Tribe-Building Activities Framework

General
1

claude 3.7 extended thinking, normal style

Tribe-Building Activities Framework

Beyond Workshops & Book Clubs

Introduction

The Internal Communications Workshop and Book Club proposals represent lightweight cultural initiatives that build community bonds while advancing organizational goals. These “Tribe-Building Activities” follow the principles outlined in the Interaction Ritual Chains concept, creating regular touchpoints that develop shared culture, language, and emotional connections.

Common Features of Effective Tribe-Building Activities

After analyzing the two proposals and the Interaction Ritual Chains framework, I’ve identified these essential characteristics:

  1. Recurring Cadence

    • Regular heartbeat (weekly, biweekly, monthly)
    • Predictable scheduling that becomes part of organizational rhythm
    • Like IRC theory suggests, establishing “regular gatherings with similar structure and emotional cadence” is essential as “emotional energy and commitment fade without repetition”

  2. Distributed Leadership Model

    • Rotating hosts to prevent dependency on specific individuals
    • “Host rotation” creates resilience and accommodates global time zones
    • Creates leadership development opportunities

  3. Active Participation Over Passive Consumption

    • Prioritizes “active contribution over passive observation”
    • Focus on “learning through doing” rather than theoretical instruction
    • Minimizes “audience” roles in favor of contributor roles

  4. Sync/Async Balance

    • Balances real-time interactions with asynchronous development
    • Creates a “sync/async dance” between live discussions and offline work
    • Accommodates global time zones and schedules

  5. Symbolic Resources Development

    • Creates and circulates symbols (terminology, practices, stories)
    • These symbols “embody the shared experience and serve as emotional touchstones”
    • Emotion gets “encoded” into these symbols

  6. Value Alignment

    • Activities align with organizational manifestos and principles
    • Develops principles that serve “practical daily needs” while reinforcing core values

  7. Low Resource Requirements

    • Minimal budget impact
    • Primarily uses existing tools and platforms
    • Volunteer-driven rather than requiring paid staff

  8. Scalable Structure

    • Can start small and grow organically
    • Accommodates varying levels of participation
    • Can be replicated across different groups/cells

  9. Documentation & Knowledge Sharing

    • Captures insights from sessions
    • Ensures “integration” of learnings into organizational knowledge
    • Creates resources for future reference

  10. Boundary Creation & Permeability Control

    • Establishes “boundaries to outsiders” to create group identity
    • Allows for controlled public visibility when appropriate
    • Can be internal-only or selectively public

Proposed Process for Tribe-Building Activities

1. Ideation Phase

Process:

  • Create a dedicated forum category for tribe-building activity proposals
  • Hold quarterly brainstorming sessions to generate ideas
  • Encourage observing pain points or cultural gaps as inspiration

Key Questions:

  • What cultural need or gap would this activity address?
  • How does this align with our values and organizational goals?
  • What interaction ritual elements would this incorporate?
  • What emotional energy would this generate among participants?

Templates:

  • Simple proposal template with sections for:
    • Need/gap being addressed
    • Activity description
    • Resource requirements
    • Expected cultural impact
    • Alignment with organization values

2. Formalization Phase

Process:

  • Draft a structured proposal using the provided template
  • Define the format, cadence, and leadership model
  • Identify necessary tools and resources
  • Outline success criteria and measurement approach

Key Questions:

  • What is the minimal viable structure needed?
  • How will leadership rotate or be distributed?
  • What documentation will be created from this activity?
  • How will we balance synchronous and asynchronous elements?

Templates:

  • Detailed proposal template (based on the Communications Workshop example)
  • Activity kickoff guide for initial organizers

3. Review and Approval Phase

Process:

  • Submit proposal to the dedicated forum category
  • Community feedback period (1-2 weeks)
  • Lightweight review by a small committee (3-5 people)
  • Focus on alignment with values and practical feasibility

Key Questions:

  • Does this activity fulfill our criteria for tribe-building?
  • Is the resource commitment reasonable and sustainable?
  • Does it create opportunities for emergent leadership?
  • Will it generate emotional energy and symbolic resources?

