportionment:
Member organization delegates to the Congress will be apportioned according to a tier-based structure, as follows:
- Organizations with 1-10 members will receive 2 delegates;
- Organizations with 11-25 members will receive 3 delegates;
- Organizations with 26-50 members will receive 4 delegates;
- Organizations with 51-100 members will receive 5 delegates;
- Organizations with 101-200 members will receive 6 delegates;
- Organizations with 201+ members will receive 7 delegates.
Partner organizations will each receive 1 delegate.
Observer participation:
Non-delegate observers are welcomed and encouraged to attend the Congress as well! There will be a small fee (<$100) for observer tickets, and a limited number of dorm rooms at our venue available to non-delegate participants to book. Food will be included in the ticket price, and observers are encouraged to donate (if financially possible for them) to help fund delegate travel from our member organizations.
This page will be updated with more information as the planning process unfolds.