May 20-22 & May 27-29, 2025
Paicines Ranch in Paicines, CA
For the 4th year, the NoRegrets Initiative, Paicines Ranch Learning Center, and expert conveners, Christine Ageton and Nikki Silvestri, are thrilled to be offering a three-day transformational deep dive into facilitation skills, targeted specifically at leaders who identify as women and serve rural communities, with experience in hosting groups and a desire to deepen their practice.
New this year: 2 Dates, 2 Ways to Attend
We will be offering two training dates in 2025 due to an extraordinary increase in applications since we launched this offering. Also new this year, there will be two ways to participate: Option 1 is an open and paid-registration for those with the resources available to cover costs. Option 2 is application-based and funded by NoRegrets Initiative at little to no cost to participants (applications due February 23).
** Scroll down to see which option is best for you! **
— What is Gathering Fire? —
As part of the cohort, you can expect to...
- Learn practical frameworks and tools for facilitation of diverse groups to support your leadership growth and personal development journey.
- Grow relational and interpersonal skills to facilitate across differences while centering equity and inclusion.
- Receive space and nourishment to relax, rejuvenate and allow for creativity and self-care using the majesty of Paicines Ranch, radical hospitality of its team, and spacious training agenda.
- Experience and learn from the co-facilitation mastery of expert conveners Nikki Silvestri & Christine Ageton.
Participants will leave the training with...
- Skills in facilitation, including practice in critical topics, such as defining your facilitation purpose & belief system, curating formal & informal power, safety & the container, how to handle conflict, and much more!
- A development and implementation plan to grow your facilitation skills based on your unique convening style and community needs (including a special workbook created by Nikki & Christine);
- A community of other women-identifying leaders to be your peers and thought partners as you grow your facilitation to the next level.
~ 2023 Cohort ~
— Who is this for? —
Previous cohorts have represented diverse racial, cultural, class, generational and gender identities, and have been deeply immersed in a myriad of rural issues, including: ranching, farming and land management, farmworkers’ rights, cultural organizing, restorative justice, black entrepreneurship, and community and economic development.
This workshop may be for you if you...
- Identify as a woman. All women (cis and trans) and non-binary folks are welcome.
- Serve a rural community as you define it: e.g. primary focus on agriculture and land-based industries, population density, “not urban.”
- Find yourself at the center of important and challenging conversations in your place.
- Have some experience hosting groups –at your church, at school, professionally, or elsewhere.
- Are invested in and curious to learn more about promoting equity for marginalized people in your place.
- Are excited to be in a group that will share openly and aren’t afraid to be a little uncomfortable at times.
— Why do we host this? —
Rural places in the United States are in a crucible of change, and our leaders find themselves navigating complex challenges around soil and water health, public health, and shifting cultural, political, and socio-economic landscapes. As of 2022, only 14% of the US population was rural, down from 36% in 1950; and by 2050, that number is expected to drop to 11%. But even as rural populations decline, rural people still steward the vast majority of our land, water, and food production resources; and due to our electoral system, rural Americans wield significant political power even as cultural divides between urban and rural groups grow.
We see rural leaders regularly called to host meaningful and often “hot” conversations in their communities and nationally. Rural areas have never been homogenous, and they are becoming more diverse: between 2000 and 2010, people of color and immigrants in particular were responsible for 83% of the population gains in rural areas. How do we lead through challenge and harness these differences toward a better future? In our experience, one of the most profound ways to transform conflict or stagnation towards social transformation is skilled facilitation of in-person gatherings. In order to protect our soil, water, and air, to build wealth for the most marginalized, to improve health outcomes, to bridge cultural rifts, to build power for rural places, and other transformation we want to see, we believe we need strong conveners in our rural communities.
Christine Ageton
Christine is an independent consultant focused on creating transformative convenings toward systems change in the philanthropic, nonprofit, and international development sectors. Christine has over twenty years’ experience in nonprofit leadership, leadership program curriculum design, delivery and transformative facilitation. She was with Common Future (formerly BALLE), from 2010 -2019 where she spearheaded all of their transformative learning and funder educations programs as Chief Program Officer. During this time, she managed a budget of over one million dollars and built a large team of staff and consultants to deliver multiyear programs yielding systems change.