Templates:

  • Review criteria checklist
  • Feedback template for reviewers

4. Implementation Phase

Process:

  • Announce the activity through primary communication channels
  • Schedule initial sessions
  • Create necessary infrastructure (channels, docs, calendars)
  • Identify initial facilitators/hosts
  • Pilot period of 1-3 sessions

Key Questions:

  • How will we onboard the first participants?
  • What support do initial hosts/facilitators need?
  • How will we document the first sessions?
  • What feedback mechanisms will we implement?

Templates:

  • Activity launch announcement
  • Session preparation guide for hosts
  • Participant onboarding information

5. Iteration and Evolution Phase

Process:

  • Regular reflection sessions (every 3-6 months)
  • Documented lessons learned
  • Formal or informal participant feedback
  • Adjustments to format, cadence, or focus as needed

Key Questions:

  • What emotional energy is being generated?
  • What symbols or shared language has emerged?
  • How is leadership developing and rotating?
  • What unexpected benefits or challenges have appeared?

Templates:

  • Activity reflection guide
  • Evolution proposal format for suggesting changes

Implementation Recommendations

  1. Start Small: Begin with 1-2 tribe-building activities like the proposed Workshop and Book Club.

  2. Establish Rhythms: Create a “heartbeat” for the organization with regular cadences that become part of the cultural fabric.

  3. Document Evolution: Track how “emotional energy” develops and how “symbols” emerge that encapsulate the group’s identity and values.

  4. Connect Virtual and Physical: When possible, create opportunities for physical co-presence to intensify the ritual bonds, even if the primary activity is remote.

  5. Build a Portfolio: Gradually develop a diverse set of tribe-building activities that serve different needs and appeal to different participation styles.

  6. Enable Emergence: Allow for natural leadership emergence through the “host development pipeline” where current hosts provide structure but new hosts can step forward.

Example Implementation: Workshop & Book Club

The Internal Communications Workshop and Book Club proposals exemplify effective tribe-building activities:

  • They create regular touchpoints with minimal resource requirements
  • They distribute leadership through rotating hosts
  • They balance synchronous discussions with asynchronous reflection
  • They develop shared language and understanding
  • They align with organizational values while addressing practical needs
  • They create opportunities for deeper relationship building

By implementing these two activities and establishing the framework above for future initiatives, Logos can systematically build the cultural foundation needed for a resilient network state community.

2

PROMPT:
Review the discussion in this public forum and the conclusions reached: LogosLab: A learning experience for the home or classroom - Logos - Vac

Think about how a tribe-building activity good help CCs experience “real computing” via a learning-by-doing community of practice approach to open source hardware and software. Review the concept of situated learning and employ it here.

RESPONSE:

Situated Learning Through Hardware: A Tribe-Building Activity Proposal

Analysis of the LogosLab Discussion

The forum discussion about LogosLab reveals a vision for teaching “real computing” through hands-on experience with fundamental computing principles. The core concerns expressed include:

  1. Modern developers often work with high-level abstractions that hide how computers actually function
  2. This creates dependency on tools without understanding what’s happening “under the hood”
  3. Learning real computing requires engaging with assembly language and bare metal programming
  4. A balanced approach using both historical (6502) and modern (RISC-V) architectures provides both accessibility and relevance

The conclusion favors a hybrid approach where learners start with the simpler 6502 architecture (which powered early computers like the Apple II and Commodore 64) before progressing to RISC-V, providing a pathway from accessible fundamentals to modern applications.

Situated Learning and Communities of Practice

Situated learning theory, developed by Jean Lave and Etienne Wenger, offers the perfect framework for implementing LogosLab as a tribe-building activity. This theory holds that:

  1. Learning is fundamentally a social process embedded in communities of practice
  2. Knowledge is acquired through “legitimate peripheral participation” where newcomers gradually move from the periphery to the center of practice
  3. Learning involves not just acquiring skills but developing identity as a community member
  4. Authentic context matters - learning happens best when engaged in real activities, not artificial exercises

In situated learning, the community itself becomes the curriculum. Members learn by participating in genuine practices alongside more experienced practitioners, gradually taking on more significant responsibilities.

