Dear courageous commoners
Last month, we kicked off our newsletter on an optimistic note, celebrating how beautifully our community is coming together and how our programme is evolving. Looking back — with our one-year anniversary just around the corner — we’ve grown into a thriving, dynamic hub with a rich calendar full of events. In April alone, we hosted 18 gatherings, including a diverse mix of community-led initiatives and external rentals.
The first pillar, our north star , is putting the commons back in the forefront as a way to rebuild local communities and resilience and as a way to have a positive social and environmental impact with & for the citizens of Brussels. Every choice we make—from the furniture we select, the design of our meetings, the maintenance of the space and the organisations we welcome—aligns with this intention.
Secondly, as a commons, we are a community-organized and governed through stewardship and shared responsibility. (more about this, community building, governance and stewardship in another newsletter, or join our next 👇🏾)
But when it comes to the third pillar—being funded through smart business models with diverse income streams—we’re still finding our footing. And this is the topic of the newsletter you are reading.
What’s becoming increasingly clear is that relying on single sources of funding isn’t sustainable. Right now we rely on memberships, organising events and rentals. Events and space rentals, while valuable, fluctuate with the seasons and make us vulnerable in summer months. Projects that have been proudly initiated by members—like Citizen Wallet and Brussels Pay—eventually grow wings and move on, which is a success to celebrate, though it means they no longer contribute to our rent. The events we organise are rich in impact and bring the community together, but they require significant time and energy, with limited financial return.
Where to look for solutions?
A friend of the community, Graham Boyd, has introduced us to a powerful model: the Fair Shares Commons. This model decentralises power and wealth by promoting shared ownership and democratic governance among all key stakeholders—founders, workers, users, and investors alike. It’s rooted in the principle of ergodicity. Ergo-what? Yes, it’s a big academic word. In short, it refers to systems where the long-term experience of an individual reflects the average experience of the whole. In practice, this means creating steward owned and steward governed business models that are resilient, diversified, and designed for long-term sustainability, predictability, and stability—models that can weather ups and downs while producing steady outcomes for everyone involved.
(On a side note, Graham will be giving an interactive lecture on the topic of Fair Shares Commons, steward ownership and regenerative businesses on June 12th at the Commons Hub. Register here)
So, how do we get there?
We’re not there yet—but we’re working on it every day. Currently, our business model rests on two main pillars:
Growing a stable community of committed members and supporters (~€1,500/month gross income)*
Maximising use of our event space through external rentals (~€2,000/month) and programming our own events (~€800/month)*
(*Numbers vary strongly every month - a full financial update with an overview of the year, will be ready by June 1st - when we celebrate our first anniversary . Curious? Join the party 😊)
These foundations are strong, but not yet sufficient to ensure long-term financial stability. For example, the summer months pose a real challenge if we rely solely on these two income streams.
That’s why we’re actively exploring additional opportunities, such as:
Partnering with long-term sponsors who see value in using the Commons Hub as a (their) central meeting point, or in sponsoring the various communities that call it home.
Designing Airbnb Experiences to introduce visitors to the hub and the concept of the commons (through activities such as The Commons Game ).
We will level up the event organising skills in the community by focusing on big events like the Regen Village: a regen festival is being designed for autumn and we are preparing a side event for the annual Fosdem open source meetup.
Launching a book distribution service featuring authors who inspire us and align with our mission (first book we are distributing is the book of Tom Nixon ‘Working with Source’- a booked that deeply inspired us - more info here)
Evolving the Commons Hub from just a common physical space to also being a common legal entity, —supporting the projects, events, and communities that operate here, by effectively merging with Citizen Spring ASBL, the nonprofit we use currently as our fiscal host.
Crowdfunding a Season 2 of the Commons Hub—inviting a new wave of courageous commoners to pool financial resources and fund the next chapter of our journey.
We’d love to end this intro with a call—a call for ideas, tips, and sponsors.
Reach out if you have leads. Contacts. Reach out if you’d like to brainstorm with us, explore new possibilities, or join one of our weekly growth meetings (at 11:30 on Fridays). You’re warmly invited and very welcome. 🌱
(And if you aren't a member yet ... membership starts from €10/month ❤️ - or come use our space!)
