The following community agreements have been crafted with our founding core community members. Each has been carefully considered and we think you’ll agree that these help us to have the best possible events and community dynamic.
- Arrive on Time, Stay Together. We begin and end as one group. Please arrive promptly and plan to stay for the entire gathering to help create a shared container of trust.
- Settle In. Take a Breath. Bring awareness to your energy and let the stress of your day fall away. Enter the space with presence and care.
- Embrace Open Inquiry. This is a space for questions, not conclusions. Let ideas remain open-ended, unresolved, and alive.
- Cultivate Serious Play. Approach our time together with curiosity. Allow yourself to experiment, take creative risks, and delight in the unexpected.
- Power is Always Present. Remain attentive to the ways power, privilege, and social context shape our voices and silences. Create space for those less heard, and reflect on how our own identities and experiences may influence the conversation.
- Attend to Accessibility. Be mindful of accessibility needs, and support one another in creating an inclusive environment where all can participate as fully as possible.
- Center on Ideas, Not Individuals. Keep the focus on themes, theories, and intellectual exploration rather than personal experiences or advice-giving.
- Honor the Journey of Others. Each person’s path is unique. Approach all voices with curiosity, respect, and celebration of difference.
- Balance Speaking and Listening. Share generously, and listen deeply. Make space for others and notice when it’s your time to hold silence.
- Hold the Space for All Voices. Let each person speak without interruption or immediate reaction. A pause between speakers allows ideas to settle and deepen.
- Listen to Understand. Let go of the urge to debate or correct. Tune in with a mindset of openness and wonder.
- Speak with Humility. Share to enrich, not to persuade or impress. Speak from your own experience and avoid speaking over others.
- Ask for What You Need. Whether it’s clarity, volume, or a moment of pause, feel free to voice what supports your full participation.
- Assume Best Intentions, Stay Aware of Impact. Kindness matters. Be mindful that even well-meant words can land unexpectedly-stay receptive and accountable.
- Avoid Assumptions. If something’s unclear, ask. Seek understanding before making interpretations.
- Uphold Dignity. Everyone’s humanity is sacred. We engage with unwavering respect and a commitment to mutual care.
- Respect the Container. What is shared here stays here. Trust is the root of real connection.
- Prioritize Community Well-Being. If you suspect you may be unwell, honor the group by choosing to rest at home.
- Welcome Discomfort as Growth. Embrace moments of discomfort as invitations to growth. Allow challenging ideas or emotions to surface, trusting the group’s capacity to hold them with care.
