Community Agreements

What it is

Co-created norms for how a group works together. Not rules imposed by a leader. Not boilerplate from a handbook. Agreements the group builds in conversation about what they value and how those values show up in practice.

Examples: *We listen without interrupting. We assume good intent and name impact when harm occurs. We center the voices of those most affected. We come on time. We say "ouch" when something stings.* Three to ten agreements, in plain words, that the group actually uses.

Why it works

Most group norms are unspoken, which means the dominant culture's norms become the default. Explicit agreements interrupt that. They make implicit expectations visible. They distribute responsibility for the group's culture. And, when conflict arises (it always does), the group has a shared framework to refer to rather than personal preference vs. personal preference.

The co-creation matters. Agreements imposed top-down don't get used. Agreements built together do.

What you need

• Time: 1 to 3 hours for initial creation. About 1 hour every 3 to 6 months to review.
• People: Everyone in the group. Especially important to include people with less power, since the agreements affect them most.
• Space: A meeting space where everyone can participate equally. Avoid head-of-table layouts.
• Materials: Flip chart and markers. Or a digital doc projected for everyone to see. Sticky notes if you use them.
• Skills: Facilitation, group process, listening, creative writing.
• Energy level: Medium. Generative and collaborative.

How to host it

1. Frame why you're doing this. Briefly. "We want to be clear about how we want to work together so we can hold each other to it." Make explicit that these are agreements, not a leader's preferences.
2. Start with values. "What do you want this group to feel like? What matters to you about how we work together?" Brainstorm on sticky notes, individually first, then share.
3. Group the values. Cluster the sticky notes. Common patterns: respect, accountability, joy, honesty, care, safety, courage.
4. Translate values into behaviors. This is the actual work. "How does respect show up here? What would it look like in our meetings?" Move from abstract value to concrete agreement. Examples:

• Value: *Respect* → Agreement: *We listen without interrupting.*
• Value: *Accountability* → Agreement: *We follow through on commitments and name when we can't.*
• Value: *Care* → Agreement: *We check in on each other when someone is missing for a while.*

1. Edit together. Read aloud. Refine wording. Cut things that feel like wallpaper. Aim for 3 to 10 agreements. More than 10 is too many to remember.
2. Decide how you'll use them. Will they be posted at the start of every meeting? Read aloud? Referenced when something goes wrong? Decide now.
3. Test it. Before adopting as final, ask: "Is there anyone for whom one of these agreements would be hard or unworkable?" Sometimes the answer reveals a real concern that needs to be addressed.
4. Adopt. Some groups have a small ritual: each person signs. Each person reads one aloud. Each person commits in their own words.
5. Review periodically. Every 3 to 6 months, revisit. Are they being used? Are they still right? Add, remove, or refine.

Variations

One-meeting agreements. A lighter version for a single gathering. The facilitator proposes 3 or 4 agreements; the group adjusts.

Conflict-time review. When a group is in conflict, sometimes a re-do on the agreements is the right move. Use what happened as input.

Pre-written starter. Some groups (especially classrooms or new teams) start with a pre-written set and amend in their first session. Faster but less ownership.

Visual agreements. Some groups draw their agreements as icons or pictures. Works well for cross-language groups and adds memorability.

Stories from neighborhoods

Community Agreements are used widely in educational settings (the National Equity Project has a strong toolkit), organizing groups, faith communities, artist collectives, online communities, and workplace teams.

The simple discipline of writing down "how we want to be with each other," and then actually using what we wrote, is one of the most reliable interventions for a group that wants to function well over time.

Where to learn more

• Practitioner toolkit: National Equity Project: Developing Community Agreements
• Adjacent recipes: [Talking Circle](./talking-circle.md), [Art of Hosting](./art-of-hosting.md), [Microsolidarity Crew](../02-small-groups-for-support/microsolidarity-crew.md)

Details

• steps: **Frame why you're doing this.** Briefly. "We want to be clear about how we want to work together so we can hold each other to it." Make explicit that these are agreements, not a leader's preferences., **Start with values.** "What do you want this group to feel like? What matters to you about how we work together?" Brainstorm on sticky notes, individually first, then share., **Group the values.** Cluster the sticky notes. Common patterns: respect, accountability, joy, honesty, care, safety, courage., **Translate values into behaviors.** This is the actual work. "How does respect show up here? What would it look like in our meetings?" Move from abstract value to concrete agreement. Examples: - Value: *Respect* → Agreement: *We listen without interrupting.* - Value: *Accountability* → Agreement: *We follow through on commitments and name when we can't.* - Value: *Care* → Agreement: *We check in on each other when someone is missing for a while.*, **Edit together.** Read aloud. Refine wording. Cut things that feel like wallpaper. Aim for 3 to 10 agreements. More than 10 is too many to remember., **Decide how you'll use them.** Will they be posted at the start of every meeting? Read aloud? Referenced when something goes wrong? Decide now., **Test it.** Before adopting as final, ask: "Is there anyone for whom one of these agreements would be hard or unworkable?" Sometimes the answer reveals a real concern that needs to be addressed., **Adopt.** Some groups have a small ritual: each person signs. Each person reads one aloud. Each person commits in their own words., **Review periodically.** Every 3 to 6 months, revisit. Are they being used? Are they still right? Add, remove, or refine.
• file path: recipes/04-gathering-design/community-agreements.md
• variations: **One-meeting agreements.** A lighter version for a single gathering. The facilitator proposes 3 or 4 agreements; the group adjusts. **Conflict-time review.** When a group is in conflict, sometimes a re-do on the agreements is the right move. Use what happened as input. **Pre-written starter.** Some groups (especially classrooms or new teams) start with a pre-written set and amend in their first session. Faster but less ownership. **Visual agreements.** Some groups draw their agreements as icons or pictures. Works well for cross-language groups and adds memorability.
• ingredients: {"time":"1 to 3 hours for initial creation. About 1 hour every 3 to 6 months to review.","space":"A meeting space where everyone can participate equally. Avoid head-of-table layouts.","people":"Everyone in the group. Especially important to include people with less power, since the agreements affect them most.","skills":"Facilitation, group process, listening, creative writing.","materials":"Flip chart and markers. Or a digital doc projected for everyone to see. Sticky notes if you use them.","energy_level":"Medium. Generative and collaborative."}
• where to learn more: - Practitioner toolkit: [National Equity Project: Developing Community Agreements](https://www.nationalequityproject.org/tools/developing-community-agreements) - Adjacent recipes: [Talking Circle](./talking-circle.md), [Art of Hosting](./art-of-hosting.md), [Microsolidarity Crew](../02-small-groups-for-support/microsolidarity-crew.md)
• stories from neighborhoods: Community Agreements are used widely in educational settings (the [National Equity Project](https://www.nationalequityproject.org/tools/developing-community-agreements) has a strong toolkit), organizing groups, faith communities, artist collectives, online communities, and workplace teams. The simple discipline of writing down "how we want to be with each other," and then actually using what we wrote, is one of the most reliable interventions for a group that wants to function well over time.