Proposed Tribe-Building Activity: LogosLab Community of Practice

I propose a tribe-building activity structured around the principles of situated learning that would help Core Contributors experience “real computing” while strengthening community bonds:

Structure: The Hardware Circle

Format: A combination of synchronous workshops and asynchronous exploration guided by progressive challenges

Core Components:

  1. Physical Computing Kits: Each participant receives a physical kit containing:

    • 6502-based breadboard computer components
    • RISC-V development board
    • Basic electronic components (LEDs, switches, etc.)
    • Printed reference materials

  2. Mutual Focus Activities: Regular synchronous sessions where:

    • More experienced members demonstrate techniques
    • Participants share their progress and challenges
    • Group problem-solving of common obstacles
    • Celebration of achievements (first program running, first LED blinking, etc.)

  3. Legitimate Peripheral Participation Pathway:

    • Beginners start with guided assembly of basic circuits
    • Progress to writing and understanding simple assembly programs
    • Gradually take on mentorship roles for newer participants
    • Eventually contribute improvements to the LogosLab curriculum itself

  4. Symbolic Creation:

    • Badge system representing skills mastered
    • Community showcase of projects
    • Shared vocabulary and inside jokes about the hardware experiences
    • Ritual “unboxing” ceremony for new members receiving their kits

Implementation Through IRC Principles

Following the Interaction Ritual Chains framework from your previous documents:

  1. Physical Co-Presence: While primarily remote, the shared physical experience of working with identical hardware creates a form of co-presence. Participants experience the same tactile interactions, frustrations, and successes.

  2. Boundaries to Outsiders: The specialized knowledge developed creates natural boundaries. The shared vocabulary and experiences distinguish participants from those outside the activity.

  3. Mutual Focus of Attention: Synchronous sessions focus the group on common challenges and demonstrations, while asynchronous work maintains connection to the shared activity.

  4. Shared Mood or Emotion: The emotional journey of frustration, perseverance, and triumph creates powerful shared emotional experiences.

Learning Pathway

The activity would follow a progressive learning path:

Phase 1: Foundations (6502)

  • Assemble a simple breadboard computer
  • Write first assembly language programs
  • Learn fundamentals of binary, memory addressing, and CPU operations
  • Implement basic input/output operations

Phase 2: Applications (RISC-V)

  • Transition to modern architecture
  • Implement more complex projects
  • Connect to networking and more complex I/O
  • Build projects relevant to Logos’ technical stack

Phase 3: Mentorship

  • Experienced participants help onboard new members
  • Development of teaching materials
  • Contributing improvements to the hardware designs
  • Creating custom extensions to the core kit

Community of Practice Elements

The activity deliberately incorporates essential community of practice characteristics:

  1. Domain: A shared interest in fundamental computing and hardware understanding
  2. Community: Regular interaction, shared problem-solving, and relationship building
  3. Practice: A developing repertoire of resources, experiences, and approaches
  4. Identity Formation: Progression from novice to experienced practitioner to mentor

Implementation Recommendations

  1. Start With a Pilot Group: Begin with 5-10 interested Core Contributors across varying technical backgrounds.

  2. Create Documentation Infrastructure: Establish a dedicated space for sharing progress, questions, and resources that grows organically with the community.

  3. Schedule Regular Synchronous Sessions: Biweekly video calls for demonstrations, progress sharing, and problem-solving.

  4. Develop the Kit Incrementally: Start with basic components and expand based on participant feedback and interests.

  5. Connect to Organizational Goals: Link the learning experiences to Logos’ broader mission of technological sovereignty and understanding.

  6. Document the Journey: Record the group’s progress through photos, written reflections, and possibly video to create a resource for future participants.

Benefits for Logos

This tribe-building activity offers multiple benefits aligned with the IRC framework:

  1. Emotional Energy Generation: The shared struggle and triumph of hardware projects creates powerful emotional bonds.

  2. Symbol Creation: The physical artifacts created become emotionally charged symbols of group membership.

  3. Group Solidarity: The technical challenges overcome together build strong bonds across organizational boundaries.

  4. Knowledge Deepening: Participants gain fundamental understanding of the technologies underpinning all modern computing.

  5. Cultural Alignment: The activity reinforces core values of self-sovereignty, understanding tools thoroughly, and building from first principles.

Most importantly, this approach doesn’t just teach skills - it creates shared emotional experiences and tribal identity that strengthen the organization beyond the technical knowledge gained.

