Collaborative Design Council

Our national Collaborative Design Council was established in 2016 to create a dedicated space for national working groups, regional hubs, and local initiative leaders throughout the country to come together to learn from each other, share ideas, resources, skills, and information, provide input on Transition US activities, and collaborate on projects that guide and support the Transition Movement in this country. Transition US staff and board members participate in this 18-member Council, which meets online once a month and invites new members to join annually.

Current Members

Aleisa Myles

Transition Town Media

David Cobb

Cooperation Humboldt

Galen Meyers

Inner Resilience Network

Jessica Alvarez Parfrey

Eco Vista

John Foran

Eco Vista

Jul Bystrova

Inner Resilience Network

Kaat Vander Straeten

Transition Wayland

Karen Tuininga

Transition Town Charlotte

Leslie MacKenzie

Transition Twin Cities

Mark Juedeman

Transition US Board

Marissa Mommaerts

Transition US Staff

Paul Carlson

Simply Living

Shaktari Belew

Transition Trainer

Shelley Buoniuato

Fayetteville Citizens Climate Lobby

Theo Talcott

Transition Town Manchester

William Mutch

Transition Palo Alto

Joining the Council

We are working toward a group structure in which members each serve the Council for terms lasting three years. Each year, six members (one-third of the Council) will rotate off and make space for new members to join. After serving a three-year term, members must take at least one year off before re-applying to serve another three-year term.

Each year, new members are chosen by current and outgoing Council members. An application will be made public (posted on the Transition US website, newsletter, and social media pages) and all active US Transition Movement participants will be encouraged to apply by completing an online form. Each year, new members and alternates will be selected by the Council based on the following criteria:

  1. Willingness and ability to commit to monthly online Zoom meetings for a 3-year term. Please note that the Collaborative Design Council currently meets for 90 minutes on the third Wednesday of each month at 4:00 pm Pacific Time. The Council may, by consent, choose to change the duration and timing of these meetings.
  2. Demonstrated ability and commitment to working well with others.
  3. At least one year of experience working with a local Transition Initiative.
  4. Knowledge of Transition activities nationally and in your region (beyond your local Initiative).
  5. Involvement in regional hubs and national-level working groups.
  6. Maintaining balance in terms of geography, gender, culture, and age.
  7. Consistent interest in serving the Collaborative Design Council demonstrated through applying in previous years
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