Nikki Silvestri
Nikki is the Founder and CEO of Soil and Shadow, a coaching and consulting firm bringing social and environmental entrepreneurs more impact in their work and joy in their lives. As an entrepreneur and serial non-profit Executive Director, Nikki has invited thousands of leaders and hundreds of business and organizations into more in-depth conversations around the intersection of ecology, economy, and social equity. Her wide-ranging career has taken her from presentations at the White House and negotiations with the Environmental Protection Agency to intimate workshops with local businesses and small retail organizing.
Nourishment & Connection!
— Option 1: Pay-to-Register —
This option is for you if you or your organization has resources available to cover costs, such as dedicated funds for professional development or attending conferences, etc.
By selecting this option you are empowering a more diverse and inclusive gathering by ensuring that people with varied economic backgrounds can attend.
You are right for the pay-to-register option if:
- You are a women-identifying convener who has experience facilitating rural communities.
- You can pay one of the pricing levels below which includes all programming, lodging and meals.
- You can arrange and cover your own travel.
- You will register via the links below, no application needed. (We will ask you some intake questions when you register so we can get to know you).
- You understand that this is a first-come, first-served program. As soon as our spots are full for each of the dates, we will close the registration for 2025.
Please choose the registration level below that you most identify with and complete your registration here:
Community Champion
Tier 1
Choose this tier if your career or business is well established and you have stable access to financial resources. Your contribution at this level helps sponsor lower-tier tickets, allowing more women to join who might otherwise be unable to afford a ticket. By selecting this tier, you are empowering a more diverse and inclusive gathering by ensuring that people with varied economic backgrounds can attend.
***
$2,600
All-inclusive covering programming, meals, lodging & shuttle.
Ecosystem Convener
Tier 2
Choose this tier if your career or business is solid with access to financial resources and this pricing works within your personal development budget. Your contribution at this level helps sponsor lower-tier tickets, allowing more women to join who might otherwise be unable to afford a ticket. By selecting this tier, you are empowering a more diverse and inclusive gathering by ensuring that people with varied economic backgrounds can attend.
***
$1600
All-inclusive covering programming, meals, lodging & shuttle.
Early-Stage Facilitator
Tier 3
Choose this tier if you are a beginning facilitator and have limited financial resources but still wish to actively support the event and our community’s mission. This tier covers the cost of your attendance and helps keep the event sustainable. By selecting this tier, you’re demonstrating a commitment to our shared community values and supporting accessible, impactful programming.
***
$850
All-inclusive covering programming, meals, lodging & shuttle.
Local's Pass
(no lodging)
Choose this tier if you are local and will not need lodging during the event (OR if you'd like to book lodging off-site, see options below).
***
$750
Includes programming & meals ONLY (no lodging or shuttle).
— Option 2: Apply for Scholarship —
This application-based option is offered at little to no-cost to participants thanks to generous support from NoRegrets Initiative and the Globetrotter Foundation.
Participants are invited to contribute what they can towards meals and lodging, and are asked to cover their travel to and from Paicines Ranch. However, some travel stipends are available. There will be a space to indicate desire for travel support on the application.
You are right for the scholarship-funded offering if you meet the following:
- You are a women-identifying convener who has experience facilitating rural communities.
- You or your organization do not have dedicated funds for professional development or to attend conferences, etc.
- You would not be able to attend this training without financial support.
- You understand that you will need to fill out an application and be selected to attend.
Scholarship Application
— Registration FAQs —
— Transportation, Venue & Arrival FAQs —
*At this time, the training will be conducted in English only.
For more Frequently Asked Questions for visitors to Paicines Ranch, please visit our FAQ page:
— A Taste of the Magic —
— Location: Paicines Ranch —
Located in central California's San Benito County, Paicines Ranch is a historic 7,600-acre ranch that works to regenerate ecosystems by growing healthy soil, nutrient-dense food and vibrant, diverse communities. Using the practices of regenerative agriculture, the ranch team manages this diverse landscape in partnership with nature and livestock to produce 100% grass-fed-and-finished lamb and beef, and pastured pork, turkey and eggs. Paicines Ranch also grow organic grain, as well as organic grapes in a polyculture vineyard that is designed to be managed by sheep. Over the years, the ranch has become a renown destination for learning about regenerative agriculture through their programs and educational workshops while also serving as a treasured location for hosting weddings, retreats, and events.
Remaining Questions?
If your question isn't answered on our FAQ PAGE, and:
> If you have a question about the programming, content, or application, please contact [email protected]
> If you have a question about the venue, registration or anything logistics-related, please contact: [email protected]
— Conveners —
