Anarchist Principles  * Social Anarchism - We primarily work from a vision of social Anarchism;

a vision of shared resources and community support built around the empowerment of the individual and the decentralization of power.

* Individual Sovereignty - You contribute your energy on your own terms.

* Mutual Aid - Acting together for shared benefit through the voluntary

exchange of resources and services.

* Distributed Power - No one has more power than anyone else. People

work together on equal footing.

* Direct action - Creating change or highlighting issues without relying on

government or other indirect methods to accomplish goals.

* Empower Individuals - By giving people the creative space to experience

and experiment with their personal power, as well as their ability to impact their community, we will fan the flame(s) of self-liberation inside the hearts of our community.

* Autonomy - Individual's ideas and energies are important and encouraged.

* Transformative Solidarity - We are committed to act in solidarity for

the collective liberation of all.

Learn more about Anarchism: neighborhoodanarchists.org/anarchism

NAC Principles  * Inclusivity - We welcome anyone interested in the mission and principles

of this group.

* Love-Focused - We commit to a radical love for our communities, our

families, ourselves, and the earth.

* Wholeness – We bring our whole selves to this group and respect the often

emotional nature of social justice work and collective process. We strive to set aside our egos and the masks we often put on in public places in order to respect and appreciate everyone for who they are and the unique things they bring to our community.

* Strategic Nonviolence and Self Determination - As a group, we will

mobilize using strategic nonviolence while respecting the right of communities to protect themselves.

* Joyous - In a world full of drudgery and fear, we bring playfulness and joy to

our projects.

Neighborhood  Anarchist Collective  

The Neighborhood Anarchist Collective (NAC) strives  to grow the anarchist movement by taking action  

directly and by providing a welcoming environment  for education and  participation. We  

organize locally to  help build a society  

where neighbors  support each other  

to meet basic needs,  individuals are free  

to follow their  passions, and  

empowered  communities  

collectively shape  the future.  

neighborhoodanarchists.org  contact@neighborhoodanarchists.org  

facebook.com/neighborhoodanarchists   

September 2020  

Decision Making  Consensus is used to decide major decisions and the general direction of a team; the advice process is used for less consequential decisions.

The Advice Process is used to access collective wisdom in pursuit of a sound decision. One can make a decision after seeking advice from 1) everyone who will be meaningfully affected, and 2) people with expertise in the matter. With the advice and perspectives the decision maker receives, they choose what they believe to be the best course of action. Consensus is a cooperative process in which group members develop and agree to support a decision in the best interest of the whole. A decision may not be everyone’s personal preference, but is something that all can agree is worth trying. The wisdom of the group is synthesized through active listening, shared purpose, preparation, deliberation, and a focus on issues and solutions.

Collective Norms  * No intentional perpetuation of any harmful power structure will  be tolerated. (Racism, sexism, transphobia, ableism, etc.)

* Mistakes are human; assume best intentions. We are all continually working to unpack harmful behaviors and language.

* We act in solidarity, not charity , with marginalized groups and individuals.

* Emotional labor will be respected , in the name of voluntary association and mutual support. We respect each other.

* We treat each other with the respect of equals . We are a horizontally- organized collective. No one has a higher rank than anyone else.

Note: This handout is greatly summarized. Learn more about each section at neighborhoodanarchists.org/structure

Projects  Projects are the heart of what we do. We work creatively together to effect positive change in our communities. We prioritize projects that:

1) Serve and educate the community 2) Give people a sense of their own power 3) Shift power from government and corporations to people and communities.

Current NAC Projects:  * Share Fair – A really free market connecting 200-300 people with food, clothes, supplies and services the last Tuesday of each month. Learn more and volunteer: neighborhoodanarchists.org/sharefair

* Community Resilience Organizing Workshops (CROW) – Free workshops on organizing, DIY, and resilience.

* Education – Telling people about NAC and anarchism through tabling, reading groups, video nights, theory discussions, zine making, etc.

* Prisoner Support – Writing letters to prisoners.

Have ideas for other projects you’d like to work on? We’d love to hear them!

“Anarchism asserts the possibility of an organization without discipline, fear, or punishment, and without the pressure of poverty: a new social organism which will make an end to the terrible struggle for the means of existence… In short, Anarchism strives toward a social organization which will establish well-being for all.” - Emma Goldman

Want to get involved or learn more about NAC? We hold regular Public Gatherings for new people!

Check neighborhoodanarchists.org/events for details on the next one. Or contact us at contact@neighborhoodanarchists.org

Stack helps facilitate discussion and decision making in which everyone has an equitable say in the conversation. Progressive stack is used to give marginalized groups, voices that are often submerged, discounted, or

excluded, a greater chance to speak by placing them before those on stack without lived experience or who have already spoken. ● To get on Stack, raise one hand and look to the stacker to confirm your

addition. You will be called in the order you were added. ● Time: We are running over time. Reminds group to be aware of the time. ● Re-centering Llama: The discussion has strayed from the original topic

or agenda item. Gently refocuses the group. ● Vibes Watch: Things are getting tense. Lets address it or take a break. The following symbols jump stack and should not be misused: ● Clarifying question/comment: To clarify what was just said. ● Direct response: Something that must be said after the person speaking,

usually for clarity’s sake. ● Process triangle: An idea for how to improve meeting process. The following can be used in response to something being said and can also to get a "temperature check" on a topic/proposal being discussed: ● Up twinkles / Down twinkles: Indicates agreement or disagreement with

what is being said or with a consensus proposal. May be asked to clarify. ● Flat hands/twinkles: Show that you are unsure or undecided. One may

be asked to clarify one's position. ● Block: Indicates the strongest opposition to the proposal or topic of

discussion. The proposal/topic is fundamentally detrimental. Take space, participate honestly; Make space, leave room for softer voices.

Visit neighborhoodanarchists.org for more resources.

Security Culture is a set of shared customs for a community whose members may be targeted that are designed to minimize risk, to offset paranoia, and to increase effectiveness and trust. These intentional practices can become habitual and instinctive.

SECURITY CULTURE PRINCIPLES The central principle is that people should never be aware of sensitive information they do not need to know - Don’t ask, don’t tell. The greater the number of people who know something that can put a project at risk, the more chance there is of it getting into the wrong hands. Security culture involves a code of silence, but it is not a code of voicelessness. It should preserve as much secrecy as is necessary for individuals to be safe in their activities, while still organizing effectively. Learn and abide by the security expectations of each person you interact with, and respect differences in style. Ask people to outline for you their specific security needs and let others know yours.

SECURITY CULTURE PRACTICES You can say “no” at any time to anyone about anything. Don’t answer questions or participate in any projects you don’t feel good about. Look out for other people. Don’t imperil others with your decisions. Don’t brag about past actions. Remember: Jokes can be taken seriously. Don’t throw any direct action ideas around in public that you think you might want to try at some point. Brainstorm with trusted individuals. Develop methods to establish the security level of a group or situation. People who understand the importance of good security will not feel insulted if asked to leave a sensitive conversation. Meeting location is an important factor in security. Consider the risks. Don’t get too distracted worrying about whether people are infiltrators or not; if your security measures are effective, it shouldn’t even matter. Keep sensitive information inside the circle of people it concerns, collaborate with reliable and experienced comrades whose history you can verify, and don’t give away anything about your private activities.

Adapted from the zine: What Is Security Culture: A Guide to Staying Safe.