I've never joined an online club to "hang out in" before. What goes on here?

IMBY is a place to gather, hang out, and meet friends— just on the interwebs. We have community chat forums, online speakers, and a place to connect when often the path towards liberation can be lonely. As an anti-capitalist space focused on rest, recharging, and nourishment, our focus is less on productivity and more on BEING. Being in community, learning from one another, and connecting. Of course, that translates into the work we do to nourish ourselves and our communities, but this isn't leader-forward membership dedicated to specific outcomes. Rather, it's community-forward and community-driven. We are co-creating this experience together.

I've been burned by modern "clubs" or online "communities" before by people trying to make a quick buck. How do you define "community center"?

Ugh, me (Sara, founder here!) too. IMBY is a community center in the sense that is a space co-created by the community for the community. There are opportunities to opt into leading your own programming, requesting speakers, and connecting one-on-one too. It's a space to gather. Our guiding principles include creating an inclusive, anti-racist, anti-oppressive, anti-capitalistic space for us to show up as we are. There are no templates here, no pressure to be a certain way, no Instagram aesthetic. We're not trying to get rich quick, push you towards an "aspirational" lifestyle, or trying to "fix" you through a laundry list of products and approaches. We are values-driven, activism-driven, and community-driven, not profit and ego-driven. We welcome you just the way you are-- in fact, that's what builds a rich, meaningful, and diverse community.

We really imagine IMBY as a physical community center, just... virtual! Community centers are humble, they exist to serve their neighborhood. It's a place where you can walk in and run into someone you know, pick up a new hobby, or learn about a fascinating topic. IMBY's the same, just no commute and you don't even have to put on pants ;)

What actually happens here?

We have a variety of different offerings! The idea is to pick and choose what feels nourishing, relevant, and exciting to you. We have more formal gathering opportunities like community activities and speaker series, as well as opportunities to connect through our community forum, and weekly "unworking" sessions— whether that's in your work, your business, or your self-care. We also have a monthly community gathering for connections and beyond. Beyond the offerings we have at launch, we are turning to the community for suggestions and to offer up how they'd like to contribute and what they'd like to learn as well. We're building this together!

What are the bonfire chats like? Will I have homework? Are there replays available if I can't join live?

Our bonfire chats are informal, personal, transparent chats with community leaders and experts. These are not workshops, there is no homework, but rather open discussions. We recommend you join us live to interact and ask your own questions of the speaker, but replays are also always available.

There are so many memberships on the internet. Why should I join IMBY?

We're big fans of avoiding "shoulds," and rather, following your gut-- you know best if IMBY is the space for you!

In our eyes, the main difference between this membership and many other membership models is that IMBY is based on collective co-creation, community care, and reciprocity. This isn't a founder-forward membership with a long to-do list, with someone getting richer and richer as you end up with another list of replays you forget to watch (and, subequently overwhelm, and maybe even regret? Speaking for a friend...). This experience is co-created as a community and is focused on collective needs. If that feels rad to you, we invite you to tag along!

Are any of your events open to non-members?

Yes! Some of the events are available to purchase tickets to directly. On our community calendar those will be noted as "public," and you can click through to find a link to buy a ticket!

Why does IMBY exist? And who started it?

Good question! You can read all about "the story" behind IMBY and Sara, the founder, here. But the future of IMBY is up to the community and what we co-create together!

Is there a minimum commitment? What do I do if I need to pause or cancel my membership?

There’s no minimum commitment-- your membership is month to month. If the community isn't right for you or isn't right for the moment you're in, you can cancel your membership any time before you get charged again and part ways. You can also adjust your sliding scale payment (up or down) at any time, ot leave and join again whenever you'd like, as well! As our community grows and evolves, this may shift to meet the best interest of our members and our community overall. We will always keep you posted on any changes.

I'm really tired, and overbooked. I'm in a few other programs, and I am afraid I won't keep up. What's required/expected of me?

The only thing we require of you is to follow our code of conduct! Everything else is getting involved at the level you have the enthusiasm, strength, and interest to do so. We get it-- we're tired too. IMBY is a place to relax, feel cozy, discover new topics and people, dive deeper into topics you care about, and connect to others. Take what feels nourishing, and skip the rest. Financially, we consider each event we offer is worth the price of membership in it of itself, so if you partake in just one or a few events each month, and/or join in on our community forum, you should feel like your money is well utilized! With that said, we recognize the power of collective and reciprocity, so we ask you show up in the community in the way you'd like others to (and sometimes that may mean resting and taking breaks!).

What if I join and I don't feel like it's the right fit?

We get it, and we've been there. We encourage you to check out the website, read these FAQs, see what speakers we are highlighting, and decide if it feels right to you to join. While we don't offer refunds, there's two things to point out: 1. you can cancel your membership any time-- you’re never obligated to make any future payments, and 2. If you join and feel like we haven't upheld our end of the bargain based on what we said was included, and/or the space feeling equitable and inclusive, reach out and we can discuss a refund. We never want anyone to feel "duped," because we've been there, and it sucks. We also value your feedback on how to improve, and there are multiple channels for anonymous and public feedback we offer to members to that end.

Where do we meet? What platforms are used?

We use a few platforms for IMBY:

1. Geneva: Our Community Forum + Community Calendar. This is where our ongoing conversations happen day to day, mostly in written form. We also share our events and community calendar here.
2. Podia: Our Content Hub. This is where you can access replays for speakers, our nap pod, and any other content we share!
3. Zoom: you know the drill. This is where we gather for live events. Closed captions are always available as well as live transcripts. It sounds like a lot to keep track of, but don’t worry! We’ll be sure to make sure you always know where to be.

I am zoom'ed out. What's the experience like of attending events virtually?

