One Community Pledge

Our mission at One Community is to help people create a better world. This page shares our pledge to meet this goal and an overview of each of our core values and how we apply them.

WHY A PLEDGE

A clear and agreed-upon set of world-changing values is essential to accomplishing world-changing goals. This page is an overview of the values we consider essential parts of helping us create positive global change for the benefit of all people and all life on this planet. Together, these values form the One Community Pledge and every core team member signs this pledge as a commitment to our shared mission.

This pledge is explained through the following sections:

Introduction
Summary of Values
Our Values
Our Pledge

Click the icons by each value for a complete page on the value. Visit the One Community Overview page to learn how these values and this pledge guide everything we are creating.

Click this image for the Highest Good of All page that explores how we apply this idea at One Community

Click this image for the One Community Highest Good of All Page

INTRODUCTION

One Community believes in positive global change, and this pledge serves as the foundation for achieving that vision. As an organization, we embody these principles to create the greatest possible positive impact for “The Highest Good of All.” This includes all people and all life on this planet. We have 14 core values that form the foundation of the One Community Pledge and guide every goal, decision, and objective we pursue. Our intent is to ensure every accomplishment contributes positively to humanity, the planet, and future generations.

Highest Good Stewardship, Highest Good Food, Highest Good Society,Highest Good Economics

One Communities Pledge Applies To These Areas – Click to Enlarge

SUMMARY OF VALUES

The One Community Pledge is built on 14 core values that guide everything we do:

Steward: Do the highest good for the betterment of humanity.
Open Source: Openly and freely share knowledge to encourage collaboration.
Sustain: Commit to helping the world to transition to sustainable options.
Communicate: Seek to understand and to be understood.
Build Community: Work together locally, regionally, and globally.
Decide by Consensus: Make decisions collaboratively.
Contribute: Give to each other and to the world.
Diversify: Celebrate each other’s differences.
Support Freedom: Respect people’s individuality and self-expression.
Live Fulfilled: Meet people’s needs for living in a balanced way.
Live with Integrity: Be honest, responsible, and proactive.
Show Compassion: Love and honor those around you.
Grow: Encourage personal and spiritual growth.
Resolve: Resolve conflicts constructively.

OUR VALUES

STEWARDSHIP

“Do the highest good for the betterment of humanity.”

We believe the idea of setting aside our differences to work towards positive transformation of all life on Earth should be seen as non-controversial, non-political, and simply common sense. More specifically, when One Community uses the term ‘Highest Good of All‘ we mean:

Non-dogmatic
Good for people
Good for the economy
Good for the planet

We follow the path that best supports the health and well-being of humanity, encourages prosperity across all communities, and remains regenerative and sustainable for our planet. If enough people embrace the Highest Good of All philosophy, we believe humanity can reach the global tipping point needed to create a new Golden Age of unity, collaboration, and sustainability.

OPEN SOURCE

“Openly and freely share knowledge to encourage collaboration.”

We believe in freely sharing our ideas, creations, and concepts with our fellow humans. We make it easy for people to leverage what we share by following the principles promoted by the Open Source Initiative and keeping all of our information and creations as open source. This way anyone can replicate and modify what we share to fit their needs, all free of charge.

SUSTAINABILITY

“Commit to helping the world transition to sustainable options.”

We believe in making sustainable living a mainstream option. One Community defines sustainability as the coexistence of humanity with nature and each other for the betterment of future generations. This applies to both physical sustainability and societal sustainability and is one of the backbones of our decision making process.

COMMUNICATION

“Seek to understand and to be understood.”

Clear, intentional, and effective communication and feedback help create a synthesis of diverse ideas that align with our Highest Good of All philosophy. We believe effective communication is built on two core principles:

Transparency with each other
Transparency with the world

Communication and effective operations at One Community are founded on clear expectations, shared goals, and a culture of asking, “how can I help?” Communication with the wider world is centered on openly sharing how others can replicate everything we create through our open source approach.

COMMUNITY

“Work together locally, regionally, and globally.”

True community is the practice of being our most loving, open, and authentic selves while supporting continuous personal growth, the growth of others, and the well-being of our global environment. For those who desire it, One Community is creating a path and support structure for building and living in communities like this.

CONSENSUS

“Make decisions collaboratively.”

We believe in the effectiveness of decision making in groups. Namely, we believe that consensus should include:

A safe space to voice concerns
A respectful hearing of all perspectives
A process by which a group mind emerges from individual input
An enterprise aimed at achieving The Highest Good of All Concerned
A way to synthesize various ideas or perspectives into a uniquely new outcome

CONTRIBUTION

“Give to each other and the world.”

