Cultivating the Values of Our Beloved Collective
Over the last five years, our Collective has been deeply reflecting on our work and the reasons we show up for it every day. This period of introspection has allowed us to examine our successes, challenges, and the impact we have on our community. Through this iterative process of learning and growth, certain patterns, or fractals, have emerged, guiding us to identify five core values that are at the heart of our mission. These values drive us forward and encapsulate the essence of our commitment to realizing the Beloved Community.
These core values—Authentic Leadership, Joy, Collective Work & Responsibility, Rooted Liberation, and Universal Design—serve as the foundation of our work. They inform our actions, decisions, and interactions, ensuring that we remain true to our vision and purpose. By consistently reflecting on these values, we strive to create a space where every member of our community can contribute meaningfully to. Our journey over the past five years has been one of continuous learning, and these values have emerged as the guiding principles that will continue to shape our path forward.
1. Authentic Leadership
At its core, authentic leadership fosters solidarity among people by cultivating trust and building professional capacity. The Collective seeks to uplift each other as leaders in intentional and innovative ways, creating transformative spaces where everyone can comfortably develop their professional skills and aspirations, which is critical to our success.
2. Joy
Joy is inherited when our contributions are validated, when we care for ourselves, and when we experience it firsthand. For the Collective, valuing joy means embodying our contributions and fostering a mindset that prioritizes care, well-being, and mindfulness. By embracing joy, we build a foundation of solidarity and empowerment that strengthens our community.
3. Collective Work & Responsibility
The Collective’s success is the result of our community's collective effort. We are built on the power of intentional collaboration and mutual aid. Our team of brilliant motivators and experts contribute to both individual projects and a shared vision. As the Collective, we value cooperation and recognize that our achievements are deeply interconnected.
4. Rooted Liberation
Our wisdom as a community is deeply rooted in the knowledge of those who have come before us. The Collective not only recognizes this but realizes this reality within our practice. Just as our food draws strength and nourishment from the soil, the Collective is grounded in the rich legacy created for us by our ancestors. This deeply intertwined connection informs every aspect of our work, ensuring that our actions are both mindful of and guided by the profound insights passed down to us through generations.
5. Universal Design.
As a Collective, we make an impact by creating solutions that are designed with all of our needs in mind. Everything from our program design to our implementation is carried out by thinking holistically about the issues that matter. We recognize that the challenges that we face are multifaceted and require a comprehensive approach that considers the impact that needs to be made within our spaces. By integrating a universal design among the many perspectives that can be found within the Collective, we ensure that our strategies encompass the inclusive nature of our partnerships.
As we continue forward, these guiding principles will shape our path, ensuring that we remain true to our vision and purpose. By consistently reflecting on and embodying these values, we strive to create a space where every community member can contribute meaningfully, thus realizing the world that we aspire to build.
