May 20 - September 16, 2026

Facilitating Power is accepting applications to a facilitator certification program focused on The Spectrum of Community Engagement to Ownership. This framework offers a transformative roadmap for shifting community involvement from traditional, institution-centered approaches toward true community ownership of decision-making and solutions. 

 

 

The facilitator certification program prepares practitioners to skillfully facilitate processes that operationalize the Spectrum within community-government partnerships or in any space seeking to strengthen community voice, leadership, and shared governance. Through this cohort experience, participants will explore how the Spectrum can help:

 

-- ACKNOWLEDGE & DISRUPT systemic marginalization embedded within current governance structures

-- ADVANCE a clear and actionable vision for racial justice, inclusion, and community ownership

-- GUIDE developmental processes that increase community capacity while reducing institutional barriers

-- ASSESS progress toward authentic, equitable participation and shared governance

-- SUPPORT community-driven solutions and nurture more inclusive, resilient, and democratic local systems

 

Cohort members will gain the tools and practices to design and facilitate workshops for the collaborative development of community engagement processes that shift power, strengthen partnerships, and build long-term community leadership.

 

Certification Program Structure

 

FOUR ONLINE WORKSHOPS + 2.5 DAY IN-PERSON TRAINING:

 

---

1) ORIENTATION TO THE CERTIFICATION PROGRAM

MAY 20 | 1:30 - 4:00 PM PST | ONLINE

Expectations, goals, cohort structure, and how to get the most from the program.

 

---

2) CULTIVATING CULTURE SHIFT & PRACTICING PARTICIPATORY METHODS

JUNE 15–17 | IN-PERSON TRAINING | IN THE BAY AREA, CA

A 2.5-day immersive session focused on creative methodology for understanding and practicing the fundamental power shifts needed to transform community involvement and strengthen our local democracies.

 

---

3) DESIGNING & FACILITATING AN INTRODUCTION TO THE FRAMEWORK

JULY 15 | 1:30 - 4:00 PM PST | ONLINE

Guidance and practice for introducing the Spectrum of Community Engagement to Ownership to community groups and/or government partners and aligning on shared purpose for utilizing the framework.

 

---

4) DESIGNING & FACILITATING A WORKSHOP ON COMMUNITY-GOVERNMENT PARTNERSHIPS

AUGUST 26 | 1:30 - 4:00 PM PST | ONLINE

Facilitation strategies for supporting partners in understanding and moving from marginalization toward community ownership.

 

---

5) DESIGNING & FACILITATING A WORKSHOP ON COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT STRATEGIES

SEPTEMBER 16 | 1:30 - 4:00 PM PST | ONLINE

Tools for co-developing community-centered strategies that operationalize the Spectrum.

 

---

 

Program Outcomes

 

By the end of the certification, participants will improve their capacity to:

 

-- FACILITATE workshops and dialogues that introduce and apply the Spectrum to specific place-based contexts

-- SUPPORT partners in assessing their current engagement practices and identifying opportunities for deeper community ownership

-- GUIDE community-government teams in co-designing strategies aligned with the Spectrum’s principles

-- APPLY racial justice and power-shifting frameworks to real-world engagement challenges

-- STRENGTHEN the conditions for long-term community leadership and shared governance

 

Upon successful completion of the program, cohort members will be certified as facilitators of the Spectrum of Community Engagement to Ownership.

 

Most importantly, this certification equips facilitators to become champions of equitable engagement and community-driven decision-making—helping build stronger, more democratic, and more just local ecosystems.

 

Program Pricing*

 

-- GENERAL: $1200

-- BASEBUILDER: $1000

-- GRASSROOTS: $800

 

*This pricing includes access to curriculum and all workshops, but does not include travel and lodging for the in-person gathering. Cohort members will need to arrange their own transportation and accommodations. Thank you!

 

Apply to Participate

 

Participation Requirements:

 

-- 3+ years of experience facilitating group processes

-- 1+ years experience facilitating community involvement in planning or decision-making processes

-- Availability/capacity to participate in all five online workshops + in-person training (please save dates in calendar)

-- Commitment to community + collective power to affect positive change oriented towards the common good

-- Interest in learning and deepening one’s practice as a facilitative leader

 

Application Process:

Apply Here

-- Spaces limited

-- Application will be open between Dec 1st - April 17th 

-- Please block the dates listed above if you plan to apply

-- If accepted into the cohort, you will be notified by May 4th (May the forth be with you)