We believe that every member of our organization should give an equal and fair effort to meet their basic responsibilities and the global goals of One Community. This commitment strengthens our nonprofit, supports long-term sustainability, and sets a positive example for others.

DIVERSITY

“Celebrate each other’s differences.”

We celebrate individuality and recognize that diverse perspectives strengthen our community. Our community goal with this approach is creating an environment without bias towards gender, race, religion, politics, sexual preference, age, culture, or lifestyle. Our global-transformation goal with this perspective is recognizing that we are all a part of One World Community.

FREEDOM

“Respect people’s individuality and self-expression.”

We are dedicated to creating a place where people feel free to be themselves while pursuing The Highest Good of All. We celebrate people’s freedom by showing love, including others, and allowing diversity to flourish.

FULFILLED LIVING

“Meet people’s needs for living in a balanced way.”

We believe in creating a world that is healthy and fulfilling for all people. Our sustainable community model is designed to maximize efficiency, productivity, and quality of life so people have more time to enjoy meaningful living.

INTEGRITY

“Be honest, responsible, and proactive.”

We believe in actively practicing Honesty and Integrity. This includes telling the truth, demonstrating maximum responsibility for our own actions and decisions, thinking and acting positively and proactively, and consciously choosing how we respond to people and situations.

COMPASSION

“Love and honor those around you.”

Living and sharing the values of love and compassion are fundamental to our purpose. We believe in applying this through:

Self-love
Love as a guidance system
Making decisions with empathy

Ultimately, this is the foundation of our philosophy of living and creating for The Highest Good of All.

GROWTH

“Encourage personal and spiritual growth.”

We believe in fostering a working environment for personal development and spiritual freedom. Growing and leveraging the talents and skills of the group provides more meaningful results and contributes to our overall goal of sustainability. Creating an environment that supports people to grow personally and spiritually means unlocking their true potential to help contribute to a better world.

RESOLUTION

“Resolve conflicts constructively.”

Our organization maintains a positive and proactive environment that minimizes or eliminates conflict. Our process for conflict resolution is designed to allow feelings to be shared, create understanding, and restore harmony to a situation. Keeping this at the forefront of our organization is a key to success when tackling new projects or working with the community at large.

OUR PLEDGE

Here is the pledge that every person signs as part of the One Community application process.

______________________________

As members of One Community, and being the change we wish to see in the world, world, this pledge represents our commitment to thinking globally, living collaboratively, and creating the most profound and positive impact we can for The Highest Good of All people and life on this planet. We fulfill this pledge by practicing One Community’s definition and application of the following values and guiding questions.

~ The Highest Good of All ~

Through this pledge, we agree to live and create for The Highest Good of All. This is the highest value within the One Community Pledge and includes seeking collaborative solutions that embrace diverse perspectives while creating win-win-win outcomes for individuals, communities, and the planet. In decision making with One Community, this means asking ourselves and others the following three key questions:

How can we best align this decision with all of our values?
How can we create the most “winning” situations for all involved and/or affected?
How can we make this decision even more solution-focused, coming from loving, and designed for maximum positive impact?

~ Open Source Progress ~

As part of this pledge, we agree to advance Open Source contribution that supports global progress. This includes freely sharing our ideas, creations, and concepts while making everything as easy as possible for others to duplicate, improve, and adapt.

HERE ARE THE OVERVIEW HUBS
(Click on each icon to be taken to the corresponding Highest Good hub page.)

In decision making with One Community, this means asking ourselves and others the following three key questions:

How can we make this even easier for others to duplicate?
How can we make this even easier for others to customize/modify?
How can we make this even easier for others to also contribute collaboratively to it?

~ Sustainability ~

Our pledge includes living sustainably through proactive, regenerative, coexisting manner that supports cooperation, longevity, responsibility, and conservation by open-mindedly considering the short and long-term effects of our decisions on us as individuals, on One Community, and on our planet and all its life forms. In decision making with One Community, this means asking ourselves and others the following three key questions:

What decision best supports our goals for a global transition to sustainability?
How can we optimize this approach for optimal proactivity, regeneration, and coexistence?
Is this decision sustainably sustainable: supporting and forwarding One Community’s open source goals, Highest Good of All philosophy, and Highest Good society intentions also?

~ Communication ~

This pledge is a commitment to effective Communication. This includes using ownership language, regular giving and receiving of feedback, seeking to understand and then be understood, and proactive, open, and timely responses. In decision making with One Community, this means committing to also asking ourselves and others the following four key questions:

Is this communication in alignment with all other One Community values?
Have we considered all possible input to come to the best possible decision/direction available?
Are we all “complete,” or does anyone have anything else they’d like to say or add?
How can we best share this so others can learn from and/or duplicate our open source results?