Conclusion

A LogosLab tribe-building activity structured around situated learning principles would do more than teach “real computing” - it would forge deep bonds through shared struggle and accomplishment with physical hardware. The combination of emotional experience, physical co-creation, and progressive skill development makes it an ideal vehicle for both technical learning and community building.

By applying interaction ritual chain theory to situated learning with hardware, we create an activity that encodes the values of the organization into embodied practice, building both technical competence and tribal cohesion.

3

PROMPT:
Refocus on non-developers as well; users who do not necessarily write software but are interested in poking “under-the-hood” of the software and hardware they use today. e.g. installing Linux out of principle, preferring free software, wanting to customize your own hardware, self-hosting applications, etc

RESPONSE:

Digital Sovereignty Through Practice: A Tribe-Building Activity Proposal

Refocusing the LogosLab Concept

The LogosLab discussion highlights a need that extends far beyond professional developers: the desire to understand and control the technology we use daily. Many community members—regardless of their coding ability—share principles of digital sovereignty that drive them to:

  • Install Linux as an ethical choice
  • Prefer free and open-source software
  • Customize their own hardware
  • Self-host applications rather than using cloud services
  • Look “under the hood” of the technology that shapes their lives

This proposal creates a tribe-building activity that welcomes both developers and non-developers united by these principles, using situated learning to build a community of practice around technological self-determination.

Situated Learning for Digital Sovereignty

Situated learning theory is particularly powerful for this context because:

  1. It values authentic participation over abstract knowledge transfer
  2. It recognizes that learning happens through community membership
  3. It emphasizes identity formation as part of the learning process
  4. It accommodates many levels and types of participation

For a Logos community that includes both technical and non-technical members, situated learning creates pathways for everyone to participate legitimately while developing practical skills and shared identity.

Proposed Tribe-Building Activity: Sovereign Computing Circle

Core Concept

A community of practice centered on progressively taking greater control over one’s computing environment—from basic software choices to hardware modification—guided by principles of sovereignty, privacy, and freedom.

Structure

Format: A combination of regular show-and-tell sessions, guided projects, and an asynchronous support community

Physical and Digital Components:

  1. Sovereign Computing Starter Kit:

    • Curated guide to free software alternatives
    • Basic hardware toolkit for computer maintenance/modification
    • USB drive with Linux distributions and privacy tools
    • Optional: Simple hardware components for those interested in the physical computing path

  2. Regular Ritual Gatherings:

    • Biweekly “Show Your Sovereignty” sessions where members demonstrate their latest projects
    • Monthly deep-dives on specific sovereignty topics (e.g., “De-Googling Your Life,” “Self-Hosting 101”)
    • Quarterly challenge projects that the whole community tackles simultaneously

  3. Multiple Participation Pathways:

    • Software Sovereignty Track: Focus on free software adoption, privacy tools, OS control
    • Hardware Sovereignty Track: Focus on understanding and modifying physical devices
    • Network Sovereignty Track: Focus on self-hosting, mesh networks, personal servers
    • Knowledge Sharing Track: Focus on documenting and teaching others

  4. Symbolic Elements:

    • Digital badges representing sovereignty milestones
    • Physical stickers for personal devices showing community membership
    • Shared vocabulary around technology freedom
    • Ritual “liberation ceremonies” for key transitions (first Linux install, first self-hosted service)

Learning Through Legitimate Peripheral Participation

The activity creates multiple entry points for legitimate participation:

For Complete Beginners:

  • Installing a privacy-focused browser extension
  • Joining community calls to observe demos
  • Asking questions in the forum
  • Documenting their learning journey

For Intermediate Participants:

  • Installing Linux for the first time
  • Setting up a password manager
  • Building a basic Pi-hole ad blocker
  • Contributing to community documentation

For Advanced Participants:

  • Self-hosting critical services
  • Building custom hardware
  • Leading session demonstrations
  • Mentoring newcomers

Implementation Through IRC Principles

Following the Interaction Ritual Chains framework:

  1. Physical Co-Presence: While primarily remote, members work on similar physical objects and challenges, creating a form of co-presence. Regional meet-ups could supplement this when possible.

  2. Boundaries to Outsiders: The shared commitment to digital sovereignty and free software principles creates natural boundaries. Members develop specialized knowledge and vocabulary.

