Famli: Deepening Democracy at Home

Famli, developed by Zahra Lightway, M.Ed., is a family practice of consent-based democracy designed to help children and adults share voice, claim agency, responsibility, and decision-making through three circle practices: Heart Circle for connection, Spark Circle for learning and ideas, and Wisdom Circle for family agreements. Through these simple structures, families cultivate connection and harmony while developing emotional intelligence, communication skills, collaborative problem-solving, and a deep sense of shared responsibility. In this interactive workshop, participants will experience a Famli circle and use signal cards and feelings cards to create space for equal voice, respectful listening, and family harmony. After the experience, we’ll reflect on what participants noticed and explore how these practices can support democratic culture in families, classrooms, and learning communities