:: Sigil ::
An intentional community built around transformation and empowerment, with and for the formerly incarcerated community, manifesting alternative justices approaches and values.C O N S E N T
We are committed to building a supportive and self-reflective culture around sex, romance and intimate relationships rooted in mutual respect, communication, and consent. In our community, and in the state of California, yes means yes. This means that if you want to touch someone, you need to get an explicit “yes” from them. A ‘maybe’ or silence, or even a yes under persuasion, does not count as consent and will be treated as a consent violation in our community. We encourage you to read our full consent and safe space policies (link) and note that by entering into our community we request that you heed these cultural norms. These may be different from those you are used to so feel free to discuss them with people in the house!H A R A S S M E N T
We celebrate differences, including different races, gender identities, languages, and philosophical perspectives. We also celebrate free speech, curiosity, and spirited inquiry, but expect that people and their differences will be treated with respect and generosity. If someone communicates that they are feeling unsafe or disrespected, we ask that you be open to hearing that, and to attempt to modify your behavior appropriately. If you are made to feel unsafe, please immediately contact a resident or other individual with whom you feel comfortable. Anyone who is not respecting others’ boundaries, or not following our community’s consent practices, will be asked modify their behaviour. If they are unable or unwilling to do so, or continue to make others feel unsafe, they will be asked to leave.C U L T U R A L . A G R E E M E N T S
We value critical analysis and constructive feedback, and seek to support each other to be the best versions of ourselves. At times this will involve difficult truths, and other times finding new positive ones. We ask you to bring intention to your interactions in our community, and to give and receive with compassion. At times you may find yourself in conflict with someone(s) in the community. This is natural. We ask that you be open to a conflict resolution process if needed or requested by another member of the community, including mediation by a trusted 3rd party. Our goal is to collectively bring a posture of learning, self-improvement and mutual support to conflict.P R I N C I P L E S . O F . B E I N G . T O G E T H E R
The following are values around how we approach communication, and strive to balance integrity with progress. They are here to set expectations for you and for us, and to give you some litmus tests, based on our experience, for what we feel to be healthy and generative ways of being with each other. These will and should continue to evolve over time. What do you think about them?:: Generalizations: -- Though we may observe and discuss generalizations, we always treat and communicate with each other as individuals.
:: No conversations should be off limits: -- We seek to name emotional reactions and separate them from analysis. Both are equally valid, but it is difficult to process both at once without a “tyranny of sensitivity” where specific topics become taboo due to unnamed emotional triggers. This takes practice.
:: Trust: -- Assume non-violence on the part of another, and when your experience doesn’t match this, use communication to reconcile your experience with their intentions. It is difficult to cohabitate with others if we can't give them the benefit of the doubt. If you find yourself unable to do that, it might be a good opportunity to seek mediation from a 3rd party in your community. If you notice that you’re unable to do that with the majority of people you are living with, it may also be the case that you’re not in a productive and generative environment for you.
:: An emphasis on Action -- We acknowledge that sometimes we need to go through emotional processing, in order to be optimal actors, but action must be the end goal.
:: Diversity: -- We see learning and an openness to change as a requisite component of intellectual rigor and integrity. While we are always striving live our values, ultimately we value a diversity of people and perspectives over operating 100% in line with a specific set of values at all times.