  3. Mutual Focus of Attention: Regular sessions focus on common challenges and demonstrations, while shared projects create ongoing mutual attention.

  4. Shared Mood or Emotion: The emotional journey from frustration (“Why won’t this compile?”) to triumph (“I’m finally Google-free!”) creates powerful shared experiences.

Activity Examples Across Technical Levels

Accessible Projects for Non-Developers:

  • Creating a privacy-focused computing environment
  • Setting up a Raspberry Pi as a home server
  • Installing and customizing Linux
  • Digital security audit and hardening
  • Building a basic website with static site generators

Intermediate Projects:

  • Self-hosting email, calendar, or cloud storage
  • Setting up a VPN or Tor relay
  • Basic hardware modifications (RAM upgrades, SSD installations)
  • Contributing to FOSS documentation

Advanced Projects:

  • Building custom keyboards or other peripherals
  • Developing simple hardware mods with microcontrollers
  • Setting up mesh networks
  • Creating installation scripts and tools for others

Community Building Elements

The activity deliberately builds community through:

  1. Shared Challenges: Everyone works through similar obstacles, creating bonds
  2. Knowledge Exchange: Different experience levels naturally create mentoring relationships
  3. Celebration Rituals: Acknowledging milestones reinforces community belonging
  4. Value Alignment: Activities directly embody the principles of sovereignty and freedom
  5. Shared Language: Technical terms become community markers and inside references

Implementation Recommendations

  1. Start With Accessible Challenges: Begin with projects that require minimal technical background, such as privacy tool installation or basic Linux setup.

  2. Create Clear Documentation: Develop beginner-friendly guides that demystify technical concepts.

  3. Establish Support Channels: Create dedicated spaces for troubleshooting and questions where it’s explicitly safe to be a beginner.

  4. Showcase Diverse Successes: Highlight achievements from members with various technical backgrounds to reinforce that everyone can contribute.

  5. Use Narrative: Frame the activity around the journey toward digital sovereignty rather than technical mastery.

Applying Interaction Ritual Chains to Build the Community

This activity creates a powerful interaction ritual chain:

Preparation Stage:

  • Members receive their starter kits
  • They study basic concepts independently
  • They prepare questions for the community

Activation Stage:

  • Members gather in their first community calls
  • They share initial struggles and small victories
  • They align their focus on common challenges

Climax Stage:

  • The community experiences collective breakthrough moments
  • Members celebrate major milestones together
  • The group identity solidifies through shared achievements

Recovery Stage:

  • Members reflect on their progress
  • They document their journeys for others
  • They prepare for the next challenge or project

Benefits Beyond Technical Skills

This tribe-building activity offers multiple benefits:

  1. Practical Sovereignty: Members gain actual control over their digital lives
  2. Community Bonds: Shared struggles create strong emotional connections
  3. Identity Formation: Participants develop an identity as “sovereign computing practitioners”
  4. Value Embodiment: Abstract values become concrete practices
  5. Cross-Skill Collaboration: Technical and non-technical members support each other
  6. Network Resilience: The community becomes more self-sufficient

Conclusion

By creating a Sovereign Computing Circle focused on practical digital sovereignty, Logos can build a tribe united not by technical expertise but by shared values and practices. This approach:

  • Welcomes both developers and non-developers
  • Creates multiple legitimate paths for participation
  • Builds strong emotional bonds through shared challenges
  • Directly embodies the values of freedom and sovereignty
  • Develops practical skills that support the community’s mission

The activity transforms abstract principles into lived experience, building both individual capability and collective identity. Through situated learning in a community of practice, participants don’t just learn about technological sovereignty—they become sovereign technology practitioners together.

4

IMO, the pillar model was a good idea, as the Logos movement may final a variety of personas with various interests.

One potential CTA should be to join the book club, read more about Logos philosophy and have the opportunity to discuss it in different forum.
This should be a “quest” if we want to use such term.

5

Hello :slight_smile: The core logic of the pillar model is still in play, we will create them based on demand from engaged people - rather than having half-empty channels that might push them away. It’s a little rebuild, not a departure from the method.

As for the SCC proposed I’m all for it and happy to help. As Vaclav put it somewhere else in this forum it’s much better for devs to help get devs.