Pratt Institute

Graduate Communications Design

Spring 2026

Instructor: Munus Shih

munus.shih@pratt.edu

Office Hours

5:00pm - 7:50pm, Every Tuesday

Pfizer Building, Room 720-01

Week 5: How to sustain a community?

Illustration for Week 5

Sociocracy is coined by Gerard Endenburg, a Dutch entrepreneur who developed the concept in the 1970s as a way to create more inclusive and democratic organizations. The term 'sociocracy' is derived from the Latin words 'socius' (companion) and 'kratos' (power), reflecting the idea of shared power and collaboration within a group or organization. Sociocracy emphasizes consent-based decision-making, where decisions are made with the agreement of all members rather than through majority rule. It also promotes self-organization, transparency, and continuous improvement within organizations.

How did this week's content land for you?

Assignment

Due: March 3, 2026

Submit Here

  1. Continue working within your group and revise the Name, Manifesto but also finish the Ways of Working and Individual Roles as outlined in Collective Proposal (read more here). Only one of you needs to submit the proposal on behalf of your group, but make sure to include all group members’ names in the submission form. Please bring a copy of your manifesto to class to share with your peers.
  2. Watch this video with Art.coop and listen to a Podcast episode of Solidarity 101 with Art.coop. Reflect on the following questions in your personal notebook, and preapre to discuss them in class:
    1. How do you understand the concept of solidarity economy? How does it differ from traditional economic models?
    2. What are some examples of solidarity economy practices that you find inspiring or relevant to your own work or community?
    3. How is the concept of solidarity economy related to the idea of sustaining a community? What are some challenges and opportunities in building a solidarity economy?

In-Class Activity

Other Resources