Gathering Locally, Thinking Globally, Growing Organically

Gather the Women began with an initiative to gather locally around the world for International Women's Day March 8, 2003. Four hundred and five gatherings in 23 countries were listed on our site in that year. GTW has invited women to local gatherings for International Women's Day ever since.

In 2003 and 2004 these March events were coupled with larger International Events in the fall, with women from around the world coming to first San Francisco, and then Dallas, Texas, in the USA. In 2004 two strong currents arose, both about GTW gatherings becoming seeds of community relationships and action: one) we began to envision our 6 Congresses on 6 Continents in 2006 Initiative; and two) we began to invite women to step forward as coordinators in their regions, for recurring GTW events.

In the fall of 2005, the first USA Regional Congresses were held in place of a larger International event; and in 2006, the first two Continental Congresses were held in Canada and Kenya. Currently, more than 30 USA Regional Coordinators invite recurrent gatherings in their areas for International Women's Day, and again in the fall of each year.

Each year Regional Coordinators exchange their experiences on monthly telephone calls, choosing a universal theme that can be nuanced for local significance. The theme in March 2006 was: "Women's Voices, Women's Visions". "Celebrating the Ways of Women" was the theme for March 2007 events, and in March 2008 we are gathering as: "Woman to Woman", with each region contributing an appropriate sub-title.

Upon reflection we can see that these regional initiatives have fostered local community in as many ways as there are events. Many localities have begun to experiment with types and foci of gathering, action circles, chattauquas, crossing political boundaries, etc. Some of these kinds of events are listed below. Please review them for ideas that may assist you if your impulse is also to gather and activate the incredible wisdom of women on a planetary scale!

	Town Hall Meetings In Grass Valley, 2005-2006, two Town Hall meetings were sponsored by Gather the Women on a subject of general concern to the community, methamphetamine addiction. GTW convenors "were highly appreciated for the way the evenings were set up and structured: IN CIRCLE for one... [ more ]
Sacred Space A small circle of six gathered in Troy, Wisconsin in November 2006. They "shared stories, music, visions and dreams, and focused attention upon the many Faces of the Divine Feminine, including the sacred... [ more ]
	Action Circles In Naples, Florida, women have gathered into "action circles", where women support women to gather in self-empowerment. In 2006 Gather the Women of South Florida hosted a "Blues Jean's Gala & Silent Auction to benefit the Farmworkers of Immokalee's Community Center." [Ann Smith]
Cross-Cultural Exchange For over 5 years a planning committee of now 25 women from many different cultures, have convened a well-attended gathering in St. Joseph, Minnesota. Their diversity is reflected in the variety of events featured... [ more ]
	Inspiration and Collective Strength A statewide call to gather was issued in Idaho for May 2007. The call: "Women already passionately engaged in a cause or organization close to their heart need not feel their loyalties are divided when they add their voices... [ more ]
History and Past Events One aspect of the Gather the Women Global MatrixSM is our focus on March 8 -- International Women's Day as declared by the United Nations. ... [ more ]
	One Community's Story When we first launched Gather the Women on a global level three years ago, my role was to encourage and support women around the world... [ more ]