~ Community ~

We agree through this pledge to consciously co-create True Community. This includes cooperative creation for The Highest Good of All while being our most loving, open, and authentic selves, honoring others, and supporting constant growth in ourselves and each other. In decision making with One Community, this means asking ourselves and others the following three key questions:

How can this promote and help create True Community even more?
How can this be even more inclusive and considerate of all One Community members?
How can this be even more inclusive and considerate of all members of our global Community?

~ Consensus/Decision Making ~

This pledge includes contributing positively to collaborative Decision-Making. This includes asking all of the questions in this pledge with a commitment to equality, open and respectful communication, and creative solutions in a maximally empowered and effective group creative process.

We have read and understand One Community’s Path to Consensus page, the Consensus Decision Making page, and the Large-scale Consensus page and know consensus requires specific training and screening and agree to attend this training before becoming a part of the consensus process on the property.

In decision making with One Community, we ask ourselves and others the following three key questions:

How can we make this decision making process even more efficient and effective for all?
How can we ensure all viewpoints have been fully expressed, heard, and addressed while still moving forward?
How can we step outside of personal preferences to use One Community’s values and Highest Good of All thinking even more?

~ Contribution ~

Our pledge includes a commitment to meaningful Contribution. This includes, on the most basic level, being responsible for a minimum of 5 tangible weekly hours plus weekly team calls now, and 40 weekly hours once we are on the property. Related to our global goals, this means sustaining and growing One Community and our ever-evolving tools, tutorials, trainings, and Highest-Good-living example to help humanity become a sustainable civilization. In decision making with One Community, this means asking ourselves and others the following three key questions:

How can we make this more fun/easier/inviting so others want to contribute to it too?
How can this positively contribute even more to our local community AND our sustainability and global goals?
How can this maximize both my individual and our collective contribution efforts so that they positively affect the big picture even more?

~ Diversity ~

We pledge to celebrate Diversity. This includes celebrating the beautiful individuality of ourselves and others, focusing on learning from each other, appreciating each other, and co-creating a better future for everyone. In decision making with One Community, this means asking ourselves and others the following three key questions:

How can we think “outside of the box” even more both individually and as an organization?
How can this move forward the diversity of all of our core organizational values and our team even more?
How can we create and open source share in a manner that will serve and be even more adaptable to diverse cultures, applications, and perspectives?

~ Freedom ~

Our pledge is to uphold Freedom by respecting personal freedom, individuality, and/or freedom of expression (including the right for non-participation), recognizing that our experiences and perceptions create our personal viewpoints and opinions, and acknowledging and respecting the perceptions of others. In decision making with One Community, this means asking ourselves and others the following four key questions:

How can we transcend ideologies even more in this case?
How can this also respect people’s rights not to participate?
How can we ensure this allows every group’s ability to thrive/succeed/create change?
Does this respect the freedom of an individual to choose while also supporting the Purpose, Mission, Vision, and other values of One Community?

~ Fulfilled Living ~

We pledge to create and maintain and environment focused on Fulfilled Living. This includes contributing our skills and the power of our thoughts and creativity to consciously share perspectives and approaches that are positive, empowering, uplifting, and solution-oriented so they enrich and improve the shared environment and collaborative process for everyone. In decision making with One Community, this means asking ourselves and others the following three key questions:

How can this move us towards growth and possibilities even more?
How can this enrich the environment or situation even more for us and others?
How can this enhance the holistic synergy of ALL aspects of fulfilled Highest Good of All living, even more.

~ Honesty and Integrity ~

Our pledge reinforces Honesty and Integrity. This includes telling the truth, demonstrating maximum responsibility for our own actions and decisions, thinking and acting positively and proactively, and consciously choosing how we respond to things. In decision making with One Community, this means asking ourselves and others the following two key questions:

How can I demonstrate maximal responsibility and integrity in this situation?
How can we create even more proactive and conscientious outcomes for, or movement towards, a better future for all?

~ Love and Connection ~

We agree through this pledge to approach the living experience from a perspective of Loving. This includes positively and proactively interacting with each other and the world, honoring other people’s feelings, developing our own self-love, and using love as a guidance system. In decision making with One Community, this means asking ourselves and others the following three key questions:

How can this come even more from a for The Highest Good of All perspective?
How can this be accomplished with even more compassion, empathy, and caring?
How can this be created from a place that is even more possibility-focused and loving for everyone?

