# Cultivating a Community of Trust

Intentions for cultivating a community of trust and inclusion, taken from **The Compassionate Activist** by Lucy Draper-Clarke.

#### Try it on
Be willing to “try on” new ideas or ways of doing things that you might not prefer or be familiar with.

#### Practice self focus
Attend to and speak from, your own experience and responses. Do not speak for a whole group or express assumptions about the experience of others.

#### Understand the difference between Intent and Impact
Try to understand and acknowledge impact. Denying the impact of something by focusing on intent is often more destructive than the initial interaction.

#### Practice “Both/And”
When speaking, exchange “and” for “but” . This acknowledges and honours multiple realities.

#### Refrain from blaming and shaming self or others
Practice giving skillful feedback.

#### Move up/Move back
Encourage full participation by all present. If you tend to speak often think of “moving back” and vice versa. 

#### Practice mindful listening
Try to avoid planning what you might say when other people are talking. Be prepared to fully listen, be willing to be surprised, to learn something new.

#### Confidentiality
Take home learnings, but don’t identify anyone but yourself. If you want to follow up something someone said during a session, ask first and respect their wishes.

#### Right to pass
Everyone can choose to “pass” if they don’t wish to speak.