Upcoming Events
We publish all events on this calendar. If you register, you will receive an e-mail notification for every upcoming event.
Feel very welcome to become a member and enjoy priority access for using the space and receive discounts on the events happening at the Commons Hub.
Check out the events organised by members of the Commons Hub 👇🏾🌸
Crypto Wednesday by DAO Brussels - monthly meetup
📅 Wednesday May 7th, 19:30 RSVP
Crypto Wednesdays, thé meetup for all crypto enthusiast of Brussels, are for builders. We have incredible talent in our community and a strong desire to build for common good. Let's put it into action!
🧘🏻♀️ Somatic Yoga in Brussels - Balance & Playfulness
📅 Monday May 12th, 18:30 - 19:45 Register
📅 Monday May 19th, 18:30 Register
📅 Monday May 26th, 18:30 Register
Most of us spend our days being in our heads—sitting at a desk, disconnected from the body. And even when we move, are we truly aware of what’s happening within us? But what if we paused to listen to our body? By Valentina 🌸
🚀 Projects as Practice Grounds for a More Thrivable World
📅 Thursday May 15th and Friday 16th Register here
Join us for a hands-on two-day workshop where we explore new ways of working together, creating strong, connected communities and organizations that feel alive and aligned through the projects they are working on. Through dynamic activities, you’ll learn practical approaches to collaboration, decision-making, and effective action that brings more life, more energy and more creative possibility to the work. This is an opportunity to build skills, gain confidence, and connect with others who are working towards meaningful change.
🌕 Full moon ritual - la Ciranda des 13 Lunes
📅 Friday May 16th, 19:30 - 21:30 Register
Un espace pour :✨ Célébrer les cycles lunaires et notre pouvoir cyclique.✨ Partager sagesses, récits et médecine des femmes.✨ Danser la vie en harmonie avec la nature. Avec Isabel
🌚 New moon shamanic drum meditation - Awakening Joy
📅 Friday May 23th, 19:30 - 21:30 https://lu.ma/23May2025
This journey invites you to reconnect with the joy that lives within — spontaneous, radiant, and free. Through the vibrant rhythms of the drum, we remember the delight of discovery, the laughter of childhood, and the wisdom found in wonder.
We will move beyond the mind and into the heart of presence, where joy isn’t something to seek, but something to feel, embody, and share. In this sacred space, you are invited to loosen what feels heavy, follow your curiosity, and celebrate the beauty of simply being alive. With Mara
Events by dear Friends 🧡
🍄 ÁGUA SERÁ: 📅 19-22 June at the Traditional Dream Factory in Portugal:
An intimate gathering of Regeneration & Restoration on an exceptional steward owned land More info
🍄 The Art of Hosting: 📅 3-5 July in Drongen
Learn how to host conversations that matter. More info
🍄 Enchanted Gathering 📅 10-13 July at Selgar’s Mill in the UK:
Four days of inspiring talks, co-living in community, masterminds and fun creative workshops in a beautiful nature setting. More info
🍄 Leading from within 📅 1-3 October in De Heerlijkyt van Elsmeren in Geetbets/Flanders
From our friends the Innerpreneurs: Voor wie voelt dat leiderschap van binnenuit begint - 48 uur verdieping en verbinding. More info
How to support the Commons Hub?
Join us at our space – whether you're a freelancer, a team, or an organization!
Interested in a community-led co-working space? We’d love to welcome you! Come by to try it out for a day or join us for our Friday potluck community lunch. More info about memberships here.
Need a meeting room for your team or an event venue? We’re here to make your gathering a great experience, offering the support you need to make it memorable for you and your guests. More info about our spaces.
Wishing you all well and looking forward to meeting you in the space! 🧡
written by Leen (with contributions Xavier🙏🏽)
Connect with us via email hello@commonshub.brussels to continue the conversation! To stay up-to-date on our latest news and events, make sure to follow us on Lu.ma, LinkedIn, Facebook. Or join us on Discord.
