Global Ties Akron

Big Love is an evolving network of organizers, permaculturists, healing practitioners, and artists that facilitate neighbor-led/creative placemaking, sustainability, and health equity efforts throughout Akron as a means for social change. Sociocracy, or dynamic governance, is Big Love Network’s chosen methodology of organization. We believe in this methodology as its principles consist of consent within leadership teams, circles that support team work, and double linking that ensures accountability. We also believe in Sociocracy as it is modeled after the flower of life pattern that can be seen throughout nature. It is a core value of our organization to model our organizing off of natural systems, which is also called social biomimicry.

Big Love Fest: Seven Generations (The Future of Love) will take place on February 24, 2018 from 10 am to 10 pm at Summit Artspace in Downtown Akron. This year, we will honor the generations that came before us, celebrate those that live now, and support those who will come after us. The event will include live music, art installations, food & drinks, holistic healing modalities, a kid’s space, and a variety of other non-stop activities for the entire day. The event is open-to-all, family friendly, and zero-waste. There is a suggested donation of $5 for those over 12 years of age.

Big Love Fest is a civically engaging placemaking festival that uses arts and culture to involve its participants in broader community building initiatives. Big Love Fest is created for & by the people of Akron and seeks to highlight artists, healing practitioners, organizations, musicians and small businesses while fostering leadership, building authentic collaboration, and promoting peace. Every aspect of this festival is interactive and participatory, from art installations, to vendor tables, to community-building workshops, to sustainability efforts, to cooking demos. What makes this festival unique is the hands-on atmosphere our community facilitates in creating a microcosm of Akron’s perfect city for a day.