Relational Activists

Relational Activists

Location: Denver
Number of Visioners: 8

About This Group:

Mission Statement:
To bring relational principles and skills to the activist community.

Goals:
1. to develop a working community that functions on relational principles and uses relational skills in interacting with each other.
2. to find ways to bring this model to other activist groups.


We also put together a list of Relational Principles to suggest for your consideration as guidelines for the group.

1. Full-respect living: the commitment to respect both yourself and others at all times.  One may need to be assertive; one may need to “rock the boat”, but none of the ways we do these sinks below the standard of respectful treatment.  There is no excuse for abuse – either dishing it out or putting up with it.  This is the framework for living a non-violent life.
2. Cultivating compassion: the commitment to, whenever possible, move into compassionate understanding of my own and others’ pain and imperfections.
3. Committing to growth: the commitment to consciously move myself and my relationships in the group through ongoing cycles of Harmony, Disharmony and Repair.

Participants: Nancy Stohlman
Mary Simon
Stephanie Phibbs
Ben Harnke
Remy Kachadourian
Mike Misgen
Monika Treipl-Harnke
John M.
First Question: What is your vision of a community? Answers:

Sesame Street!

Everyone’s valued
New people are embraced
Local businesses
Differences are valued
People are treated with respect
Enriching environment for all
Laughter, music, colors, life!
Fun


Bongos – people playing, music, cooking food

Meditation garden – quiet space to nurture the peaceful part of you,  space to reflect on what is, not escape

Children are safe on street
Children running around,

Like a block party without borders

No cars  - not against technology but you can walk or bike to a train, mass transit.  Its just as fast as cars
Second Question: What is your vision of a community? Answers:

People play together

Massive games, like chess, checkers

Rent bikes at one spot, drop at another

Bikes unlocked on front porches

A world without greed

There are community centers in walking distance to allInclude support for mediation, conflict resolution, mental health

Not just talking circles but support people, help people on a nuts and bolts basis of living in community

People get trained as doctors, then have skills to share for barter.   Free med school?

Free quality education including university
Third Question: What is your vision of a community? Answers:

Space where you can “take the pulse of the world”
• Can learn what’s going on for other people around the world, what they need and then people can respond with support
• Giving and receiving is more organic- it arises and creates a sense of safety- give when you can, receive when you need, and there is no stigma
• Gates between neighbor’s fences
• Socio-economic and ethnic diversity
• Food centers are like distribution centers- like a grocery store but don’t pay; people drop by to help or get food
• Structures are informal, organic
• Gardening, trading for food services, doctoring, teaching- lots of bartering
Fourth Question: What is your vision of a community? Answers:

No one is stuck with all the “dirty” work, everyone takes a turn picking up trash and everyone has opportunity to be creative, grow

No one has to work 40-50 hours a week.  Part-time work, more balanced life

Cheesman park, but you know the people there.

More play space, activities for bigger kids, too.  Mixes ages more

Everyone has a home

More going on in the street, more kids around

Beyond co-housing – common roof, collaborative meals, gardens, laundry spaces- shared communitarian resources

Space and acceptance of solitude
Fifth Question: What is your vision of a community? Answers:

• People have real power in decisions that directly affect them- decision-making power, (direct democracy?)
• Process for reconciling conflicting strategies, opinions and needs
• Community charter- formed from collective values- visions, that people can go back to; people make decisions based on this charter
• Space for people to collectively mourn that we don’t have a perfect society and express joy that it is better
• Accessibility to nature- nature is an every-day part of life and we care for nature and there is a lot of natural space
Sixth Question: What is your vision of a community? Answers:

• People have control over economy- community, democratic control over wealth and wealth distribution
• People share their skills with others in informal, relational ways that is community-based
• No intellectual property rights
Seventh Question: What is your vision for the country? Answers:

• All military bases closed and military service members come home and become part of community- productive members participating in things like sports, serving in the case of national issues, emergency responders, something like Americorp.
• No military abroad and other countries follow suit
• The nation is a decision-making unit, it is a world where community borders are an organizing tool, not more. 
• We gather to celebrate our achievement and to take our work forward.
Eighth Question: What is your vision for the country? Answers:

Representative national govt - $ taken out of election process,  national service to be in elected office, not a position of greed, power

Foreign relations based on respect, learning from others

Culture of hospitality

Recognition of different developmental levels – valuing that

Honoring Native Americans and acknowledging their pain

Making amends to all people the US has hurt

Respect for and accountability to international law, fairness, norms of behavior