Community Agreements
IDHA’s Community Agreements are a code of ethics that allow all members to be included, honored, heard, and respected. These agreements enable us all to show up as our full selves. They are designed to help us navigate the inevitable challenges that can arise when imperfect and creative humans build community together.
These agreements are part of our commitment to create “braver” spacers, acknowledging that a space may not be all a person needs to feel safe, though we can make an intentional effort to accommodate a range of identities, and we all play an active role in how welcoming a space can be.
Value difference
Everyone in this community brings their own expertise, and we all can gain from and respect each other’s various expertise. The whole is greater than its parts, and differences are an opportunity to learn. We value and honor each member’s gifts to the community. We approach one another with genuine curiosity, open hearts, and minds.
Listen like allies
We respect a wide diversity of choices and perspectives. Even when we disagree, we don’t judge or invalidate other people’s experiences. We try not to interrupt. All responses are in a positive spirit of support and respect. We are mindful of providing space for multiple voices to be heard.
Self-care and community care
We stay aware of our own needs. If an interaction becomes too uncomfortable, we take measures to care for ourselves. We honor and acknowledge our own histories, traumas, strengths, triggers, growth edges, and pain points. We take responsibility for our beliefs, feelings, and actions, rather than making excuses for them, acknowledging the varied impacts of socialization and oppression on us all. We orient challenging and rewarding interactions towards our personal growth and the growth of the community at large.
Respectful communication
We build supportive relationships and community through reciprocity and respectful communication. We use “I” statements, and avoid representing the experiences of others. We practice active listening, and offer constructive feedback as opposed to harsh criticism. We refrain from gossiping.
Collective liberation
Overcoming oppression aids everyone’s liberation; it is the community’s responsibility to challenge racism, classism, sexism, ageism, ableism, homophobia, and other forms of prejudice. We educate in the spirit of solidarity, and hold others accountable for their behavior without criticizing who they are as people. We acknowledge oppression and share a collective desire to heal to move forward.
Co-created time and space
We stay aware of the environment we are co-creating both in person and virtually, paying attention to noise level, avoiding side conversations, and respecting privacy. We honor scheduled start and stop times for our gatherings and meetings. In agenda-ed spaces, we acknowledge that structure and staying on topic allows everyone’s voice to be heard so we can work toward our collective goals.
Conflict as generative
Through conflict, we can move beyond the thinking of any one individual and collectively create new solutions that no one has considered before. Rather than dwell on the specific details of any conflicts, we identify the lessons we can learn from them to make us stronger.
Accountability and transformative justice
Everyone is capable of perpetuating power dynamics and oppression, even those of us who have been wounded. We do not use our trauma, diagnostic labels, or other forms of oppression to shield ourselves from accountability. We remain open to accountability processes if and when conflicts arise. When harm is committed, we ask why and explore the root causes. We center the behavior, not the person. We hold space for complexity, and that someone can both cause harm and have been harmed. We work to address power and privilege, in our community and larger systems.
Culture of learning
We acknowledge that we are always learning and growing. We take mutual responsibility for the growth of our learning community. These agreements themselves are iterative and will adapt over time in response to changing circumstances and lessons.
Attribution: IDHA credits and thanks the following individuals and organizations for directly inspiring these community agreements:
adrienne maree brown, Emergent Strategy