Indivisible Palo Alto Plus

We come together in order to achieve specific, substantive impact in the fight for American democracy. Our hopes are high, but our time and our resources are finite. Thus, we are vigilant about applying focus and discipline to our efforts. We make tough choices so that we can make a big difference.

This looks like:

• Creating a flexible organizational structure that leverages our local human talent.
• Leveraging Indivisible national and sister group resources—we don’t re-invent the wheel.
• Prioritizing work—we research and build consensus top projects.
• Partnering with like-minded local groups to ensure maximum participation that meet national goals.
• Dividing and conquering projects—we create teams to plan and execute tasks, and evaluate and document effectiveness.
• Communicating and meeting online, on zoom, in person, on Signal in defined ways to keep members informed and not overwhelmed.
• Using all meeting “types”—full membership, leadership team, Affinity working group—each for their best effect.
• Supporting our commitment to kindness and community in everything we do.
• Knowing that “The perfect is the enemy of the good,” we make *good* and actionable decisions quickly.

We show and model respect in our relationships both with each other and with our fellow citizens. Through active listening and by treating others as they wish to be treated, we demonstrate our commitment to civil discourse and shared governance. With open minds and full hearts, we create space for diverse kinds of people and diverse points of view. 

This looks like:

• Speaking to each other patiently and kindly.
• Inviting questions and welcoming opposing viewpoints.
• Showing appreciation for each other’s presence, ideas, and work.
• Making space for and noticing feelings, offering empathy.
• Speaking clearly, concisely, and not too often.
• Acknowledging and taking responsibility for mistakes with no shame.
• Learning about personal and group security and respecting it in all events and communications.
• Asking permission before posting anything publicly about each other—photos, statements, stories. 
• Recognizing how undermining gossip can be, and not engaging in it.
• Working toward consensus, rather than trying to exercise power.
• Following through on commitments or disengaging with speed if you must withdraw.
• Inviting under-represented people in the group to join: men, people of color, youth and elderly—and welcoming their opinions.
• Participating regularly and staying informed.
• Noticing and acknowledging conflict as part of the process, and working through it.

Meeting Etiquette: 

This looks like

• RSVP-ing for meetings and events
• Preparing for meetings by reading relevant materials and completing action items beforehand.
• Listening to invited speakers without interruption, using raised hand for clarification, and concluding topic before presenting new ideas.
• Interrupting kindly when the speaker is going on too long, or is unclear.
• Encouraging participation from everyone as much as possible.
• Helping with set up and cleanup. 
• Using visual materials like flip charts and amplification for hearing to enhance understanding.
• Volunteering to help the organizer in specific ways. “Can I set up chairs? Do you need a cleanup chair? Can I find volunteers for that?” etc.
• Keeping phones on silent and out of sight. Leaving the room to attend to the phone, if necessary. 

We embrace the power of fun—of joy, laughter, silliness, and spontaneity. By taking time for fun, we ward off darkness and raise a light for the future. Fun is a superpower that keeps us from thinking too much and doing too little. Fun helps us care for ourselves and for one another. It builds energy, empowering us to make noise and to make a difference. 

This looks like:

• Starting meetings off with playful activities that get people laughing and connecting
• Scheduling regular IPA+ social events, separate from our “business meetings”
• Participating in small groups to get to know each other better.
• Staying involved and showing up for each other.
• Welcoming joy, positive news and celebration.
• Encouraging creativity, humor and laughter.
• Participating in playful activities, music, and other embodied ways of being together.
• Engaging in your passion, and activities that keep you alive, energized, and balanced.

We acknowledge our responsibility to protect our community and to preserve our democracy. Our community is at once local, national, and global, and we work to ensure that everyone’s value is honored and that everyone’s voice is heard. When we step up and work together, we leverage a powerful multiplier effect in support of positive change.

This looks like:

• Proactively reaching outside our bubble to invite and embrace diverse perspectives and people.
• Behaving and speaking respectfully, responsibly, and legally in public forums in our communities.
• Valuing Sustainability—minimizing consumption by recycling, using water bottles and other bio-friendly products. We bike, walk, train, and drive EVs when we can. We minimize paper usage when practical.
• Persisting positively with our Focused Impact work in the face of obstacles, failures, and disappointments.
• Showing gratitude for helpful actions of others, writing thank you’s, and giving public recognition to community leaders who support the cause.

We celebrate the magic of human connection, and we derive strength from acting together for the common good. We welcome people of all backgrounds and from all walks of life into our group. Connection is the life force of democracy. By showing up and by sharing space, we generate the collective energy needed to serve our community.

This looks like:

• Valuing face-to-face socializing by inviting others to informal get-togethers—hikes, nature walks, etc.
• Expressing gratitude and joy to others.
• Acknowledging sadness, anger and grief when you feel it, in appropriate settings, and holding space for others.
• Showing up and learning to trust each other, partly by being trustworthy.
• Volunteering to be part of teams and events.
• Respecting the value of members who are less social and outgoing, but have a lot to offer
• See Value 4: Having Fun!