This experience is for you, so listen to what feels best in your heart and body, while also respecting the safety of the space and the dedication of our speakers and community members! If you have to dip out of an event, that's totally cool. If there's anything specific you need to know for a particular event, we will be sure to tell you. And you’ll never be forced to turn on your camera, sent to a breakout room without consent, or otherwise. Closed captions are always available for our events. Show up the way you are (we are often not wearing pants).

I want to get involved but I am not ready to become a member. Can I come to an event first?

You sure can (well, some of the events!). Check out our calendar and see if there are any public events you’d like to join-- you can snag a ticket and see what we're all about. If you’re not ready to come to an event, you can stay in the loop with all things IMBY via our newsletter (sign up below!). Or shop from our merch shop which supports our community as well!

What's the benefit of being a member versus just coming to a la carte events?

It depends what you're looking for! A la carte events are great if there's one speaker you're looking forward to hearing from. Our membership is offered on a sliding scale and includes all of our speaker events, as well as member only events like our weekly unworking sessions as well as access to our community forum. If you're looking to connect to others in a deep and meaningful way, and build community, our membership is likely a better fit for you.

Can I sell my essential oils here?

No, no you cannot.

How are my membership fees spent?

We are so glad you asked! We release transparency so you know exactly where your dollars are going. Our values support community care, fair compensation for speakers and experts, and keeping the dollars inside the community. Money is distributed to relevant vendors, employees, and contractors, speakers, our community platforms, and more, as well as staff salaries. You can read all about that on our money page.

We strive to make this community as equitable and committed to anti-capitalistic principles as possible, so if you have questions about money or suggestions on how we can best ensure equity in regards to how your money is spent, our inbox is always open.

Why do you operate on a sliding scale?

We offer a sliding scale in order to offer a more accessible way to access our membership. We are based on anti-capitalistic principles-- and we value all people equally, regardless of their access to wealth and finances. Our sliding scale model is not only a way to provide multiple payment options, but also for our community members to fund the center at a level that feels accessible to them-- whether it’s the highest tier or the lowest tier. All membership fees end up in one collective “pot” that funds the center collectively, instead of focusing on what each member is able to contribute individually.

Do I get different access depending on what sliding scale option I choose?

Nope, all members get access to all of the same benefits and offerings regardless of how much you pay on the sliding scale. Some events are also available to purchase a-la-carte for non-members. Learn more about our sliding scale.

Can I switch how much I pay on the sliding scale once I am a member?

Yep! You can move up or down in the sliding scale at any time.

I checked out the sliding scale options but can't afford it. Do you offer scholarships?

We offer 5 free scholarship spots for new BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and/or chronically ill or disabled members available each month. If you’d like to take apply, you can fill out this form and we will be in touch ASAP. We ask that scholarship recipients be invested in being an active member of our community!

We also offer a $15/mo tier for those who cannot afford $25/mo. If you'd like to access that, email us at hi@imby.io and we will get you set up (no questions asked!).

You say you're anti-capitalism but you charge money for your membership. Can you explain?

We’d be happy to! While capitalism is complex (we're not economists, and also... this is an FAQ section!), we see the system primarily as a way of hoarding wealth and resources, of always aiming to get the cheapest price, as always needing to innovate or add something new to the market, and as the constant need to be “productive” to prove your worth. We reject these values, and focus on generosity, the collective over individualism, and rest (to name a few!), and recognize the difference between capitalism and commerce. With that said, we recognize that we currently operate under capitalism and that people need money to, ya know, live. So we collect membership dues to pay our staff, speakers, and keep the center running, while running our community in ways that hope to bypass capitalism and create a more just and equitable future. More about how we approach money here. If you want to learn more about how to approach this complex topic in your business, we hosted Bear Hebert, an incredible anti-capitalist business coach, to talk about this very topic. You can buy the replay (on a sliding scale) here.

What steps are you taking to making this an inclusive, accessible, and equitable space?

This is an anti-racist, anti-oppressive space with the goal of providing a comfortable and inclusive space for all. We plan to work towards this with clear community agreements and guidelines and moderating our community in alignment with those agreements.

A few concrete ways we are aiming to create an inclusive space:

• We offer a sliding scale for accessibility
• All Zoom meetings will have Closed Captioning options and an accompanying transcript
• We compensate all of our speakers and activity leaders
• We hope to hire a BIPOC community manager to serve as an additional sounding board and person to turn to for feedback once our revenue allows us to
• We offer multiple ways to provide anonymous and public feedback, which are outlined clearly to members, providing channels for learning, accountability, and improvement
• We are working with DEI expert and consultant Tiye Sherrod to support us in creating an equitable and inclusive community
  • Tiye has made herself available to members of the IMBY community if you’d like to ask her questions directly, or provide feedback to her directly about IMBY.
  • Tiye has also made herself available to facilitate transformative justice conversations if a situation arises that requires it.

We reserve the right to immediately remove any participant from the community or any event without refund for any behavior the hosts deem to be unsafe and in violation of the community's intention to create a safe, welcoming space for participants of all backgrounds and identities. Racist, homophobic, transphobic, and bigoted remarks and behaviors will not be permitted and may result in removal.

So you're saying you have it all figured out? How can I trust you?

We're definitely not saying that! We value progress over perfection, and always are seeking to imrpove. Our vision is that our community co-creates an inclusive space and holds each other accountable, while also providing clear avenues for feedback to IMBY staff and leadership.

We know we will mess up, and when we do, we will listen, learn, course correct, and aim to do better. We are constantly seeking to be more accessible and reduce harm, and we encourage our members to take this growth mindset as well.

If there are ways we can better serve you, we are all ears. Reach out to us through our contact page!