~ Personal Growth and Spiritual Freedom ~

We agree through this pledge to co-creating an environment supporting Personal Development and Spiritual Freedom. This includes sharing our passions as both teachers and students, participating in the maintenance and evolution of an endlessly unfolding culture of personal growth, and exploring the Human Potential in ways that respects and celebrates all perspectives. In decision making with One Community, this means asking ourselves and others the following five key questions:

How can we leverage and express the talents and skills of our group even more?
How can we demonstrate open-minded, Highest Good of All, free thinking even more?
Are we being conscious of all belief systems and acting and creating for maximum inclusiveness?
Are we respecting different perspectives and creating solutions for all, including non participants?
What is the best way to share the results as an open source resource for the growth of others and The Highest Good of All?

~ Conflict Resolution ~

This pledge is agreement to maintaing a positive and proactive environment where conflict is addressed through open communication, empathy, and constructive resolution. This includes timely, direct, and open communication and feedback using ownership language, asking questions to gain deeper understanding on an individual’s perspectives when differences arise, and using the One Community Conflict Resolution process if needed. In decision making with One Community, this means asking ourselves and others the following four key questions:

Is there an opportunity to use ownership language and/or the feedback format even more?
Who can we agree are the fewest, most relevant, and most appropriate people to resolve this?
What questions can I/we ask to gain deeper understanding on the individual’s/group’s perspectives?
How can I/we ensure all related communication/feedback is even more timely (as an issue arises), direct (with the person involved), and open (honest, thorough, cooperative, and specific)?

FREQUENTLY ANSWERED QUESTIONS

Q: What are One Community’s top values?

Our highest value is living and creating for The Highest Good of All to serve as a model for how to create a world that works for everyone. Secondary to that would be Open Source Progress and Sustainability. While we feel these three values encompass and guide all the others, all the values included here have been identified as equally essential to comprehensively maintaining and evolving these top three.

Q: Why so much? Why not something simpler like “do no harm,” or “honor all life,” etc.?

We consider and support those concepts as common sense and a bare minimum approach to positive living. The One Community Highest Good of All approach is one that goes beyond this, taking massive and ongoing action to create a better world for all life. While this philosophy and approach includes doing no harm and honoring all life, those elements alone do not embody the action and breadth of scope we feel is needed to accomplish goals as significant as ours.

Years of creating with the philosophy of “Highest Good of All” has taught us the value of specificity and inclusiveness. Firsthand experience with this and our global goals have helped us refine and clarify each of our values into what they are, adding in and using all the questions above to create clear action-based approaches to these values that also address “for The Highest Good of All” in every situation we have encountered to this point. We’ve also evolved them to address every situation we’ve been able to imagine arising in the future.

Q: How do you know what is for “The Highest Good of All”?

We don’t, our pledge is to do our best and always think and create in a manner that is non-dogmatic, good for people, good for the economy, and good for the planet. We practice a non-dogmatic approach because we understand and appreciate that people have different views and philosophies and we know our way may not be the best way for everyone. Understanding and keeping this in mind, we humbly follow the way we have currently found that seems to best support the happiness and wellness of humanity, creates prosperity for everyone in all demographics, and is also harmoniously regenerative and sustainable for the planet.

Q: How do you resolve conflicts or disagreements about the One Community pledge and/or values?

We use the values as defined by our organization as the compass for all our decision making to ensure we are always aligned with our purpose, values, and mission; we then factor in the diversity of rich ideas offered by individual perspectives and experiences. The One Community definition of each value can be accessed by clicking on the name of the value above. The associated questions are used for additional clarity whenever needed or considered beneficial.

Q: Why a Pledge, why not just a Creed or Mission Statement?

The One Community Pledge is a functional tool that provides the same motivation and guidance of a Creed or Mission Statement with many additional benefits too. Born out of years of collaborative decision making and cooperative creation, using this pledge and being clear that we as an organization make decisions based on the values as defined by our organization saves us hundreds, if not thousands, of hours of collaborative decision making time.

It has helped us all grow as a team and as individuals too, and we feel this growth and time saved is invaluable to our open source model for creating self-sustainable and self-replicating teacher and demonstration communities, villages, and cities. For these reasons and many others, we use this pledge and highly recommend an approach like this for any organization or group as a template for your own creation.

Q: What if I think a different pledge would be better?

We recommend anyone interested in applying this approach use, adapt, or completely change the pledge and values we’ve presented here so you can create a clear guidance system that aligns with your own organizational/group/individual needs.

Q: Where can I learn more about how you use each of these values within your organization?

This page and pledge link to additional information throughout. You can also click the icons below to be taken to a complete page for each value: